Flat roofs are highly popular for UK homes, often installed in areas such as extensions, dormer windows and garages. Flat roof maintenance should be an essential part of your property upkeep, keeping problems at bay and ensuring your home remains watertight.
Here’s everything you need to know about maintaining your flat roof.
Why should you maintain your flat roof?
Flat roofs are a highly practical installation where pitched roofing isn’t required. However, while a good quality flat roof will be very durable, you should always stay on top of its maintenance. By doing so, you’ll prolong the lifespan of your roof, catch issues early and ensure your roofing remains as weatherproof as possible.
You’ll also ensure you maintain the appearance of the roofing material, which can face scuffs and damage in many older properties where the flat roof was installed years ago.
How to inspect your roofing
One of the best ways to maintain your flat roof is to book regular inspections with a professional roofer. This should be done once or twice a year to keep an eye on any issues
developing, such as small tears, cracks or missing shingle. They’ll also check your guttering to ensure blockages or damage haven’t occurred.
Not every issue will need fixing, but you’ll get peace of mind that you don’t have any costly problems brewing. A good time to book a roof inspection is after the winter to check that no deterioration has occurred in the colder months or early autumn before the harsher weather hits us. This will ensure your roof remains as robust as it can be.
Signs your flat roof needs repairs
Spotting the signs you need flat roof repairs is a good way of keeping on top of its maintenance requirements all year round.
Flat roof issues needing action include water ponding across the surface, cracked or torn materials, watermarks down the side of the structure, moss growth, trapped debris and alligatoring (blistering) where bubbles appear across the roof membrane.
You can also avoid unnecessary damage to flat roofs by ensuring you prune trees that are overhanging or growing too close to your property, cleaning your gutters and considering a roof upgrade if you’re having continual issues with an old flat roof.
What are the best modern flat roof materials?
If your old flat roof is in poor condition, you may even decide it’s time for a much-needed upgrade, so speak to your local roofing company about the best solutions for your home.
Modern flat roof materials include EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and high-performance felt. Some of the best materials will even come with a life expectancy of up to 50 years.
Book a flat roof inspection now
If you’re looking for flat roof maintenance experts in Hertfordshire, speak to the team at Radlett Roofing. We offer professional roofing services across the area, regularly performing roof inspections, repairs and new installations in locations such as Elstree, Edgware and Hatfield.
For a free quote and no-obligation consultation about your roofing, contact us.
