How To Turn Your Flat Roof Into An Asset

August 18th, 2009


Your home or office may have more living space than you ever imagined. You can add to the value of your home, and improve your quality of life through utilising more outdoor space, and even reduce the environmental impact of your home, without having to build extensions onto it. 

 

Do you have:


A flat roof?

A balcony?

 

If so, you could be enjoying more of the outdoors when the weather is good, and adding an extra valuable asset to your home that could be enjoyed by you, and desired by potential home buyers if and when you come to sell your home.

So how can a flat roof or a balcony add value to your life and your home?

 

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When Should You Repair or Replace Your Flat Roof?

August 18th, 2009


Unfortunately for many people, these decisions are only made TOO LATE, when leaks into and damp in the rooms below make it obvious that the roof surface has been breached. 

 

Roofing professionals know only too well that the biggest cause of premature problems on flat roofs is the failure to detect and correct minor defects and deterioration as and when they occur. 

 

Roof Inspections

 

For most of us it is unlikely that will inspect our roof surfaces on any kind of regular basis, or after any particularly heavy rain. We are therefore unlikely to spot causes and symptoms of roof damage as they occur, and this will increase the need for larger scale repairs or even replacement.  Typically, flat felt roofs are affected over time in a number of ways by the sun and weather, and the UV rays, water, frost and wind can cause blistering, bubbles, worn seams cracking and holes. Debris on the roof, blocked gutters, standing pools of water, problems around the flashing, masonry problems, and problems generally where the roof covering joins the brickwork of the house can all spell trouble, and lead to leaks and damp?

 

Repair or Replace?

 

If caught early, relatively small amounts of damage can be repaired, and the life of the felt roof can be temporarily prolonged.  However, when the felt roof has reached the end of it’s natural life, signs such as wet layers of underlying roof insulation, persistent damp patches or mould,  and maybe even running water inside the house, are likely to suggest the that a whole new roof surface is needed. 

 

The Replacement Roof

 

A new single ply membrane roof surface has significant advantages over felt roofing:

 

  1. It is strong, looks good, is easy to clean and requires minimum maintenance, and is likely to last in excess of 30 years.
  2. It is vapour permeable (so no blistering), and all seams, edges, laps and joints are securely fusion welded and mechanically attached.  This reliable waterproofing of all areas ensures that there are no weak spots for the wind and rain to make in-roads.

 

Continuously patching and repairing your felt flat roof coating is often a false economy that simply serves to prolong the threat and the worry of water damage to your home.

 

For a FREE ONLINE QUOTE, CLICK HERE,

Or for a no obligation enquiry, call FREEPHONE 0800 298 6960 today.

Article courtesy of County Flat Roofing - Flat Roof Repairs, Replacement Flat Roof and Green Roofs.

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Single Ply Roofing vs Felt Roofing - The Pros and Cons

August 18th, 2009


Is your felt roofing starting to let you down?

Maybe it’s a flat or pitched roof that’s leaking, or looks like it won’t protect your home for very much longer.

Are you at the point where you need to at least consider repairing or replacing it?

It may not take more than one or two more heavy rainfalls to cause damage and damp inside your home.  Felt roofing blisters causing cracks.

Another repair or replacement with felt roofing might be a MISTAKE because:

  • Felt roofing is affected by UV rays, and it expands and contracts. This again over time causes weak points where water could enter.
  • Laps and joints around the roof edges are difficult to fully secure with felt roofing. This could allow lifting and damaging by the wind, and could leave weak points where the rain can get in.
  • If you’ve ever handled roofing felt you’ll know that it’s a relatively delicate material that could easily be damaged and breached, even during installation. This makes any cleaning and maintenance an extra difficult job too.
  • You may need to carry out yet another repair or replacement of the same roof in just a few years time.

