The flat roof on this Tarvin property had been finished in the old style: felt with a layer of stone chippings on top, laid over soft fibre boards. It was damaged, so the plan was a full strip-out and a completely renewed roof.
The photos take it from the old covering being torn off, through the bare joists and new deck, to the finished grey rubber surface with its edge trims.
Taking the old roof off
Once the chippings and felt were broken up, the old boards came away in large sheets, and the joists and the insulation between them were left open. You can see straight down into the garage below, with the owner's tools and storage still in place, which is why a strip like this is planned so that the roof is open for as short a time as possible.
At the house wall the old felt had been turned up against the brickwork and had broken down along that line. Cables for the house ran across the top of the joists at this point too, so they had to be worked around carefully.
Rebuilding the roof
With the old material cleared, fresh timber went across the joists and new OSB boards were laid over the whole area, running tight to the brick wall and out to the garden edge. A sound new deck is the foundation of the whole job: any rubber membrane is only as flat and firm as the boards it is bonded to.
The new covering is EPDM rubber, laid in large sheets and bonded down, then finished at the edges with black trims. At the house wall it is turned up the brickwork, and at the front it runs over the garage door line to a trimmed edge.
- Old felt, chippings and fibre boards removed completely
- Joists opened up, with insulation visible between them
- New OSB deck boards across the full roof
- EPDM rubber membrane with black edge trims
Got a similar roof?
Lots of older garages and extensions still have chipping-covered felt roofs like this one. If yours is leaking or the boards feel soft underfoot, have a look at our flat roof repairs and rubber roofing page, or send us a message with a photo. There is also a rubber roof with new fascias in Frodsham if you want to see another rebuild.
Questions About This Kind of Job
Why strip a flat roof right back to the joists?
When a roof has been leaking for a while the old boards are often soft or stained. Taking everything off lets us see the joists and start again on a clean, solid base rather than covering over damage.
What were the stones on top of the old roof for?
Chippings were commonly spread over felt roofs to shield the felt from sunlight. Over time they wash into gutters and hide splits in the felt beneath, which makes leaks harder to trace.
Is EPDM suitable for a garage roof?
Yes. Garages are one of the most common places for a rubber roof. It suits the simple shape and goes on over a new timber deck without any naked flames.
Can you work around cables and satellite dishes on the roof?
Yes. Cables are moved clear while the deck is changed and fittings on the wall are worked around, as they were on this Tarvin job.
