Flat Roofing in Edinburgh Felt Roofs for Extensions, Garages & Dormers
Flat roofs fail quietly, then suddenly. Robert repairs and replaces felt flat roofs with proper falls and detailing so water runs off instead of sitting and finding its way in, all for a fixed price agreed up front.
22 years' experience · Fully insured · Workmanship guaranteed
- 22 Years' Experience
- Fully Insured
- Fixed-Price Quotes
- Workmanship Guaranteed
- Owner-Operated
Felting & Flat Roofs
What felt flat roofing involves
What it is
Felt flat roofing uses layers of bitumen-based roofing felt bonded to a timber deck to create a waterproof covering on low-pitched roofs. Work ranges from repairing blisters, splits and failed upstands to stripping and re-covering the whole roof, including renewing the deck, edges, upstands and outlets where needed.
Who it's for
Flat roofs are found on house extensions, kitchen and bathroom additions, garages, dormers, porches, bay windows and some tenement roof sections. Homeowners with any of these across Edinburgh may need felt roofing at some point.
When you need it
Call about a flat roof when you see water pooling that does not drain, blisters, cracks or splits in the felt, leaks into the room below, damp at the junction with the main wall, a soft or spongy deck underfoot, or granules washing off the cap sheet.
Why experience matters
Most flat roof failures come from poor detailing: inadequate falls, weak upstands, badly finished edges or outlets. The felt itself is only part of the system. Getting the details right is what makes a flat roof last, and it depends on experience.
Recent felting & flat roofs work
The cost of waiting
Why a failing flat roof gets worse fast
On a flat roof, water has nowhere quick to go. Once the covering is breached, rain sits on the deck, soaks the timber and spreads underneath the felt, often well away from the visible defect.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Painting on liquid coatings over a roof with a wet deck underneath.
- Patching one split while the rest of the felt is past its useful life.
- Re-covering without correcting poor falls, so ponding continues.
- Leaving the wall junction unflashed or sealed only with mastic.
- Waiting until the ceiling below is stained before investigating.
Rotten decking
Water trapped beneath felt rots the timber deck, which then has to be replaced along with the covering.
Ceiling damage below
Extensions and garages under flat roofs often have ceilings directly beneath the deck, so leaks show quickly and damage plaster.
Ponding accelerates wear
Standing water speeds up the breakdown of felt and adds weight to the structure.
Junction leaks into the house
Where a flat roof meets the main wall, a failed upstand or flashing can let water into the main house.
How Robert works
A clear process, from first look to finished roof
- 1
Inspection
Robert checks the felt, deck, falls, edges, upstands and outlets, and any damage visible inside.
- 2
Diagnosis
He identifies whether a repair will hold or the roof needs to be re-covered, and whether the deck is sound.
- 3
Fixed-price quote
You get a clear price for the agreed work before anything starts.
- 4
Felt roofing
The roof is repaired or stripped, deck renewed where needed, and new felt layers laid with proper edges, upstands and flashings.
- 5
Check and guarantee
Drainage and junctions are checked, the site is cleared, and the work is covered by Robert's workmanship guarantee.
What you get
The result of doing it properly
Water runs off, not in
Correct falls and outlets stop water sitting on the roof and breaking down the covering.
Dry rooms below
A sound flat roof protects the kitchen, bathroom or garage underneath from leaks and damage.
Secure wall junctions
Properly formed upstands and lead flashings keep water out where the flat roof meets the house.
Durable layered system
Multi-layer felt gives more protection than a single coating or patch.
Fixed price
The cost is agreed before work starts, even if the deck needs attention once opened.
One roofer accountable
Robert does the flat roof and the surrounding leadwork himself.
In detail
Felt flat roofs: materials, methods and details
A flat roof is a system. Deck, felt layers, edges, upstands and drainage all have to work together.
Felt systems
Modern felt roofing is typically laid in multiple layers, with a base layer bonded to the deck and a mineral-surfaced cap sheet on top that protects against UV and weathering. The layered approach gives redundancy if the top surface is damaged.
