01634 47989007460 072891 Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sat 8am–3pm HomeAboutServicesDamp & Waterproofing Damp ProofingTanking & Waterproofing Roofing RoofingNew roofsRoof repairsFlat roofsChimney repairsCommercial roofing Exterior & Finishes RenderingExterior paintingFascias & soffitsWood rot repairsNew PVC All services Service AreasMedwayMaidstoneRochesterStroodGillinghamChathamRainhamSittingbourneSheernessAll areas Our WorkReviewsContactRequest Estimate - Home - Services - Flat roofs Services # Flat Roofingin Medway & KentGRP, EPDM & Torch-On Felt You get a flat roof that moves water off it: correct falls, proper edge trims and a single continuous membrane, instead of a patched surface that ponds and splits again in two winters. Get my free survey07460 072891 9.97 out of 10 from 12 Checkatrade reviews, free survey and a fixed written price before any work starts. - 12 Checkatrade reviews 9.97 out of 10 average score - Checkatrade & Bark listed Verified customer reviews on both platforms - Free survey, fixed written price The cause diagnosed before the work is priced - Open 6 days a week Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–3pm - Company no. 15471708 Kent-based, working across Medway from Chatham ## What flat roofs involves, and when you need it A flat roof is a drainage design as much as a covering. Water has to be moved to an outlet by falls built into the deck or firrings, and every edge, upstand, outlet and abutment has to be detailed so that water cannot get behind the membrane. Most flat roofs that fail early fail at a detail or a fall, not in the middle of the field. We work in GRP fibreglass, EPDM rubber membrane and torch-on felt. GRP gives a seamless, hard-wearing finish with moulded trims, ideal on extensions and balconies. EPDM is a single sheet with very few joints and excellent movement tolerance, well suited to garages, dormers and larger simple areas. High-performance torch-on felt in multiple layers remains a robust, repairable choice, particularly on overlays and awkward shapes. The survey looks at deck condition, existing build-up, falls and outlet positions, upstand heights, abutment details and whether the roof is walked on. Where the deck is wet or soft it comes off, laying a new membrane over saturated boards guarantees the same conversation in a couple of years. You get the specification and a fixed written price. ### Who this is for - Extensions, garages, porches, dormers and bay roofs with a failing flat covering - Roofs that pond, blister, split or leak at edges and abutments - Balconies and walk-on areas needing a durable, trafficable finish - Landlords and agents replacing repeatedly patched felt roofs - Commercial units, shops and outbuildings with larger flat areasRing the office on 07460 072891 or use the contact page and we will give you a realistic survey date on the call. You can also see everything we do across Medway or read our customer reviews. ### Related services - Roofing - Roof repairs - Fascias & soffitsAll services ### Areas we cover - Medway - Maidstone - Rochester - Strood - Gillingham - Chatham - Rainham - Sittingbourne - Sheerness ## What happens if it is left Flat roofs fail quietly. Water gets through a split or a lifted edge and soaks the deck and insulation before anything shows inside, so by the time a ceiling stains, the boards below are often already gone. Replacing a wet deck and insulation costs considerably more than the covering did. Ponding accelerates everything. Standing water works into every weakness, freezes and expands in winter, and holds debris that breaks down the surface, which is why a roof with poor falls has a much shorter life than the same membrane laid correctly. On extensions and dormers, the roof sits directly over a room you use. Water reaching joists means rot in structural timber and damage to plasterboard, insulation and decoration in a finished space. That escalation happens over a season or two, not over a decade. ### Common mistakes we are called in to undo - Laying a new membrane straight over a wet, soft or delaminated deck - Patching splits repeatedly instead of dealing with the fall that causes the ponding - Upstands too low, so water gets behind the membrane at abutments and door thresholds - No edge trims or drip details, so water tracks back under the covering and rots the fascia - Using a smooth walk-on finish on a roof that will be walked on regularly with no protection ## How the job runs, step by step - Step 1 ### Inspection We check deck condition, existing build-up, falls, outlet positions, upstands and abutments, and identify wet insulation or timber before pricing anything. - Step 2 ### Specification System chosen to suit the roof: GRP, EPDM or torch-on felt, with falls, insulation, trims and outlet details set out, then priced in writing at a fixed figure. - Step 3 ### Strip and prepare Old covering removed, wet decking and insulation replaced, firrings adjusted to correct falls, and the deck made sound, dry and clean ready for the membrane. - Step 4 ### Install Membrane laid as a continuous system with bonded or mechanically fixed detailing, moulded or formed trims, dressed upstands, and outlets connected and sealed. - Step 5 ### Test, verify and hand over We flood or hose-test drainage, check every detail, photograph the finished roof, remove all waste and confirm the guarantee position in writing. ## What you get out of it ### Water leaves the roof Correct falls and outlet detailing stop ponding, which is the single biggest cause of early flat roof failure. ### Few or no joints GRP is seamless and EPDM comes in large single sheets, so there are far fewer places for a failure to start. ### Right system for the roof Deck, shape, traffic and detailing decide the specification, rather than one product being used everywhere. ### Dry deck, longer life Replacing