Flat roofs take a different kind of battering in a storm compared with pitched, tiled roofs, and the extensions, garages, and single-storey outbuildings common across Longwell Green are often the first part of a property to show problems. Felt roofing in particular can split, blister, or lift at the edges under strong wind and driving rain, especially where the covering was already a little older or the roof has standing water pooling in one spot after heavy downpours.
A common early sign is a leak appearing along the internal wall where the flat roof meets the main house, rather than in the centre of the ceiling below, since water often tracks sideways along the roof deck before finding a way in. Bubbling or peeling of felt at ground level, or debris such as branches sitting on the roof after high winds, are also worth checking for after any significant storm.
Because flat roofs have less margin for error than pitched roofs, we treat storm damage here as a priority job. Where felt has split or lifted, temporary weatherproofing can usually be arranged quickly to stop further water ingress while a permanent repair or, in some cases, a full recovering is planned, particularly if the existing felt was already coming towards the end of its working life before the storm caused the final failure.
Access for flat roof work is often more straightforward than for a steep pitched roof, which can help keep repair times shorter, though every job still depends on the size of the roof and the extent of the damage. We assess each flat roof on Longwell Green properties individually rather than assuming a one-size approach, since a garage roof, a rear extension, and a bay window canopy can all fail in different ways even after the same storm.
Pooling water is worth mentioning specifically, since a flat roof that has developed even a slight dip will collect water after rain rather than shedding it away, and that standing water puts extra strain on the covering during exactly the kind of storm that also brings wind. Felt or older bitumen coverings that already had ponding issues before a storm are more likely to split under the combined pressure, which is why we always check drainage falls as part of any flat roof inspection rather than looking purely at the visible damage. Where a fall problem is found alongside storm damage, it is often worth correcting at the same time as the repair, since fixing the covering alone without addressing why water was pooling there in the first place tends to lead to the same failure recurring.
If you have noticed a leak, bubbling felt, or visible damage on a flat roof after recent bad weather, it is worth getting it looked at before the next spell of rain rather than after. A free inspection will tell you exactly what has happened and what your options are, and any repair work carried out is backed by our 15-year guarantee.
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