Garage Flat Roof
Discussion
Think the rule of thumb is they need redoing every 10 years?
It's not a big job if you're fairly decent with your hands.
There are loads of newer flat roof systems that use better, more reliable materials, but it'll be more expensive, and probably not worthwhile compared to the cost of doing it yourself.
Price depends on the size of the area? It's not a hard job to do, so I'd expect it to be a day's work for a decent builder/roofer.
It's not a big job if you're fairly decent with your hands.
There are loads of newer flat roof systems that use better, more reliable materials, but it'll be more expensive, and probably not worthwhile compared to the cost of doing it yourself.
Price depends on the size of the area? It's not a hard job to do, so I'd expect it to be a day's work for a decent builder/roofer.
Check this stuff out
I've just priced it up for my 6m x 5.5m extension and it came to about £300 on materials. Although I have a parapet wall so don't need the edging kits.
http://www.rubba-seal.co.uk/how+it+can+work+for+yo...
I've watched the videos too, and it looks VERY easy, even for a pen pusher like myself.
I've just priced it up for my 6m x 5.5m extension and it came to about £300 on materials. Although I have a parapet wall so don't need the edging kits.
http://www.rubba-seal.co.uk/how+it+can+work+for+yo...
I've watched the videos too, and it looks VERY easy, even for a pen pusher like myself.
Thanks! Yeah you are a bit of a drive away. If you PM me some details then I can give you a rough idea of costs though, whoever you get to do it. Can you see the boards from underneath? If they're chipboard then they'll need replacing, but if they're tongue and groove or ply they may be alright. Is it a single garage or double? Rough dimensions?
swiftpete said:
Thanks! Yeah you are a bit of a drive away. If you PM me some details then I can give you a rough idea of costs though, whoever you get to do it. Can you see the boards from underneath? If they're chipboard then they'll need replacing, but if they're tongue and groove or ply they may be alright. Is it a single garage or double? Rough dimensions?
Hi SP, you're a bit out of the way for me too, but is it something a competent DIY'er can do? I'm not for one second suggesting it would be to the same standard, but i've got a parapet roof, so it won't be as visible? I'm trying to save every penny where possible, so if I can do it myself, i'll have a go.It looks as though it needs a careful eye, and some decent prep work? Any tips welcome!!
Cheers
Well the job is really all about the preparation as the installation side of the rubber can be fairly quick, on a garage or something straightforward anyway. If it's not prepared correctly and the flashing side of things isn't taken care of properly though then that's where you can potentially have problems. If you have a parapet wall, then you can either grind a chase into the brickwork, grind under the coping stones, or take the coping stones off and rebed them after you've laid the membrane. It's hard to say which would be the best option without seeing it. If you gave some more details I could prob advise a bit better. Garages are usually a one day job unless they're very large and nowadays having to drive for jobs is not unusual so give me some more details of dimensions etc and I'll give you an idea of how much it would cost.
Cheers
Pete
Cheers
Pete
swiftpete said:
The material I use has a 50 yr life expectancy so you won't need it doing again.
There are many proven methods of doing it. Pitched is always nice, but just the frame is going to cost about £600 then about £40 m2 for a plain tile.
Most high performance felts come with an insurance backed guarantee now for at least 20 years. Liquid plastics are rubbish and fibreglass systems are even worse. To strip and re felt a single garage in good felt you're looking at about £750.00 without decking. As SP says, chipboard is not ideal.
We love EPDM roofs as we earn an absolute fortune replacing them, the fact that the commercial market shuns them should indicate their potential for failure. Apologies SP, but 50 years is a material. the components to bond fail much sooner.
Thanks for the info SP, putting the material under the coping stones sounds ideal.
It's short term anyway, until I can afford to have the roof replaced and pitched with velux windows!
roofer said:
Apologies SP, but 50 years is a material. the components to bond fail much sooner.
I suppose, like anything, many factors come into play? I won't expect my roof to last 50 years, but it'll last longer than a felt application IMO. It's short term anyway, until I can afford to have the roof replaced and pitched with velux windows!
So you replace them with felt and that's supposedly an upgrade? I know thats what you fit so thats why you're singing it's praises, but realistically it's not as good at all. If a felt roof is done well then it can last for a while, I won't argue with that as I've seen well fitted felt roofs, but the material is simply not as long lasting as epdm. Once the epdm roof is bonded, it's bonded. If it's been correctly fitted, the adhesives are not exposed to the elements and don't degrade so there is no reason to think that several years done the line it will fail.
Like you I have also replaced epdm roofs that have been done badly, I've replaced roofs that have been fitted with all sorts of materials that have been fitted badly. Felt roofs are by far the majority of those though. Like anything the quality of the job is dependent on the installer, but a properly installed epdm roof will outlast a felt roof.
EPDM is used commercially, so I don't know why you say that to be honest. It's simply not true.
I can't be bothered to argue the merits of one system over another on a forum, if anyone is interested then I suggest simply doing some research through google.
Like you I have also replaced epdm roofs that have been done badly, I've replaced roofs that have been fitted with all sorts of materials that have been fitted badly. Felt roofs are by far the majority of those though. Like anything the quality of the job is dependent on the installer, but a properly installed epdm roof will outlast a felt roof.
EPDM is used commercially, so I don't know why you say that to be honest. It's simply not true.
I can't be bothered to argue the merits of one system over another on a forum, if anyone is interested then I suggest simply doing some research through google.
Edited by swiftpete on Wednesday 31st August 17:41
Edited by swiftpete on Wednesday 31st August 17:42
We fit all roofs SP. Felt being just one type. However, the materials we use you need to be licenced to install, its why BT/HMP/Hotels etc etc use them.
EPDM has flourished in the domestic market because its cheap, and quick to install, no specialist training required. I don't doubt you do an excellent job, however, failures we have seen (and its on a large scale) have all been bonding related, mostly by adhesive failure and wind uplift.
Here's a recent roof, its felt under the seedum.
We have to rip up a landscaped podium for a client next month, its been down 3 years, renewal cost is 1.5 million....its the EPDM thats failed...
EPDM has flourished in the domestic market because its cheap, and quick to install, no specialist training required. I don't doubt you do an excellent job, however, failures we have seen (and its on a large scale) have all been bonding related, mostly by adhesive failure and wind uplift.
Here's a recent roof, its felt under the seedum.
We have to rip up a landscaped podium for a client next month, its been down 3 years, renewal cost is 1.5 million....its the EPDM thats failed...
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