 Single ply roofing is THE RIGHT CHOICE because:

 

  • It is vapour permeable so it will not blister, and it does not expand or contract with weather conditions. This means that cracks and weak spots don’t have a chance to form.
  • It is a very strong, stable waterproof material that is highly resistant to UV rays, and typical British weather conditions. Once again, this means that the integrity of the roof surface is preserved.
  • It has been widely used over many years for commercial roofing because office blocks and warehouses need maintenance free roofs that will last a very long time. Just think of how well this material could work for your home roof!
  • All laps and joints are permanently welded, the roofing membrane is secured to the roof structure, the storm resistant roof edges are fusion welded, and mechanically fixed, and the wall joint won’t crack or fall out like mortar, lead or sealant.  This means that the roof can be totally secured against wind and weather, and the traditional weak points of the roof can be just as strong and secure as any other area of it.
  • At the end of its long life – typically in excess of 30 years – the material is recyclable, so single ply roofing is the right choice for our environment as well as your home.

For a FREE ONLINE QUOTE, CLICK HERE,

Or for a no obligation enquiry, call FREEPHONE 0800 298 6960 today.

 

Article courtesy of County Flat Roofing - Flat Roof Repairs and Replacement Flat Roofs.

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10 Quick Tips To Save You Money On Your Roof

August 18th, 2009


1. Have your flat roof surface inspected at least once every 2 years professionally, or inspect the flat roof more often yourself if it’s possible and safe to do so.  So often major problems, leaks, damp patches in the home, and major roof repairs could be prevented if problems and symptoms were spotted early, and if minor cleaning and maintenance were carried out in time. Things to look for include blocked gutters, pooling and ponding of water on the roof surface, debris and rubbish in the roof, blisters and bubbling, minor cracks and splits. It’s also worth checking in the attic / loft for any signs of leaking through from the main roofing area of the house.

 

2. Check the drainage and guttering system around the edges of your roof regularly.  Blocked gutters, broken down pipes, fascias, soffits and bargeboards could all lead to water and damp entering your home, and undermining the integrity of your flat roof.

 

3. Check the areas where the flat roof actually joins the brickwork of the house.  Look for problems with masonry, mortar and flashings around the edges of the roof.

 

4. Get more than one quote for any work you want professional roofing companies to carry out.  Quite simply, you could save yourself a good sum of money for a similar standard of work by getting several quotes for a roofing job.  Be careful though, quality of workmanship and materials is just as important as price, if not more so.

 

5. Check if you are eligible for roofing grants or financial assistance.  When replacing or conducting major repairs on your roof, depending on your circumstances and location, there may be roofing grants, or home improvement assistance means available to you.  Check with your local council.

 

6. Prune and cut back any overhanging or nearby trees and vegetation.  Not only can the tree branches themselves damage the roof, but falling leaves and other materials, but squirrels, birds and other wildlife and their waste coming into contact with the roof surface could be detrimental.  Also, in heavy rain, water could drain from an area of dense vegetation onto one area of the roof.  All of these things could lead to roof damage, damp, leaks, and ultimately, more expense and worry for you.

 

7. Be extra vigilant in freezing, icy conditions.
If the weather is very icy, water can freeze in the gutters around your flat roof.  This could make it difficult for any water to drain away as ice and snow thaws on the roof surface, or if there is a further fall of rain or snow.

 

8. Be very careful if and when you inspect or walk on the flat roof.
Although inspections are necessary, putting a ladder up and applying your weight against it in the wrong place, or moving around on the flat roof surface could cause damage to the guttering, and the roof surface.  If possible survey your flat roof from a higher window first – even use binoculars to help if possible. 

 

9. Use maintenance tools that don’t always require you to walk on the roof where possible.
Gutter cleaning kits can increase the frequency with which you clean your gutters because they make it more convenient and less daunting to do so. As mentioned earlier, if gutters are blocked this can lead to leaks forming round the edge of the roof.

 

10. Find a replacement roof that comes with guarantee.
This could save you a lot of money and worry.  Single ply roofing systems such as Sarnafil are guaranteed for 10 or fifteen years, and the installations themselves can reasonably be expected to last for 30 years or more.

If you need help and information about any aspect of Flat Roofing Repairs and Replacement, call Kevin of County Flat Roofing on 0800 298 6960 today, or contact us online.

Article courtesy of County Flat Roofing - Flat Roof Repairs and Replacements.

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10 Things To Ask A Reputable Flat Roofing Company

August 18th, 2009

1. Are they local to you / do they have a locally based team of workers, or can they provide a quick, high quality level of service if they are not?

The likelihood is that a local company can act and respond quickly to requests, and can provide a higher level of service.

