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Original poster

Extension with flat roof on first floor

13 replies

midnightOK · 04/04/2023 19:54

Viewed a house today with a nice extension, but it's an old extension built in 1970s and the roof for the first floor is flat. It also has a side extension on first floor only which seems having wall hanging tiles. Does anyone have experience with houses of this type? Can the flat roof be a potential problem in the future? Is the side extension difficult to repair in the future? Many thanks

OP posts:
Noodlepoodle89 · 05/04/2023 08:36

, I have a house with a similar setup but my extension would have been done in the 90s I think and I don't have a flat roof to first floor. I converted the garage with a flat roof recently and that has been fine but the extension roof at the back has caused quite a few issues and cost a lot if money. Stil not fixed properly so leaks when it rains a certain direction. It leaked so badly once, it got into an electrical socket in the wall which petrified me.

I'm looking at buying now and would not consider a flat roof ever again. I think they should be banned in this country like they are in New Zealand. Our weather can't cope with them.

Original poster
midnightOK · 05/04/2023 10:36

Noodlepoodle89 · 05/04/2023 08:36

, I have a house with a similar setup but my extension would have been done in the 90s I think and I don't have a flat roof to first floor. I converted the garage with a flat roof recently and that has been fine but the extension roof at the back has caused quite a few issues and cost a lot if money. Stil not fixed properly so leaks when it rains a certain direction. It leaked so badly once, it got into an electrical socket in the wall which petrified me.

I'm looking at buying now and would not consider a flat roof ever again. I think they should be banned in this country like they are in New Zealand. Our weather can't cope with them.

Thanks, really appreciate your reply. Maybe we shouldn't consider it then.

OP posts:
Noodlepoodle89 · 05/04/2023 11:17

Tbh OP, half the battle is getting people to fix it properly. I've been through about 5 'roofers' and none of them have fixed it properly and just taken the money to find it still leaks a few months later.

Diyextension · 05/04/2023 11:22

A flat roof is a bad design full stop. Why do you think 99.9 % of houses in this country have a pitched roof ?

Original poster
midnightOK · 05/04/2023 12:00

Noodlepoodle89 · 05/04/2023 11:17

Tbh OP, half the battle is getting people to fix it properly. I've been through about 5 'roofers' and none of them have fixed it properly and just taken the money to find it still leaks a few months later.

I am planning to have my roof repaired recently and people just won't turn up to do it, very frustrating, totally understand your pain

OP posts:
Original poster
midnightOK · 05/04/2023 12:01

Diyextension · 05/04/2023 11:22

A flat roof is a bad design full stop. Why do you think 99.9 % of houses in this country have a pitched roof ?

Good point. We like the layout of the house, it's just the same roof which is a big concern.

OP posts:
CellophaneFlower · 06/04/2023 13:51

I have a flat roof on my extension. I'm not sure if it's ever been replaced, but it's old and the extension is probably from the 80s. We've only had issues with the bay incorporated in it and we needed the flashing repaired, just a tiny part where it meets the house. Fixed easily and cheaply and all roofers in my area happily deal with flat roofs.

My dad had a flat roof on his extension (self built, builder). Built in 80s and can't recall him ever replacing it. Small watermark appeared a year ago, had it re-felted, again, not expensive.

Materials these days are much better than what were originally used on these roofs and even they've lasted yonks, so I do think how well they're installed is key.

I wouldn't be put off if I loved the house.

Xrays · 06/04/2023 13:53

Noodlepoodle89 · 05/04/2023 08:36

, I have a house with a similar setup but my extension would have been done in the 90s I think and I don't have a flat roof to first floor. I converted the garage with a flat roof recently and that has been fine but the extension roof at the back has caused quite a few issues and cost a lot if money. Stil not fixed properly so leaks when it rains a certain direction. It leaked so badly once, it got into an electrical socket in the wall which petrified me.

I'm looking at buying now and would not consider a flat roof ever again. I think they should be banned in this country like they are in New Zealand. Our weather can't cope with them.

I agree. We have a flat roof on our extension and it’s caused no end of issues and expense.

pilates · 06/04/2023 15:58

Could you afford to replace it with a pitch?

FizzyFlamingo · 06/04/2023 16:40

Interesting - we have a kitchen extension with a flat roof (built about 20 years before we bought it so probably 30 odd years old now). Haven't had any issues at all thankfully and don't really give it a second thought. The conservatory roof on the other hand....

Maybe we've just been lucky and we'll get some problems further down the line but so far it's been fine. I guess it probably all depends on how well the work has been done.

Blossomtoes · 06/04/2023 17:20

FizzyFlamingo · 06/04/2023 16:40

Interesting - we have a kitchen extension with a flat roof (built about 20 years before we bought it so probably 30 odd years old now). Haven't had any issues at all thankfully and don't really give it a second thought. The conservatory roof on the other hand....

Maybe we've just been lucky and we'll get some problems further down the line but so far it's been fine. I guess it probably all depends on how well the work has been done.

I had a flat roofed extension on my first house. No problems whatsoever. My neighbour has one, we’ve lived next door for 24 years and they’ve just had some maintenance work done on it for the first time since we’ve lived here.

SleeplessInEdi123 · 07/04/2023 17:49

Flat roofs used to be felt. If they were well done they could last decades and decades. Now you can get a material that looks a bit like rubber, and it's far more durable. We had an old flat roof redone a few years ago and they put this rubber coating on top of the existing felt flat roof, no need to remove it. Was pain free, quick, and has been absolutely watertight. In my view it's not an issue.

Pammela · 07/04/2023 18:22

We have a flat roof extension- probably about 30 years old and never had any issues with it!

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