Flat Roofing Specialistsin Headcorn
Flat roofs fail quietly until water finds a way in. We install new flat roofs and repair existing ones on extensions, garages, dormers and outbuildings.
- New flat roof installations
- Leak investigation and repairs
- Garages, extensions and dormers
- Priced individually after inspection
- 18 years in the roofing trade
- Rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade
- Open 24 hours, with emergency repairs typically within 2 hours
- Honest advice and clear quotes
- Public liability insured
- Family-run, with honest advice and no hard sell
Service overview
What Flat Roof Installations & Repairs Involves
Flat roofing covers the installation of new flat roofs and the repair of existing ones on extensions, garages, dormers, porches, bay windows and outbuildings. A flat roof isn't truly flat, it has a slight fall to carry water away, and it relies on a continuous waterproof covering, so the quality of every joint and edge matters.
It's for homeowners with a flat roof that's leaking, blistering, ponding water or simply getting old, and for anyone building an extension or replacing a tired garage roof. Flat roofs are often out of sight, so problems go unnoticed until water appears inside.
Professional help matters because flat roof leaks are notoriously hard to trace. Water can enter at one point and travel along the deck before appearing somewhere else entirely. An experienced roofer knows where flat roofs typically fail, at upstands, edges, outlets and joints, and whether a repair will last or the covering has reached the end of its life.
The cost of waiting
What Happens If It's Left
Flat roofs tend to fail slowly and then suddenly. A small split or a lifted edge lets water into the deck, the deck softens, and before long a patch repair is no longer possible.
Rotten decking
Water soaking into timber decking causes it to soften, sag and eventually need replacing.
Ponding water
Standing water accelerates wear and finds any weakness in the covering.
Internal damage
Extensions and kitchens under flat roofs are often where the most expensive fittings are.
Hidden spread
Leaks can travel under the covering, making the damage larger than it looks.
Common mistakes homeowners make
- Repeatedly patching a covering that has failed across its whole area.
- Painting on a coating over a wet or damaged deck.
- Ignoring blisters, cracks and ponding because the roof is out of sight.
- Overlooking the edges, upstands and outlets where most failures begin.
How it works
Our Process, Step by Step
- 01
Inspection
We check the covering, edges, upstands and outlets to find where water is getting in.
- 02
Repair or replace advice
We tell you honestly whether a repair will last or the roof needs replacing.
- 03
Clear quote
Priced individually for your roof. We explain everything before work starts.
- 04
The work
Repairs carried out, or the old covering stripped and a new flat roof installed.
- 05
Tidy-up and warranty
Site cleared and the warranty terms for the work explained.
Why it's worth it
What You Get
Dry extensions
Protect the rooms and fittings underneath your flat roof.
Honest advice
No pushing a new roof when a repair will do.
Longevity
A properly detailed flat roof avoids the recurring leaks of a patched one.
Fast response
Open 24 hours, with a typical 2-hour response for emergency leaks.
In detail
A Closer Look at Flat Roof Installations & Repairs
Types of flat roof covering
Flat roofs have traditionally been covered in built-up bitumen felt, laid in layers and often finished with mineral chippings. Modern alternatives include single-ply membranes such as EPDM rubber, and liquid-applied or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) systems. Each has different strengths in terms of appearance, flexibility and how it handles detailing around edges and upstands. We'll explain the options that suit your roof.
Where flat roofs fail
Most flat roof failures happen at the details rather than the middle of the roof: where the roof meets a wall (the upstand), at the edges and drip trims, around outlets and gutters, around roof lights, and at joints in the covering. Movement between the roof and the house, sun damage and poor original installation are common underlying causes.
Extensions, garages and dormers
Extension roofs often sit over kitchens and living spaces, so a leak can damage expensive fittings. Garage roofs are frequently older and neglected. Dormer roofs are small but exposed, and a failure can let water directly into a bedroom. Each needs the same attention to detail, whatever its size.
Decking, falls and drainage
Beneath the covering is the deck, usually timber boarding. If it's been wet for a long time it may need replacing before a new covering goes on. The roof also needs enough fall for water to drain to the gutter or outlet; ponding is a sign the fall is inadequate or the deck has sagged.
Signs your flat roof needs attention
Look for water pooling on the roof for more than a day or two after rain, blisters or bubbles in the covering, cracks and splits, edges lifting away from the drip trim, moss or vegetation growing on the surface, and soft or spongy areas underfoot. Inside, stains on the ceiling of an extension or garage, or a musty smell, often point to water getting in.
Because flat roofs are often out of sight, it's worth having them checked if you notice any of these signs, or if the roof is getting on in years and you've never had it looked at.
Repairing versus re-covering a flat roof
A localised split, a failed joint or a lifted edge can often be repaired effectively. When the covering is failing across much of its area, is badly blistered or cracked all over, or the deck beneath has gone soft, re-covering the whole roof is usually the better long-term choice. Patching a roof that has reached the end of its life tends to mean paying for repeated repairs without solving the problem.
Flat roofs on new extensions
If you're building an extension, the flat roof is one of the most important parts to get right, because it sits over a room you've just invested in. Details such as the upstand where the roof meets the house wall, the edge trims, outlets and any roof lights need careful attention. It's worth thinking about the roof covering early in the project rather than leaving it as an afterthought.
Garage and outbuilding roofs
Garage roofs are often the oldest and most neglected flat roofs on a property. Many are still covered in old felt that has cracked and blistered. If you store anything valuable in a garage or use it as a workshop, a failing roof can cause real damage. Re-covering a garage roof is usually a relatively contained job and can make the space dry and usable again.
Flat roofing across Kent
We install and repair flat roofs throughout Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Chatham, Gravesend and Romney Marsh.
Why Alliance
Why Kent Homeowners Choose Us for Flat Roof Installations & Repairs
Alliance Roofing and Property Maintenance is a family-run business founded by Perrin Harber, who has worked in the trade since the age of 11 alongside his dad. With 18 years of hands-on experience, Perrin still works side by side with his dad, supported by a couple of regular leads, and can bring together a larger team when a job calls for it.
When you contact us about flat roof installations & repairs, you deal with the people who actually do the work. Reviewers regularly describe the team as friendly, honest, polite and tidy, with fair prices and no hard sell. Every job is priced individually, warranty terms vary by the work carried out, and we hold public liability insurance. We're open 24 hours a day, listed on Checkatrade and Bark, and rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade.
FAQs
Flat Roof Installations & Repairs: Your Questions Answered
How much does a flat roof cost in Kent?+
It depends on the size, the condition of the deck and the covering chosen. Every flat roof job is priced individually after inspection.
Can my flat roof be repaired rather than replaced?+
Often a localised repair is enough. If the covering has failed across the whole roof, we'll tell you honestly that replacement is the better option.
How long does a new flat roof take?+
Many domestic flat roofs such as garages and small extensions take a short time, but it depends on size, deck condition and weather. We'll confirm timescales when we quote.
How long will a new flat roof last?+
Lifespan varies with the covering type and installation quality. We'll explain the options and the warranty terms that apply when we quote.
Do you take a deposit?+
For jobs over roughly £1,000, we ask for a 50% deposit. Smaller jobs don't require one.
What warranty do I get?+
Warranty terms vary depending on the work carried out. We'll explain the warranty that applies to your job when we quote.
Are you insured?+
Yes. We hold public liability insurance.
Are you available for emergencies?+
Yes. We operate 24 hours a day, and our typical emergency response time is within 2 hours.
Which areas of Kent do you cover?+
We're based at TN27 9JB and cover Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Chatham, Gravesend and Romney Marsh.
Still have a question? Contact us or return to the homepage.
Get your flat roof installations & repairs sorted properly
Honest advice, a clear quote and no hard sell. Rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade, insured, open 24 hours.