Why the customer contacted us...
The homeowner contacted JR Roofing after seeing the work we had completed on their next-door neighbour’s roof, which was of a very similar construction.
Although the roof wasn’t leaking, the customer had noticed the top layer beginning to crack and lift away in places. Understandably, she wanted to deal with the problem before water started getting into the property.
What was wrong with the roof?
Our survey identified several issues with the existing flat roof.
The fibreglass covering was cracking in places, the flashings where the roof met the adjoining wall had split and previously been sealed, and areas of the roof were holding standing water after rainfall.
We talked the customer through the available options and, with budget being an important consideration, a roof overlay offered the right balance between cost and long-term protection.
The chosen Restec Flexitec 2020 system also came with a 20-year guarantee.
How we fixed the issue.
We began by thoroughly cleaning and preparing both the extension flat roof and the smaller porch roof.
Once the surfaces were ready, we applied the required primer and installed new perimeter trims. Two layers of Restec Flexitec 2020 were then applied in dark grey to create the new GRP waterproofing system.
We also replaced the previously sealed flashings where the extension roof meets the adjoining wall, helping to protect one of the vulnerable areas identified during our survey.
Because this was an overlay rather than a complete roof reconstruction, the existing falls of the roof remained unchanged.
We explained this to the customer before work began, including the fact that some water could continue to sit on the roof following heavy rain.
To improve the situation, one of our roofers installed relief channels around the roof edges. This helped considerably to reduce the amount of standing water remaining on the roof.
The finished result.
The finished roof has a clean, consistent appearance and, more importantly, the deteriorating surface and vulnerable flashings have been addressed before they developed into a leak.
The customer told us:
“It has worked really well, thank you to everyone at JR Roofing.”
For homeowners experiencing similar problems, an overlay can sometimes provide a cost-effective alternative to completely replacing a flat roof. Where required, we can also discuss options for altering the falls of the roof to improve drainage.
