A new or repaired flat roof in Soham is only as good as the attention it receives in the years that follow - a little straightforward maintenance goes a long way towards preventing the next leak.
Flat roofs have a reputation for being troublesome, and much of that reputation comes from neglect rather than any fundamental flaw in the material. Both EPDM rubber and torch-on felt systems are capable of performing well for many years, but they do need periodic checking. Unlike a pitched roof where most problems are visible from the ground, a flat roof hides its early warning signs until water starts coming through the ceiling below.
We install and repair flat roofs in Soham and the surrounding area from our base in Brandon. The aftercare advice on this page applies whatever system is on your roof, and following it will catch small problems before they become expensive ones.
A visual check twice a year - once in autumn before the worst of the rain sets in, and once in spring after winter frosts - is enough to catch the issues that lead to leaks. Add a check after any period of severe wind. The aim is not a detailed survey every time; it is a quick, methodical look at the things most likely to fail.
If safe access is available from a fixed ladder, you can carry out this check yourself. If the roof is not easily accessible, arrange for a roofer to inspect it every couple of years rather than waiting until something goes wrong. A short inspection visit costs a fraction of what a water-damaged ceiling costs to repair.
On an EPDM rubber roof, look for any lifting at the seams or at the edges where the membrane meets a trim or an upstand. The rubber itself is highly resistant to cracking, but adhesive bond failures at joints are the most common point of failure. Press gently along any visible seams - they should feel firmly bonded with no give or bubbling.
On a torch-on felt roof, look for blistering (rounded raised areas) and surface crazing (a fine network of cracks across the surface). Blisters form when moisture is trapped beneath the membrane during installation and then expands with heat. Small blisters that are closed and not cracked are not immediately dangerous, but once a blister opens it becomes a water entry point. Crazing across a wide area of felt surface suggests the material is nearing the end of its serviceable life.
On both systems, check the upstands - the sections of membrane dressed up the wall or parapet above the roof level. These should be firmly bonded and reach at least 150mm up the vertical face. Any section that has pulled away from the wall, even partially, will let wind-driven rain in behind it.
Blocked outlets are one of the most straightforward causes of flat roof failure, and one of the easiest to prevent. A flat roof that cannot drain will pond water, and standing water puts sustained pressure on any weak point in the membrane. In autumn, clear the outlet of leaves and debris before heavy rain arrives. Check that the surrounding membrane is still firmly bonded around the outlet collar - this joint is a common failure point.
If your flat roof drains to a gutter, check that the gutter is clear and that the drip edge or fascia trim directs water cleanly into the gutter rather than running back underneath. A drip edge that has lifted away from the fascia will allow water to track back across the roof deck soffit and into the wall below - a problem that is often misread as a roof leak when the real source is the gutter detail.
Where a flat roof meets a wall - at the back of an extension, for example - there is usually a flashing in lead or aluminium that covers the top of the upstand and is tucked into a mortar joint or fixed under the render. These flashings work loose over time. Mortar joints crack, fixings corrode, and the flashing itself can be pulled away by wind or by thermal movement in the wall.
Check these junctions at each inspection. A flashing that has lifted by even a centimetre will let water channel directly down the wall and into the structure. Re-pointing the mortar joint and refixing the flashing is a small job compared to dealing with the water damage that follows if it is left.
Moss can establish itself on a flat roof surface, particularly on older felt where the surface is slightly textured. A light covering of moss is not immediately destructive, but thick moss growth retains moisture against the surface and speeds up surface degradation. It also blocks outlets. Remove moss with a stiff brush - do not use a pressure washer on a flat roof as the force can lift laps and damage the membrane surface.
Remove fallen leaves and any debris that accumulates around the outlet each autumn. Debris left over winter composts down into a paste that blocks drainage and holds moisture against the roof surface.
Keep a note of when the roof was last worked on, what material is on it, and any repairs that have been carried out. If you did not have the roof installed yourself, ask the previous owner or check any paperwork from when the property was purchased. Knowing the age of the membrane and what system is installed helps any roofer assess the roof quickly and accurately. It also helps you judge when a replacement is likely to be due.
A dated photograph from each annual check is useful - it shows you whether a blister or a lifted seam edge is getting worse between visits, which is far more informative than trying to remember what the roof looked like a year ago.
Call a roofer promptly if you see water staining on the ceiling below the flat roof, if you notice a lifted upstand or open blister, or if an outlet has been blocked and the roof has visibly ponded. These are not things to monitor for another season. Water ingress that is left unchecked damages insulation, timbers and plasterwork quickly, and the repair bill grows with every week of delay.
We cover Soham from our base in Brandon. If you want a roofer to carry out a maintenance inspection and give you an honest report on the condition of your flat roof, call us to arrange a visit.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
