Torch-on felt roofing
A client's DIY garage conversion required professional advice and work to the flat roof this week. Garage conversions are a great alternative to loft conversions particularly if time is a constraint. Often development of a garage space is allowed within the permitted development rights. Your local planning authority will be able to advise further and should be contacted before any work commences.
As most garages are constructed with a flat roof and are therefore susceptible to water pooling, it is an area likely to require professional remedial work to ensure the space is water tight. This is an area which Carma UK roofing is able to advice and support.
Upon the client's discovery of a leak, the team attended the property promptly to assess and guide the client on the remedial work required. The old felt was removed from the roof deck with hand tools to enable the deck condition and therefore strength to be checked. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) requires a risk assessment and precautions needed to carry the work out safely. These are often contained within a method statement which we draft and supply to all our sites to ensure safe working practices are carried out.
The client was happy to be informed the deck had no rotten timbers and was undamaged by the leak, allowing the new roof to be applied without delay.
For flat roofs there are two common options, GRP (Glass reinforced plastic) or 3 layer felt system. The client requested a 3 layer torch felt system because it is a slightly cheaper solution, we can install in much colder weather and we can often reuse the existing structural deck. The team used a perforated membrane, 2mm Sopremma underlay and a 4.5kg cap sheet to form the 3 layers. Each layer is torch heated to ensure complete adhesion, making the area waterproof. The installation of this system should be completed by an experienced professional with insurance which includes hot works as the membranes are heated with a torch flame. Carma UK roofing provided a 10 year labour guarantee and a 15 year material guarantee.