wet boards and insulation before covering protects the structure and the new membrane's service life. ### Tested before we leave Drainage is tested with water on site instead of being proved by the first heavy rain after handover. ### Neat visible edges Trims, drips and upstands are formed properly, so the roof looks finished from the garden as well as from above. ## Flat roofs in detail: materials, methods and variations ### Systems and materials GRP fibreglass is laid wet onto an OSB3 deck as resin and matting, cured into one seamless laminate and finished in a pigmented topcoat, with moulded GRP edge and drip trims bonded in. It is hard, walkable and well suited to extensions, balconies and small complex roofs. It needs dry conditions and a sound, correctly fixed deck. EPDM is a synthetic rubber single-ply membrane available in large sheets, bonded or mechanically fixed, with formed corners and pre-made accessories at outlets and upstands. Its movement tolerance and near-jointless coverage make it a strong choice on garages, dormers and larger simple rectangles. Torch-on felt is a multi-layer reinforced bitumen system with a capping sheet, still the pragmatic answer on some overlays, complex shapes and where local repairability matters. Insulation is specified as warm-roof boards where build-up and thresholds allow, since that is where the thermal performance of the roof is actually decided. ### Details, falls and traffic Falls are achieved with tapered firrings or tapered insulation, typically aiming at a minimum designed fall so that construction tolerances still leave water moving. Outlets are positioned at low points with adequate capacity, and rainwater goods sized to take the flow away. Upstands are carried to a sufficient height above the finished surface and terminated under a flashing, cover trim or chased detail, never simply sealed to a wall face. Door thresholds onto balconies are the hardest detail on any flat roof and need drainage in front of them rather than a bead of sealant. Where a roof will be walked on regularly, we specify a trafficable finish or protective surface, and where plant, ladders or maintenance access are involved we add protection layers so the membrane is not being damaged by the people looking after it. ### Residential versus commercial On houses, flat roofs are small, detail-heavy and visible from the garden or an upstairs window, so trims, lines and colour matter. Access is usually over a garden or through a side passage, which we plan for so planting and paving are protected. On commercial units the areas are larger and the constraints are different: plant, service penetrations, existing outlets, safe access and phasing so the premises stay operational and watertight at the end of each working day. ## Flat roofs: your questions answered How much does a new flat roof cost?It depends on area, the system, how much decking and insulation needs replacing and how complex the details are. A simple garage in EPDM and a balcony in GRP with a threshold detail are very different jobs, so we survey and give you one fixed written price. How long does a flat roof take to install?Most domestic flat roofs are one to three days once stripped, with GRP needing suitable dry weather to cure. Larger or more complex roofs take longer and we confirm the programme with the quote. Which is best: GRP, EPDM or felt?GRP for seamless, walkable finishes on smaller complex roofs; EPDM for large simple areas with minimal joints and good movement tolerance; high-performance felt where an overlay or awkward shape makes it the pragmatic choice. We recommend based on your deck, shape and use. How long does a flat roof last?Modern systems are specified with long service lives, and the manufacturers publish their own figures for the products we install. What actually determines lifespan is falls, deck condition and detailing, which is why we will not lay a membrane over a wet deck. Can you overlay my existing flat roof?Sometimes, where the deck is dry and sound and the build-up allows. Where the deck or insulation is wet, an overlay traps that moisture and shortens the new covering's life, so we strip instead and tell you why. Can I walk on it?GRP is walkable, and other systems can be made trafficable with the right specification or protection. Tell us at survey how the roof will be used and we will specify accordingly. My flat roof is leaking now, can you help urgently?Yes. Call 07460 072891. We make the roof watertight first, then survey for a permanent specification once it is safe and dry enough to assess the deck. Do you cover my area?Medway, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Strood, Rainham, Maidstone, Sittingbourne, Sheerness and the surrounding Kent towns. ## Get flat roofs priced properly: free survey, fixed written price Tell us what you are seeing and we will book a survey, diagnose the cause and give you one written price. 9.97 out of 10 from 12 Checkatrade reviews across Medway and Kent. Get my free surveyCall 07460 072891 Covering Medway, Maidstone, Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Chatham, Rainham, Sittingbourne, Sheerness and the surrounding Kent towns. Damp proofing, tanking, rendering and roofing specialists working across Medway and the wider Kent area. Company number 15471708. CheckatradeBark ## Get in touch - 01634 479890 - 07460 072891 - info@intellroofingandbuilding.co.uk - 116 Chatham Grove,Chatham, Kent, ME4 6LZ ## Opening hours - Monday8am – 6pm - Tuesday8am – 6pm - Wednesday8am – 6pm - Thursday8am – 6pm - Friday8am – 6pm - Saturday8am – 3pm - SundayClosed ## Areas covered - Medway - Maidstone - Rochester - Strood - Gillingham - Chatham - Rainham - Sittingbourne - Sheerness © 2026 Intell Roofing & Building Ltd. All rights reserved. AboutPrivacy policyCookie policyTerms & conditionsRequest a free estimate Call nowFree estimate