Getting water to drain off
A flat roof is never completely flat; it needs a fall to shed water. Where a roof ponds, firrings can be adjusted when the deck is replaced. A rotten or soft deck must be replaced before new felt is laid.
Upstands, edges and drips
Where the roof meets a wall, the felt is turned up and protected with a flashing, often lead. Edges need drip details that throw water into the gutter, not back behind the fascia. These details are where most flat roof failures begin.
Extensions, garages and dormers
An extension roof usually has a ceiling directly beneath, so reliability matters. Garages may be simpler but still need proper edges. Dormer tops are small but exposed and often combine felt with leadwork on the cheeks.
Repair or replace?
Local repairs can extend the life of a felt roof where the rest of the covering is sound. When the felt is blistered and brittle across the roof, or the deck is wet, re-covering is the lasting answer. Robert will give you his honest view.
Flat roofs on tenements and larger buildings
Flat sections are not limited to extensions. Some Edinburgh tenements and older buildings have flat or very low-pitched areas behind parapets, around roof hatches and between pitched slopes. These areas collect water and debris, and their outlets can block, causing water to back up and overflow into the building. Keeping outlets clear and upstands sound is essential. On these roofs, access and drainage are key considerations, and repairs often combine felt work with leadwork where the flat area meets slate slopes or chimneys. Robert looks at how water moves across the whole area, not just the visible split, so the repair solves the underlying problem. Regular checks, especially after autumn when leaves build up, help flat roofs last far longer.
Felting & Flat Roofs across Edinburgh and its neighbourhoods
Edinburgh's housing stock changes street by street. Tenements and terraces in Leith and Stockbridge, Victorian and Edwardian villas in Morningside and Colinton, seafront homes in Portobello exposed to salt air, and post-war and modern housing in Corstorphine, Liberton and South Queensferry all present different challenges. Robert has worked across all of them over 22 years, so he knows how roofs in each part of the city were built and how they tend to wear.
Wherever you are in Edinburgh, the approach to felting & flat roofs is the same. Robert looks at the job himself, explains what he has found in plain language, and gives you a clear, fixed-price quote so you know exactly what you are paying before any work starts. R Galloway Roofing Services is owner-operated and fully insured with public liability and employer's liability cover, and the workmanship is guaranteed. You deal with one person from the first phone call to the finished job.
To arrange a visit, call Robert on 07756 375223 (Mon-Fri, 8:00am-5:00pm) or send a request using the form below. You can also read more about Robert or return to the homepage.
Straight answers
Felting & Flat Roofs: questions answered
Something not covered here? Contact Robert or call directly.
Ask Robert: 07756 375223How much does a flat roof cost?
It depends on the size, the condition of the deck and the details involved. Robert gives a fixed-price quote after seeing the roof.
How long does a felt flat roof last?
It depends on the system used, the quality of installation and the detailing. Robert can advise on your specific roof.
How long does it take to re-felt a flat roof?
Many extension and garage roofs are completed quickly, weather permitting. Robert will give you a timeline when he quotes.
My flat roof has water sitting on it. Is that a problem?
Persistent ponding speeds up wear and can indicate poor falls or a sagging deck. It is worth having it looked at.
Is flat roofing work guaranteed?
Yes. Workmanship is guaranteed. Robert will explain what applies when he quotes.
Can you fix just the leak?
If the rest of the felt is sound, a local repair can be the right answer. Robert will tell you honestly.
Do you do emergency flat roof repairs?
For an active leak or storm damage, call Robert on 07756 375223 for emergency roof repairs across Edinburgh.
Which areas do you cover?
Edinburgh including Leith, Portobello, Morningside, Corstorphine, Stockbridge, Colinton, Liberton and South Queensferry.
Get a flat roof that actually drains
Tell Robert about your extension, garage or dormer roof. He will inspect it and give you a fixed price. Fully insured, workmanship guaranteed.
Request a quote
Get a clear, fixed price
for your roof
Tell Robert what's going on with your roof. He'll come back to you personally to arrange a look and give you a fixed price.
07756 375223Mon-Fri, 8:00am-5:00pm