Real flat roof case study: Walcot kitchen extension, failed felt, rotten deck, GRP replacement, £3,400.
A 1970s kitchen extension in Walcot with a flat felt roof that had been leaking intermittently for three years despite two previous repair attempts by other roofers.
The original three-layer bitumen felt was 45 years old — well past its design life. Previous repairs had patched localised cracks but the felt was failing across its entire surface. Worse, the chipboard deck underneath had swelled from 45 years of moisture exposure, creating an uneven surface that no membrane could bond to properly. The falls were inadequate — water ponded in the centre of the roof after every rain, freezing in winter and accelerating the membrane deterioration. The kitchen ceiling below had been replastered twice.
Complete strip of existing felt and chipboard deck. Joist inspection — two joists had surface rot requiring treatment but were structurally sound. New 18mm WBP marine-grade plywood deck. Tapered firring strips creating a 1:40 fall to a new outlet position on the rear edge. Cross-ventilation installed via soffit vents on opposing walls. Topseal GRP fibreglass system — primer coat, glass fibre mat, two resin coats, topcoat. Mechanical edge trims at 200mm centres. 150mm upstands at all wall junctions. New sealed outlet with leaf guard.
Day 1: Strip existing roof. Inspect and treat joists. Lay new plywood deck with firring strips. Install ventilation. Day 2: Apply GRP system — primer, mat, resin layup, trim and upstand detailing. Topcoat applied late afternoon. Day 3: Final inspection and cleanup.
Total: £3,400 for 18 square metres including all materials, deck replacement, ventilation installation and the GRP membrane system with 25-year manufacturer guarantee.
Three winters with zero leaks — the first dry winters the kitchen has had in over a decade. No ponding after rain — water drains to the outlet within minutes. The ventilation has eliminated the condensation that contributed to the joist surface rot. The homeowner has finally been able to decorate the kitchen ceiling with confidence it will stay dry.
Call 0179 329 7084 for free advice.
0179 329 7084"Honest advice, professional work, fair pricing. Everything you want from a local roofer."
"Free survey was thorough. Clear explanation, no pressure. Will use them when the time comes."
"From first call to finished job — professional, punctual, clean. Highly recommend."
The original three-layer bitumen felt was 45 years old — well past its design life. Previous repairs had patched localised cracks but the felt was failing across its entire surface. Worse, the chipboard deck underneath had swelled from 45 years of moisture exposure, creating an uneven surface that n
Complete strip of existing felt and chipboard deck. Joist inspection — two joists had surface rot requiring treatment but were structurally sound. New 18mm WBP marine-grade plywood deck. Tapered firring strips creating a 1:40 fall to a new outlet position on the rear edge. Cross-ventilation installe
Day 1: Strip existing roof. Inspect and treat joists. Lay new plywood deck with firring strips. Install ventilation. Day 2: Apply GRP system — primer, mat, resin layup, trim and upstand detailing. Topcoat applied late afternoon. Day 3: Final inspection and cleanup.
Prices depend on scope and access. We provide free written itemised quotes with no obligation and no call-out fee. Every quote breaks down materials, labour, scaffold and waste disposal separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Three winters with zero leaks — the first dry winters the kitchen has had in over a decade. No ponding after rain — water drains to the outlet within minutes. The ventilation has eliminated the condensation that contributed to the joist surface rot. The homeowner has finally been able to decorate th
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins.
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins.
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins.
Every roofing job is different. The property type, the housing era, the specific failure pattern, the exposure conditions and the homeowner's priorities all affect the specification and the cost. That is why we provide free, no-obligation surveys and detailed written quotes for every job. A case study like this one shows our process in action — the diagnosis, the specification decision-making, the execution and the result. If you recognise a similar problem on your own property, call 0179 329 7084 for a free assessment. We will tell you honestly what your roof needs, what it will cost, and how long it will take. No pressure, no salespeople, just straightforward advice from the people who will actually do the work.
We are NFRC registered, carry five million pounds of public liability insurance, and provide a written 10-year workmanship guarantee on every job. We have been serving Swindon and surrounding Wiltshire since 2003. Our business is built entirely on honest work and word-of-mouth recommendation. We do not advertise, we do not cold-call, and we do not employ salespeople. Every customer comes to us through recommendation or by finding us online — and we keep them by doing excellent work at fair prices. That is a business model we are proud of and one that benefits every homeowner who works with us.
We cover every postcode and neighbourhood across Swindon and a 15-mile radius. From the 1840s Railway Village to the 2020s Wichelstowe development, from hilltop Highworth to floodplain Cricklade, from the wind-exposed western estates at Shaw and Toothill to the sheltered inner suburbs at Covingham and Eldene. We carry the twelve most common tile profiles on every van, maintain relationships with specialist suppliers for reclaimed Welsh slate, Cotswold limestone tiles and traditional materials, and switch between modern specifications and period-appropriate techniques daily. Whether your property needs a single tile replacement, a full re-roof, a flat roof conversion, or specialist chimney work, we have the expertise, the materials and the local knowledge to do the job right first time.
A good roofer surveys from the roof, not from the ground. Photographs everything and explains what they find in plain language. Provides a detailed written specification, not just a price. Uses the correct materials for the property type and local conditions. Specifies stainless steel fixings as standard rather than the galvanised nails that caused Swindon's nail sickness crisis. Includes scaffold and waste removal in the quote. Offers a meaningful written guarantee backed by trade body membership and adequate insurance. Turns up when they say they will, does what they quoted, cleans up after themselves and stands behind the work for years afterward. This is the standard we maintain on every job and the standard you should expect from any roofer you hire.
Twenty years of continuous service to Swindon homeowners means something. It means we have fixed roofs on every type of property in every neighbourhood. It means we have seen every roofing problem this town can produce — from the nail sickness crisis on the post-war estates to the listed building conservation work in Old Town and the Railway Village. It means we know which materials last in Swindon's exposed conditions and which fail prematurely. It means we have relationships with suppliers who can source reclaimed Welsh slate, period clay tiles and specialist materials within days. It means we have a reputation built entirely on doing good work at fair prices — no advertising, no cold calling, just honest workmanship that speaks for itself. And it means we will still be here next year, and the year after, and for the full ten years of your guarantee. That is the difference between a local roofer and a name you found on a lead generation website. Call 0179 329 7084 and experience the difference.
From £150, no call-out fee.
More →Full re-roofs, 10yr guarantee.
More →GRP/EPDM, 25yr guarantees.
More →Same-day 24/7 response.
Call Now →Cleaning, repairs, replacement.
More →Repointing, flashings, stacks.
More →Biocide, 3-5yr protection.
More →uPVC roofline, ventilation.
More →Fitted to your roof.
More →Code 4 flashings, valleys.
More →Repair, matching, re-roofing.
More →Surveys from £120, fee credited.
More →Last updated: August 2026
Local Swindon roofers you can trust.
0179 329 7084