 

2. Can they provide a written quotes and contracts for the work?
This way it will be much easier for you to control the budget, and much easier for both parties to see and agree on what needs to be done, and when the promised work has actually been completed. Having everything clearly in writing can ensure that expectations are managed, and can make basic disagreements less likely to arise.

 

3. Are quotes free, or do they charge for quotes?
For flat roofing repair and replacement jobs, it is relatively common practice for customers to obtain at least 3 quotes from different flat roofing companies before making a choice.  Be aware however that some companies will charge for quotes – always check beforehand.

 

4. How long have they been in business?

Although being in business for several years is not in itself a guarantee of good workmanship and good practice, it does provide some degree of re-assurance to customers, and it may be easier for customers to get more word-of-mouth, references, testimonials and opinions about the company, their work, and their working practices.  New companies by their nature could be unknown territory for customers.

 

5. Can they provide references, testimonials, and what is the ‘word-of-mouth’ opinion?
These can provide valuable insights into what you can realistically expect from many aspects of the company, its products, services, procedures and staff.

6. Are they registered with the appropriate bodies / organisations, and do they display the right logos / marks to indicate this?

Registration with recognised associations and schemes can provide indication that the company are competent, are likely to produce good results and behave well and professionally.  Registration with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), and the government backed ‘Trustmark’ schemes are good signs.  Further re-assurance can also be gained from the company meeting recognised quality assurance standards e.g. ISO 9001.

 

7. What is the insurance situation with them?

The roofing contractor’s Insurance should cover things like Employer’s Liability, Public and Products Liability and the contract works.  If necessary they should be able to provide copies of the appropriate insurance certificates.

 

8. Are there any warrantees and guarantees?

Do they offer further re-assurance to customers that the work and materials will stand the test of time, and the testing weather conditions?

 

9. What are the payment terms?
What do you need to budget for to make sure all stages of the job are completed to everybody’s satisfaction, and do the terms sound fair, proper and workable?

10. What exactly will happen while they are on site, and what will happen when the job is completed?
This is something that prospective customers don’t often consider until it is too late and the job is under way.  What kind of equipment will the company be using? How disruptive is the work likely to be to the day-to-day running of your household?  To what extent are the company likely to clear up and remove waste materials when the job is finished? Will they leave the surrounding area as close as possible to how they found it?

If you need help and information, or if you think you may require the services of a reputable Flat Roofing Company  based in the South West of England, call Kevin of County Flat Roofing on 0800 298 6960 today, or contact us online.

Article courtesy of County Flat Roofing - Replacement Flat Roofs and Flat Roof Repairs.

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Green Roofs or Living Roofs

August 10th, 2009

These are actually one and the same thing.  Having vegetation growing on your roof space is not a new idea.  Northern European dwellings have long used roof vegetation to help make life more comfortable where there are extreme weather conditions for large parts of the year.   The concept of making the most of your flat roof space, and using plants to help to achieve this is something that is in fact popular and highly relevant in the UK for a number of reasons.

 

Obviously, environmental considerations are high on the agenda these days.  Whether it’s reducing the heat islands that are created by so many traditional roof spaces in urban areas, improving the air quality through absorption of carbon, filtering of pollutants, and better management of humidity, or simply providing more green spaces, green roofs provide a positive step forward.  Bio-diverse green roofs can be allowed to develop in the same way as a meadow would.  This means the restoration of environments long gone in built-up areas.  This in turn will bring with it the return of the associated insects and wildlife.

 

When it comes to managing weather conditions, layers of vegetation on the roof can mean that conditions are cooler inside the building in the summer, and yet warmer in the winter. This incidentally, can also be a significant way to save money on heating bills on the winter, and cooling / air conditioning in the summer. When there is very heavy rain which there seems to be more often in the UK now, a layer of vegetation on the roof in the form of a green roof can relieve the strain on the drainage system of the building and the wider drain and sewerage system by releasing rainwater run-off slowly. 

 

It may also be the case that local authorities would look more kindly on planning consent for green roofs / living roofs for many of the reasons mentioned above.

 

If you’d like to know more about making the most of your flat roof space with a green roof / living roof, call Kevin on or 0800 298 6960 contact us via the website.

 

Article courtesy of County Flat Roofing - Green Roofs

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