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From a single slipped tile to a full re-roof, we handle everything in-house. No subcontracting, no middlemen - just our own team on the scaffold, properly trained.
See all services →A new roof protects your home for decades, but only if the materials and the build are right. We install new roofs on ho
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A full roof replacement strips back your existing covering down to the structure and installs new materials suited to yo
Slipped tiles, leaking flashings, failed ridge mortar - roof repairs in Dereham carried out with the cause addressed, so
Flat roofs need the right system and the right installation to stay watertight for years. We work with felt and EPDM rub
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Dereham sits in the heart of Norfolk, and the housing here reflects that. Homes of every age come with their own roofing challenges. Older properties often have original clay or concrete tiles that have been patched and re-patched over the decades. Flat-roofed extensions are also common, and older felt systems often reach the end of their useful life. We work on all of these.
Flat roofs need a different approach from pitched roofs, and they are unforgiving if the installation is poor. The two systems we use are torch-on felt (a reinforced bitumen membrane applied in layers) and EPDM rubber. Both are well-established materials with solid track records when fitted correctly.
EPDM rubber has become a popular choice for domestic extensions and outbuildings. It is a single-ply membrane that is bonded or mechanically fixed to the deck. When installed properly it is flexible, handles temperature change well, and is less prone to cracking than older-style mineral felt. Torch-on felt - applied in two or three layers with heat - remains a reliable and cost-effective option for many straightforward flat roof replacements.
The choice between them depends on the size of the roof, its shape, the condition of the existing deck and your budget. We will give you a clear recommendation when we assess the job.
The biggest cause of flat roof failure is a problem that was hidden underneath the old covering. When felt or rubber is stripped back, a rotten or soft deck is found underneath. This happens because small leaks are often left for months or years before a homeowner acts, and by that point the timber boards or sheets beneath the covering have absorbed water and started to decay.
Before any new covering goes down, the deck must be sound, level and dry. We check every board or sheet before we proceed. If sections need replacing, we tell you and include it in the price before work starts - not halfway through the job when you have little choice. Skipping this step is the single most common reason a flat roof fails within a few years of being replaced.
A flat roof with poor drainage will still collect standing water. Even a very slight fall - 1 in 80 is the accepted minimum - makes a significant difference to how quickly water clears after rainfall. Falls are built into the deck using tapered insulation or by adjusting the firring pieces below the deck boards. On an existing roof that pools water, it is often possible to correct the fall without a complete replacement.
Outlets and downpipes also need to be the right size for the roof area and kept clear. A blocked outlet on a flat roof can allow water to back up and find its way under the edge trim or through any minor weakness in the covering. Checking and clearing outlets should be part of any flat roof maintenance routine.
Flat roof replacement costs vary depending on the system chosen, the size of the roof and the condition of the existing deck. As a general guide, felt flat roofing in the current UK market typically runs from around £50 to £75 per square metre for the covering alone. EPDM rubber tends to sit in the £70 to £100 per square metre range. These figures move depending on access, deck condition and edge detailing, so treat them as a starting point rather than a firm quote for your job.
Deck replacement, if needed, adds to the cost. A badly decayed deck on a typical single-storey extension could add several hundred pounds to the overall price. That is why getting an honest assessment before agreeing to any price matters - a quote that ignores the deck and then adds it on halfway through is not a genuine quote.
Many homes have concrete interlocking tiles. These tiles become brittle with age and are prone to cracking, especially after frost. Missing or cracked tiles are straightforward to replace as long as matching tiles can be sourced - which gets harder as the original ranges are discontinued. It is worth noting this when planning a repair, as a close match is sometimes the best achievable result.
Older properties with natural slate present different issues. Individual slates can be replaced using matching second-hand material, but when a slate roof reaches the point where repairs are constant, a full re-strip and re-lay is usually more economical over the long term. We will tell you honestly where a roof sits on that spectrum.
Lead work - around chimney stacks, in valleys, and where a pitched roof meets a wall - is one of the most common sources of roof leaks. Lead moves with temperature changes, and old lead that has been pointed over repeatedly rather than replaced properly will eventually fail. Re-leading a chimney or valley is a skilled job and worth doing once, correctly.
Any of these are worth getting looked at before the problem develops further. A small repair dealt with early is almost always cheaper than the same job left for another winter.
When we come out to assess a roof, we look at the whole picture - not just the obvious problem. We will check the condition of the deck on a flat roof, the state of the flashings and ridge on a pitched roof, and whether gutters and drainage are doing their job. We then give you a clear account of what we have found and what we recommend, with a price before any work begins.
Scheduling for any roofing job can be affected by workload and weather. Roofing cannot always be done in wet or windy conditions, particularly when stripping a roof or applying a new covering. We will give you a realistic timescale and keep you informed if the weather pushes a start date.
During the job we keep the site as tidy as possible and protect the area below the working roof from falling debris. At the end we clear up, remove our waste and walk you through the finished work.
Our work covers Dereham and the surrounding mid-Norfolk area, including Wymondham, Attleborough, Swaffham, Yaxham, Beetley and nearby villages. If you are not sure whether you are in our area, call us on 01362 702206 and we will tell you straightaway.
How long does a flat roof replacement take? The time a flat roof replacement takes depends on the size and shape of the roof and the condition of the deck. Larger or more complex roofs take longer, particularly if deck repairs are needed.
Can a flat roof be repaired rather than replaced? Sometimes, yes. A localised split or a failed joint can be repaired if the rest of the covering and the deck are in good condition. If the membrane is generally degraded or the deck is soft in multiple areas, a full replacement is more sensible and more economical over time.
What is the difference between felt and EPDM rubber? Torch-on felt is a bitumen-based product applied in layers using heat. EPDM is a synthetic rubber membrane bonded or fixed in a single sheet. Both perform well when correctly installed. EPDM tends to be more flexible and handles movement better; felt is a proven system that most roofers are experienced with. We can advise which suits your specific roof.
Do I need to be at home during the work? Not necessarily, but it helps to be available at the start of the job so we can confirm access and run through anything we find during the initial strip. We will contact you if anything significant changes during the job.
How do I get a price? Call us on 01362 702206 or email [email protected]. We will arrange to come and look at the roof and give you a price based on what we find.
The quote you get is the price you pay. We don't pad jobs with discoveries halfway through - if something unexpected comes up, we talk to you first.
We come out, look at the whole roof - not just what you called about - and give you an itemised written quote. No pressure, no obligation.
We agree a start date that works for you. You get a daily schedule so you know who's arriving and what's happening each day.
Our own crew - no subbies - do the work to the quoted spec. We tidy up each evening and update you on progress.
You walk round with us, raise anything that needs attention, and we don't leave until you're happy.
We cover Dereham and the nearby towns and villages. If you are in the mid-Norfolk area, call us and we will let you know whether we can help.
Can't find your answer? Contact us directly and we'll get back to you.
Dereham Roofers cover the town and the villages across mid-Norfolk, handling everything from slipped clay pantiles and failed lead flashings to flat roof replacements and emergency repairs. Find out what good roofing work involves and when to act.
Read more →Not sure which roofing material suits your Norfolk home? This guide covers tiles, slate, flat roofing systems and what to consider before making a decision.
Read more →Not sure whether to repair your roof or replace it entirely? This guide explains what to look for, what each option typically costs, and how to make the most cost-effective decision for your home.
Read more →