[dUnKle]

We have an attached garage on the house which has a flat roof
Noticed few weeks back what looked like a damp patch and upon investigation it appeared there was a small leak.

Today the rain being as heavy as it is the leak is more noticable, its more of a drip than anything but certainly damp on the ceiling is noticable more than ever

The top of the garage looks like this

How do I go about repairing the roof of the garage ?
Noticed the bloke across from us a few weeks ago with what looked like a big roll of tar and grit on a sheet (image there is a technical term) laying this on top of his

I found http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/repairflatroof.htm but not really sure what it is I need to buy

[zmoosa1]

You'll probably have to lay down new roofing felt which is available in most builders merchants.

This may help!!

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by zmoosa1

You'll probably have to lay down new roofing felt which is available in most builders merchants.

This may help!!

Good link - thanks

Anyone able to point me to directly what I need to go and buy (we have a Wickes nearby) and also maybe a site with actual photo illustrations ?

[Kebabhead]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

Good link - thanks

Anyone able to point me to directly what I need to go and buy (we have a Wickes nearby) and also maybe a site with actual photo illustrations ?

It tells you what you need to buy in the materials section at the bottom of the page in the link provided

[Kieron]

Can you see where the water is coming in? You could try Flexacryl - you paint it on and it turns to rubber.

I used it for a few winters, alas this year we had to have a whole new flat roof put up.

The new roof has an incline on it now so the water runs down to a new drain pipe system.

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by Kieron

Can you see where the water is coming in? You could try Flexacryl - you paint it on and it turns to rubber.

I used it for a few winters, alas this year we had to have a whole new flat roof put up.

The new roof has an incline on it now so the water runs down to a new drain pipe system.

Cheers all - feeling bit more positive
Upon closer inspection it appears to be a concrete roof with a very vin layer of what I think is called bichamen (sp?) but as can be seen in pic this is wearing away in places which happen to coincide with the damp patch

Think may get the Flexacryl and do emergency repairs on the next dry hour we get and then refelt next time we have better run of sun

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by Kebabhead

It tells you what you need to buy in the materials section at the bottom of the page in the link provided

Cheers - missed that
As said it appears the roof is concrete - does this make a difference ?

[zmoosa1]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

Think may get the Flexacryl and do emergency repairs on the next dry hour we get and then refelt next time we have better run of sun

Looking at the contours at the edge of the roof it may be best to use flexacryll only (rather than roof felt), as there seems to be a gully for drainage on the edge. Might be worth while applying a couple of coats initially and "topping-up" every couple of years!

[GaryB]

Wickes have a selection of sealants, both emergency and permanent:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Weatherproof...t/wproofrepliq

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by zmoosa1

Looking at the contours at the edge of the roof it may be best to use flexacryll only (rather than roof felt), as there seems to be a gully for drainage on the edge. Might be worth while applying a couple of coats initially and "topping-up" every couple of years!

Cheers for that

[PJTX100]

Get a tin of sealant and slap it on.

Your biggest challenge may be finding a window of opportunity between the rain.

[Kieron]

The only issue I found is finding exactly where the water was getting in. Yes there will be a wet patch, but the actual crack in the felt could be meters away.

Trial and error I'm afraid - I don't envy you having done it every year for the past 4/5 years....

[IronGiant]

Not having much luck with that house are you dUnKle?

For a temporary repair a can of car underseal works a treat, but only if you are planning to get it re-roofed as getting it off would be a nightmare. If you pop into Wickes they have a good leaflet describing replacing roofing felt. I think they have two systems, one bitumen based, the other a bit more DIY user friendly, I bit the bullet and had mine done professionally in the end.

Dave

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by IronGiant

Not having much luck with that house are you dUnKle?

For a temporary repair a can of car underseal works a treat, but only if you are planning to get it re-roofed as getting it off would be a nightmare. If you pop into Wickes they have a good leaflet describing replacing roofing felt. I think they have two systems, one bitumen based, the other a bit more DIY user friendly, I bit the bullet and had mine done professionally in the end.

Dave

To be fair problems are not reall as bad as they may seem - just me striving to want everything perfect

Got bit of time off this month so going to get a couple of tins of the temp stuff to put up there and then wait til spring next year and look at doing a more perm job

Been told by Wickes that it being concrete increases my options

[PJTX100]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

Been told by Wickes that it being concrete increases my options

When we moved into our house, you could see the stars through the garage roof.

If that makes you feel any better.

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by PJTX100

When we moved into our house, you could see the stars through the garage roof.

If that makes you feel any better.

Which stars ? anyone good

[dUnKle]

Well the bitumen worked on he garage, got a HUGE barrel of the stuff, poured it over the roof and brushed it on (in) with a heavy duty year broom - only a temp fix but it stopped the leak

HOWEVER ........................

Following the heavy rain of last few nights I have just found what looks like a leak in the roof of the utility room (kinda expected this as felt seemed a little thin when went up there few months ago so guess only self to blame)

Have just nipped up in the gaps in the rain and covered all the joins and the thin areas with some of the bitumen that I had left over, big thick covering and hope that will fight off some of the weather

How easy is it to refelt ?
Can I put more felt over the existing felt ? Is it fairly simple to do ?

Think will follow this guide http://www.wickes.co.uk/content/ebiz...ges/gil/65.pdf as mentioned above
Do I need to take all the existing felt up ? or can I do the above over it to add protection ?

[RichardK]

If the existing felt is in good condition then you can just put another layer of felt over the top, but if it is starting to crack and break up it's best to remove the old.

It's an easy job to do, but it'll take longer than you'd expect.

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by RichardK

If the existing felt is in good condition then you can just put another layer of felt over the top, but if it is starting to crack and break up it's best to remove the old.

It's an easy job to do, but it'll take longer than you'd expect.

The existing stuff seems ok - no cracks in the main just on the joins seems to be the problem

[dUnKle]

Well I went and got the easy seal stuff and been on roof to take a nother look

Worst of it seems to be the edges and the flashing and def source f he leak

In dilema as to put the easy seal stuff onto of existing felt or replace in its entirity

[IronGiant]

I had the same dilemma and whimped out and got a pro in to upgrade the insulation (bedroom extension) replace the decking and redo the whole lot. Not cheap, but it is guaranteed for 15 years

Dave

[RichardK]

If it is more than 5 years old it's probably best to replace it all, but as it's unlikely you'll be able to do it all in one day, you'll need to be able to keep the roof weatherproof once you've stripped off the old, so a repair might be the best thing to do with the current weather.

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by RichardK

If it is more than 5 years old it's probably best to replace it all, but as it's unlikely you'll be able to do it all in one day, you'll need to be able to keep the roof weatherproof once you've stripped off the old, so a repair might be the best thing to do with the current weather.

cheers
the bitumen i have put over most of the damp looking areas on the roof seems to have stopped it for now

I may now just keep an eye on it and wait til spring and do a proper job of it

[KelvinS1965]

Me and a friend did my garage roof two years ago using the self adhesive stuff from Wickes. The undersheet is stuck down using a tin of 'primer', plus it's adhesive backing, then the top (gritty) layer (laid at 90 degress to the undersheet) is stuck down like very sticky, sandpaper. We took off the old felt and screwed 6mm exterior grade plywood sheets onto the existing 'planked' roof (circa 1974) first.

It took a day to strip, fit the plywood and underfelt and we finished the top felt the second morning. I think it cost about £300 or so, plus I bought some wide plastic trim for the sides of the roof from Screwfix for about another £100. A neighbour had their's done last year for about £800 (no plastic trim so £500 more than mine).

Depends how handy you are, verses how much you value your time.

[IronGiant]

I managed a temporary fix with car underseal, in the hope that it would last until spring, then the opposite end started to leak too so I threw in the towel. I think it was when my son told me there was running water flowing down the wall and pooling up on his carpet

Dave

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

Me and a friend did my garage roof two years ago using the self adhesive stuff from Wickes. The undersheet is stuck down using a tin of 'primer', plus it's adhesive backing, then the top (gritty) layer (laid at 90 degress to the undersheet) is stuck down like very sticky, sandpaper. We took off the old felt and screwed 6mm exterior grade plywood sheets onto the existing 'planked' roof (circa 1974) first.

It took a day to strip, fit the plywood and underfelt and we finished the top felt the second morning. I think it cost about £300 or so, plus I bought some wide plastic trim for the sides of the roof from Screwfix for about another £100. A neighbour had their's done last year for about £800 (no plastic trim so £500 more than mine).

Depends how handy you are, verses how much you value your time.

Doing work not a problem - getting quite good as long as im patient

Just dont know whats under the existing felt and as such think it may be very ambitious to attempt doing it on my day off on Friday as even if dry when I start chances are it will p down before I finish

The bitumen that I have painted over all the joins of the existing felt and also along the flashing and along where the roof joins the wall seems to be holding - no leaks or drips since and weather been just as bad

Think may take any break in weather on friday to touch up the flashing and put another coat on and then wait til know there will be less wind and rain (and more daylight) to do it properly

[IronGiant]

Sounds like a plan. If it's of a certain age they used chipboard decking that isn't really weather proof and will be falling to bits, can you reach in underneath and see if it feels flaky at all?

Mine was, and I realised I had to either wait until next summer to do a complete replacement myself or get it done now. If the temporary fix works, stay with it until you get the chance to do it properly.