Flat Roofing in Cambridge
Flat roofs are everywhere in Cambridge once you look over the garden fence: rear kitchen extensions on Victorian terraces, garages and porches on 1930s semis, box dormers in loft conversions and the flat sections tucked between pitched roofs on older houses. DJW Roofing & Leadwork Ltd replaces and repairs flat roofs across Cambridge and the surrounding villages in EPDM rubber and torch-on felt.
Flat roofs are everywhere in Cambridge once you look over the garden fence: rear kitchen extensions on Victorian terraces, garages and porches on 1930s semis, box dormers in loft conversions and the flat sections tucked between pitched roofs on older houses. DJW Roofing & Leadwork Ltd replaces and repairs flat roofs across Cambridge and the surrounding villages in EPDM rubber and torch-on felt. We are a Littleport firm with 20 years in business, inspections and quotes are free, and all of our work is fully insured and guaranteed. For everything else we do in the city, see our page for roofers in Cambridge.
Where flat roofs turn up on Cambridge homes
The terraced streets around Mill Road, Romsey, Chesterton and Newnham were built with long, narrow back additions, and many of those have since been extended again with a single-storey flat-roofed kitchen or bathroom. These roofs are often small, boxed in by neighbouring walls and only reachable through a garden or a side passage, so the way the job is planned matters as much as the material.
Further out, in areas such as Cherry Hinton, Arbury, Trumpington and the villages around the city, the flat roofs are more often over garages, porches and side extensions added to semi-detached and detached homes. A good number of Cambridge houses are also let to students and young professionals, and loft conversions with box dormers are a common way to add a bedroom. Dormer roofs sit high up and catch the weather, and a leak there shows up quickly in the room below.
EPDM rubber or torch-on felt
We install both, and the right choice depends on the roof. EPDM is a single sheet of rubber membrane, so on most domestic flat roofs there are few or no joints for water to find. It stays flexible in cold weather, handles the sun well and suits extensions, dormers and garages where you want a neat, low-maintenance finish. It is fitted cold, which also makes it a sensible choice on small roofs right up against windows, timber cladding or a neighbour's wall.
Torch-on felt is a modern multi-layer system bonded with heat, a long way on from the single layer of felt and stones found on older garages. It is tough, copes well with foot traffic and suits roofs with lots of detailing. We will explain the differences in plain terms on site, and our guide comparing EPDM vs felt flat roofs sets out the pros and cons if you would like to read up first.
Drainage and falls: why flat roofs leak
No flat roof is meant to be truly flat. It needs a gentle fall so rain runs to a gutter or outlet rather than sitting on the surface. Many older roofs were built with little or no fall, or the deck has sagged over time, and the result is ponding: puddles that sit for days after rain. Standing water speeds up wear on the covering, finds any weakness at a joint and adds weight to the deck.
The junctions matter too. Where a flat roof meets the wall of the main house, the upstand and flashing are where most leaks start. We finish these properly, with lead flashing where it suits, so the new covering is protected at the edges as well as across the middle.
Signs your flat roof needs replacing
A single leak after a storm is not always a reason to replace the whole roof. A failed seam or a damaged edge can often be repaired. These signs point more towards replacement: water pooling in the same places after every shower; felt that is blistered, cracked or crazed all over; a deck that feels soft or springy underfoot or is visibly dipping; damp or staining on the ceiling below that keeps coming back after repairs; and moss or plants growing in the joints.
Age matters as well. If the roof is old felt with several patches already on it, money spent on another repair can be money lost. We will tell you honestly which side of that line your roof sits, and if a repair will do the job properly, that is what we will recommend.
How a flat roof replacement works
It starts with a free inspection. We look at the covering, the deck, the falls, the drainage and the junctions with the house, and take photos so you can see what we see. You then get a clear written quote setting out what will be stripped, what will be replaced and which system we recommend.
On the day, the old covering is stripped and the deck checked. Rotten or soft boards are replaced, often with new OSB decking, and the falls are corrected if needed. The new EPDM or torch-on felt covering is then laid, with the edges, trims, upstands and outlets finished so the roof sheds water and looks tidy. Most domestic flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are completed in a short space of time once the weather is right, and we keep the roof protected while it is open. We clear up as we go and leave the garden as we found it.
Covering Cambridge and the surrounding villages
We work across the city, from the terraces of Romsey, Mill Road and Chesterton to Newnham, Cherry Hinton, Arbury, Trumpington and the villages north towards Ely, including Milton, Histon, Impington, Waterbeach and Cottenham. If you are not sure whether we cover your street, just ask. Our base in Littleport is a straightforward drive down the A10, and you deal directly with Danny from the first call to the finished roof.
If your flat roof is part of a bigger picture, we can help with that too, from roof repairs in Cambridge to leadwork in Cambridge and our wider EPDM flat roofing service.
How we work.
A free inspection
We look at your roof carefully and explain what we find.
An honest written quote
Clear advice and a no-obligation quote. Repair before replace, where possible.
Careful, tidy work
Proper preparation, attention to the details and a daily tidy-up.
Work guaranteed
Fully insured. All work guaranteed. A roof finished properly.
Flat roofing in Cambridge
FAQs.
Is EPDM or felt better for a flat roof in Cambridge?
Both are good when fitted properly. EPDM is a single rubber sheet with very few joints and suits extensions, dormers and garages. Torch-on felt is tough and copes well with foot traffic. We look at the roof and recommend what suits it, and explain why.
Can you replace a flat roof on a terraced house with no side access?
Yes. Many Cambridge terraces only have access through the house or a shared passage. We plan how materials and waste will be moved before we start and keep everything tidy and protected while we work.
My flat roof holds puddles. Does it need replacing?
Ponding usually means the roof has too little fall or the deck has sagged. It shortens the life of the covering. When we replace a flat roof we can correct the falls so water runs off properly. We will tell you honestly whether a full replacement is needed.
Do you replace flat roofs on loft-conversion dormers?
Yes. Dormer roofs are exposed and leaks show quickly in the room below. We replace the covering and check the leadwork and junctions around the dormer at the same time.
How much does a new flat roof cost in Cambridge?
It depends on the size, access, the condition of the deck and the system chosen. We give every customer a free inspection and a clear written quote before any work starts, so you know exactly what is included.
Related services.
Areas we cover.
Good work starts
with honest advice.
Free roof inspections. Free no-obligation quotes. Just the work your roof actually needs.
07862 885143Klarna.Klarna availableBased in Littleport, Ely.
Covering Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire and North London.
Open 24 hours, 7 days.