This blog post will discuss the importance of having your flat roof inspected and maintained on a regular basis and it will also cover the types of flat roof inspections and the benefits of each. Some insurance companies require an annual check on a flat roof if the flat roof is over 50% of the room span.

Torch-on flat roof systems are explained below:

The flat roof materials we are going to focus on in this blog are known as ‘Torch-on activated flat roof installation systems. This is where you would have a multi-layered roofing structure made up of a ‘cold flat roofing system, which would generally incorporate a two or three-layer system or a warm flat roofing system, which can consist of 4 to 5 layers, these may include vapour barrier, insulation, perforated layer (Vent layer), 2 or 3ml polyester or glass fibre layer, then a cap sheet, generally consisting of a 4.5 or 5kg polyester mineral, these layers are welded together by using a blow torch which melts a modified bitumen and holds the flat roofing system onto the substrate, this could be either concrete or wood deck.

What do we mean by ‘regular inspections on a flat roof?

If you have had a competent roofer install your flat roof system, using a high-performance membrane, it should exceed 20 years of life if maintained properly. If you are looking to have a regular maintenance program with a competent roofer, or a roofing maintenance contract, you would be planning a minimum of a 5-year inspection of the torch on a flat roofing system in your home or business premises.

Why would you need to have regular inspections on your flat roof?

1. Insurance – many insurance companies now require homeowners and business owners with a property that includes a flat roof to have the roof inspected and maintained on a regular basis.
2. Longevity – a regular roof inspection should identify upcoming failures and allow you to rectify them before the roof leaks and creates internal damage to the property.
3. Long-term money saving – if you identify a potential leak, you will be preventing long-term damage to your flat roof and the need to fully replace in the shorter term

What are the different types of a 5-year flat roof inspection?

1. You can inspect your own roof if you know what to look for, but this would not be acceptable to an insurance company. If you inspect your own roof, you will need to be able to access via a ladder or possibly scaffolding, you must never carry out any working at-height inspection on your own. This would be the cheapest route but may not give you an accurate picture.
2. Use a RISC-qualified surveyor, this report will provide you with an inspection report, but a surveyor is not trained specifically in roof inspections and can only provide recommendations and that would generally include having a competent roofing contractor inspect the premises.
3. Book in with a competent roofing contractor to provide you with a roof inspection with an estimate of the cost associated with having the roof repaired, if any issues were found during the roof inspection. Using a member of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors will give you the comfort of knowing the roofing contractor has been through an external accreditation process.

All Torch-on flat roof inspections should come with a gallery of photos showing evidence of either issues on the roof or a clear roof that has no present failures. If you need a flat roof inspection please get in touch with our offices in Harrow and book in for an inspection with one of our senior roofing team.

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