GRP Fibreglass Roofing
A seamless, hard-wearing finish with no joints to fail.
About GRP fibreglass roofingOur Services
Built-up felt roofing in Stoke-on-Trent
Multi-layer torch-on felt systems built to take the weather.
Felt roofing has covered flat roofs across Staffordshire for decades, and done properly it still earns its place. A modern built-up system uses two or three layers of reinforced bitumen, torch-applied so each layer bonds to the one below, finished with a mineral capsheet that shrugs off weather and foot traffic. It is not the cheap felt of old garage roofs. Installed by roofers who know the system, it is a serious, long-lasting roof.
Abbotts Flat Roofing installs built-up felt roofing on homes and commercial buildings, from garages and extensions to full re-roofs on shops, offices and industrial units. With over 15 years in the trade, we handle the whole job: strip back, deck repairs, torch-on build-up and finished capsheet. If you want felt roofers who do the job properly rather than a DIY patch, give us a call. Quotes are free, written and no obligation.
Before and after
The same roof, done properly
before
afterHow built-up felt roofing works
A built-up roof is exactly what it sounds like: layers built up on the deck to form one waterproof sheet. We torch-apply two or three layers of reinforced bitumen, heating each roll so it fuses to the layer beneath. The top layer is a mineral capsheet, a tougher felt with a granular surface that protects the bitumen from UV and gives the roof its finished look. Three layers means three barriers between the weather and your building.
Torch on felt roofing comes into its own on larger roofs, where the cost per square metre makes it one of the most economical systems we install. That covers garages, extensions, dormers and porches at home, and full decks on shops, offices, schools and industrial units. We recently rebuilt a home flat roof in three-layer felt with two new rooflights, and laid capsheet across the whole deck on a large commercial re-roof.
What a proper installation involves
The felt is only as good as what sits under it, so we start by stripping the old covering back to the deck. Rotten boards come out, tired timbers are repaired or replaced, and where the deck is past saving we lay new OSB, as we did on a recent torch-on job over a fresh deck. Skipping this stage is how bad roofers bury problems. We will not felt over a deck we would not stand behind.
With the deck sound, the layers go on. Each membrane is rolled out, torched and bonded, with laps staggered so no seam sits over another. Upstands, edges and outlets get particular attention because that is where most felt flat roof failures start. Details around rooflights and walls are dressed in properly, not smeared with mastic. The capsheet goes on last, and we check the whole roof over before leaving site tidy.
Repair, replace and how long it lasts
Felt roofs fail in predictable ways: blisters in the surface, cracked or lifting laps, ponding water that never drains, and damp patches on the ceiling below. Caught early, a felt roof repair is often straightforward. A split lap or punctured section can be patched and re-torched without disturbing the rest of the roof. But if the surface is crazed all over, or the deck feels spongy underfoot, patching is throwing good money after bad.
A full felt roof replacement resets the clock. A well-installed three-layer system is a genuine 20-year roof, and because the build-up is bonded into one sheet there are no fixings or joints to work loose. We will tell you straight which side of the line your roof sits on. We work on felt roofs across Staffordshire every week, and cover Cheshire and Derbyshire too.
Why choose built-up felt roofing?
- Proven multi-layer waterproofing with decades of track record
- Cost-effective on larger roofs, domestic or commercial
- Two or three bonded layers, no loose joints
- Tough mineral capsheet finish stands up to weather
- Deck and timber repairs sorted before any felt goes down
- Installed by local roofers with over 15 years' experience
Good to know
Built-up Felt Roofing questions, answered
Cannot see what you are after? Give us a call and we will talk it through, no pressure.
Is felt roofing still worth it compared to newer systems?
Yes, in the right situation. Built up felt roofing is still one of the most cost-effective ways to cover a large flat roof, especially commercial decks and bigger domestic jobs. GRP or EPDM can suit smaller, fiddlier roofs better. We install six systems, so our advice is based on what your roof needs, not the one product we want to sell.
How long does a torch-on felt roof last?
A properly installed three-layer system should give you 20 years or more, often longer with basic maintenance. What shortens a felt roof's life is poor installation, blocked outlets that leave water standing, and damage left unrepaired. Keep the drainage clear, deal with small splits promptly, and a built-up roof will quietly do its job for decades.
What affects the cost of a new felt roof?
The big factors are roof size, the number of layers, the condition of the deck underneath and how much detail work is involved. A simple garage roof over sound timber sits at one end of the scale; a large commercial deck needing new OSB and rooflights sits at the other. Felt scales well, so bigger roofs cost less per square metre. Send us the details and we will price it properly, free of charge.
Can you repair my existing felt roof or does it need replacing?
It depends on age and condition, and we will give you an honest answer either way. Isolated damage on an otherwise sound roof is usually repairable. Widespread blistering, soft spots in the deck or a leak that moves every winter points to replacement. Send us a photo or book a visit and we will tell you which it is before you spend a penny.
Need built-up felt roofing sorted?
Tell us about your roof and we will give you honest advice and a free written quote, anywhere across Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire.