Felt Roofing Derby | Replacement & Repair | Free Quote

• Commercial flat roofs across Derbyshire

• Torch-on felt (bitumen torch-on) — the most durable option, lasting
  15–25 years or more when professionally installed. This is what we recommend and install on most Derby properties.
• Self-adhesive felt — suited to smaller areas such as porches; typically lasts
  15–20 years
• Traditional built-up felt — an older system commonly found on pre-2000 Derby homes; usually
  10–15 years before replacement is needed

The quality of materials makes a significant difference. Cheap felt available from DIY stores has a far shorter lifespan than the high-grade, polyester-reinforced systems we install. Low-quality felt is one of the most common reasons we’re called out to Derby properties for premature replacements.

If your felt roof is approaching the end of its service life, we offer a free drone survey across Derby to assess its condition before you commit to any work. Visit our roof drone survey page to book yours.

For habitable rooms — such as a living space above a kitchen extension — UK building regulations typically require all three layers. Garages and outbuildings in Derby may use a two-layer system, but we always recommend three layers for long-term performance.

The underlay is not optional. It is what stops water from reaching the roof deck. In homes across Spondon and Chaddesden where we see older single-layer felt installations, the deck boards underneath are often rotten by the time we get there. Getting the layer count right from the start protects the structure below, not just the surface.

Each layer is laid in a half-lap pattern — meaning joints are staggered so no two overlaps line up. This is the correct method and the one that prevents leaks at lap joints, which are the most common failure point on felt roofs.

• Rotten deck boards — when felt fails long-term, the OSB or timber deck beneath absorbs moisture and breaks down; we replace damaged deck before re-felting
• Flashing failures — where felt meets a wall or chimney, the upstand can lift or crack, allowing water to track behind the felt

Felt is water-resistant, not fail-proof. If you notice damp patches on a ceiling below a flat roof, or can see surface cracking from ground level, call us for a free inspection. We can usually repair a failing lap joint or patch a split the same day. Left longer, the same problem becomes a full strip and re-felt.

We offer flat roof repair in Derby as a standalone service — you do not need to wait for a full replacement to get the issue fixed.

Derby’s housing stock — particularly the large number of 1960s to 1990s semis with flat-roof rear extensions — is where we most often have this conversation with homeowners. In many of those cases, a modern torch-on felt system is still an excellent choice and far more cost-effective than upgrading to EPDM if the roof area is small.

Both systems are mortgage-friendly when installed by a qualified roofing contractor. If your lender or surveyor has flagged a felt roof on a property you are buying, the key issue is condition, not material. A well-maintained felt roof with a recent inspection report will satisfy most mortgage requirements. We can provide a written condition report following our survey. See our flat roofing page for full details on both systems.

Step 2 — Strip the old felt All existing felt is removed. We check the deck boards underneath for rot or damage.
Any rotten OSB or timber sections are replaced before the new felt goes down — this step is skipped by some contractors and leads to repeat failures.

Step 3 — Prepare the deck The surface is swept clean and a bitumen primer is applied where needed.
Drip trims and edge profiles are fixed so water runs clear of the fascia and into the gutters cleanly.

Step 4 — Lay the felt in sequence We install the venting base layer first, then the underlay, then the mineral cap sheet. Each layer is torch-bonded and lapped correctly to keep joints staggered.
Upstands are turned up at least 150mm against any adjoining walls, meeting BS 8217:2005 good practice guidance.

Step 5 — Seal edges and check drainage All lap joints, edge trims and flashings are checked and sealed. We
verify the roof has the correct fall (a minimum of 1:80) so water drains cleanly — incorrect fall is a leading cause of ponding and early felt failure.

Step 6 — Final inspection and sign-off We walk you through the completed roof, explain the maintenance checks to carry out, and confirm the works are covered under our workmanship guarantee.
We are fully insured and our work is guaranteed.

Most domestic felt roof jobs in Derby are finished within a day or two. For larger commercial flat roofs across Derbyshire, we schedule the work to minimise disruption to your business.

• Remove moss before it takes hold — moss retains moisture against the felt surface and speeds up deterioration;
  soft-wash treatment is available through our roof cleaning service
• Book a professional inspection once a year — many issues are visible from the surface before they cause interior damage
• Check flashings and upstands after high winds — these are the most common point of failure on Derby terraced and semi-detached properties

If your felt roof is more than ten years old and has not had a formal inspection, book one now through our roof maintenance service. We can identify small problems — a loose flashing, a small split at a lap joint — before they become the kind of damage that needs a full re-felt.

Why Choose Derby Roofers For Your Felt Roof

Choosing the right roofing contractor in Derby matters. A felt roof is only as good as the team that installs it. Here is why Derby homeowners and businesses trust us with their flat roofs.

• Over 20 years of local experience — we have been working on felt roofs across Derby and Derbyshire for decades. We know the local housing stock, the local weather, and the problems that come with it.
• Free survey and no-obligation quote — we inspect your roof first and give you a clear, itemised quote before any work begins. No guesswork, no surprises.
• Free drone roof survey available — we use drone technology to safely assess your felt roof without ladders or unnecessary access, giving you a detailed picture of its condition.
• Fully insured — all our roofing work is fully insured, so you and your property are protected throughout the job.
• Guaranteed workmanship — our felt roof installations come with a workmanship guarantee. We stand behind every job we complete in Derby and across Derbyshire.
• We only recommend what is needed — if a patch repair will fix your felt roof, we will tell you. We do not push for full replacements when they are not warranted.
• 24-hour availability — roof problems do not keep office hours. We are available around the clock and always respond to calls and emails promptly.
• Local team, local knowledge — we are based in Derby. When you call us, you speak to someone who knows Allestree, Spondon, Mickleover and every other part of the city. No call centres, no subcontractors passed down a chain.

Call us on 01332-529704 or book your free roof survey today.

Derby Roofers proudly serves homeowners and businesses throughout Derby city and the wider Derbyshire area. Our local teams cover:

Derby City Areas:

Surrounding Derbyshire Towns & Villages:

• Email us at [email protected] — we respond to every message
• Book a free drone survey — ideal if you’re unsure about roof access

Derby Roofers. Local. Experienced. Fully insured. Trusted across Derbyshire for over 20 years.

• Three-layer torch-on bitumen felt, blowtorch-bonded in staggered lap joints - the standard build-up on a habitable extension roof, typically lasting 15-25 years when installed correctly
• Two-layer torch-on felt or cold-applied pour-and-roll felt on smaller roofs such as garages, porches and bay windows, or anywhere an open flame isn’t practical to use
• Upstand and flashing detail dressed at least 150mm up any abutment, chimney or parapet wall and sealed against wind-driven rain
• Falls corrected to the 1:80 minimum so water runs to the outlets instead of sitting on the roof
• New or resealed roof outlets, gullies and trims
• Deck inspection, with like-for-like repair of rotten timber or OSB boards found once the old felt is stripped back
• Installation carried out to BS 8217:2005 for bitumen felt roof coverings

• Structural roof timber or joist replacement beyond the deck boards - quoted separately as carpentry work once the extent is known
• EPDM rubber or GRP fibreglass roofing - different membrane systems, priced and installed on their own terms
• Guttering, fascia or downpipe replacement, unless it’s bundled into the same job
• Skylight or roof light replacement
• Scaffolding, where the roof is reachable safely by ladder or has already been assessed by drone survey

1. Enquiry and photos: Get in touch with a description of the problem or a few photos of the roof - lifted joints, ponding, cracked felt or an ageing roof due for replacement all help narrow down whether it’s a repair or a full re-felt before anyone visits.
2. Free survey: A drone survey covers roofs that are awkward or unsafe to reach directly; a direct on-roof inspection is used where access is straightforward. Either way the survey checks the deck, the falls, the number of existing felt layers and the condition of upstands and outlets.
3. Fixed written quote: The quote sets out exactly what’s being done - torch-on or pour-and-roll, how many layers, flashing and upstand work included - so there’s no ambiguity between a repair price and a full replacement price.
4. Strip-out and deck check: On a replacement, old felt is removed and the deck underneath is checked properly; rotten OSB or timber boards found at this stage are replaced before any new felt goes down.
5. Felt installation: New felt is laid in staggered lap joints, torch-bonded with a blowtorch or cold-bonded with pour-and-roll where flame use isn’t suitable, with upstands and flashings dressed in at abutments, chimneys and parapet walls.
6. Final check and guarantee: The finished roof is checked for correct falls and sealed outlets, the workmanship guarantee is issued, and realistic lifespan expectations for the system installed are explained before the job’s signed off.

Every summer a felt roof looks fine gives you a head start before the wet months when ponding, lifted lap joints and split felt turn into ceiling stains and rotten deck boards. Getting a free survey now, while access is easy and the weather is dry, means any repair or re-felt is planned rather than rushed through in a downpour. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote and find out exactly how much life is left in your roof.