The majority of people who have a garage with a flat roof have to have it replaced or repaired as these flat roofs often develop leaks causing rainwater to enter the garage and potentially cause damage to the contents. The options that were open to people wanting to repair or replace a garage roof used to be limited but with new innovations the choice has become much wider.
The cheapest and most common option is to have the roof re-felted as the materials are inexpensive and easily sourced however the expected life span of a felted flat roof is between five and ten years so the likelihood is that it will need replacing again. More people are opting for a longer lasting solution for their garage roof as they do not want to be continually replacing it and so they are choosing rubber roofing as this will last much longer and is not affected by UV rays, rain and frost.
Replacing a felted roof with a rubber roof covering can be done by any person who is able to work at height, but it is much easier if two people can work on the installation together as the materials will be heavy. The rubber roof covering, adhesive and edging can be purchased from many suppliers as an online search will show but there may be hefty delivery charges. Employing a professional roofing company to do the job may be a better solution for the average homeowner and a few quotes for completing the work should be sought to ensure you get a competitive price.

When having a new roof installed, the company that you choose to use will usually talk to you about insulation. Insulation is vitally important and you may be surprised as to how much money it can save you over the course of a year. Insulations helps retain the heat within a home, so when you put your heating on, rather than it all being lost through a roof, it stays within the walls of the home and therefore requires you to have the heating on for less time or at a lower temperature.

If you go for a walk in the snow you can often see the roofs that do not have great insulation as often these are the ones where the snow has melted off the roof.

Over time insulation has improved and so if you still have the insulation in your attic from when the house was first built, you may decide to have it replace. It is important that the correct insulation is chosen and installed to ensure that it compiles with all fire regulations.

When choosing your new roof you may have the option to choose which sort of insulation you go for. It is worth trying to work out how much money you will save in heating costs if you go for the better quality insultation. Once you know this, you can work out how long it will take to save the different in the upfront cost of the different insulation types. Often you find that after only a year or two you will already have recouped the additional cost of the insulation.

When having a new roof installed, be sure to go with a reputable company and ideally one that has been recommended to you by someone that has used them before. There are a number of different websites that you can use to find a good roofing company that is local to you. Most roofing companies will not ask you to pay in full for a roof prior to work commencing. You may even be able to spread the cost over monthly or weekly payments to make it more affordable to you. Always check what guarantee they are offering with the roof too as you will want peace of mind that should the roof develop a leak in the next 12 -18 months, it will be repaired free of charge.

When an architect is designing a new building one of the decisions that will need to be made is what shape the roof will be. There are a few different roof structures to choose from but the most common and probably the cheapest is a gable roof.

The pitch of the gable roof is particularly important and needs to be such that it enables the rainwater to flow away adequately into the two gutters. A hip roof is often seen on farm buildings and older houses, but some houses with a gable roof have part of the roof with a hip construction to add visual appeal.

Some modern properties have a type of roof style that is called a lean-to roof or pent roof. This type of roof adds interest to a building and is often used on garden buildings. It has the advantage of being higher at one end meaning that windows can be added to one aspect of the building and internally there is more space.

The cheapest roof to use is a flat roof and these have traditionally been used for extensions however it must be remembered that the life of a traditional felted flat roof is only about ten to fifteen years so it will need regular maintenance and replacement.

Looking for roofers in Northampton is not just as easy as calling up a local roofing company and asking them to fix your problem, or put on a new roof. It might be easier if you have worked with a particular roofing company before, but often, the first time working with a particular company will be trial and error and there will be a lot that can go wrong, or change along the way. This is more likely to happen if you use the wrong roofing company, so it is important you find the ideal roofers for your project and that they are used to dealing with the kind of roof that you have.

All roofers will have their own areas of expertise, as with any trade. Some roofers will be roofing contractors, working on large projects for commercial clients with enormous budgets. Some will be specialists in flat roofing, with a good understanding of how to fit and repair them as necessary. Even within the field of flat roofing there might be other types of roofing that a contractor knows about best, like GRP, EPDM or RBMs. All of these will be useful for different types of roofs and customers, but they won’t all be suitable for your type of roof. Make sure you are clear on exactly what a roofing contractor can do for you before exploring your options with them further.

What to ask your roofing contractor in Northampton

So you’ve found a roofing contractor you would like to use for your project – what kinds of questions can you ask them to make sure they are competent and will be able to do the job properly? Here are some ideas.

• How long have you been in business? It is worthwhile asking a roofing contractor how long they have been doing what they do, which might include running a roofing business or working for a roofing company as applicable. This is just a way of guaging the experience of the contractor. It isn’t necessarily bad if they are quote new to roofing. Just make sure they have had appropriate training in installing and repairing roofs, and don’t be shy of asking about qualifications.
• Do you work with my type of roofing? Make sure they work with your type of roofing and if you need a flat roof repair, check if they do this, rather than just fitting brand new roofs. Each roofer works differently so no question is a silly question.
• Where are you based? If you are based in Northampton or Northamptonshire it is usually more cost effective to choose a local roofer for your project, who can get materials locally and will not have too far to travel. Many good roofers are based in the area so if you know what you are looking for, you can easily begin to make your enquiries and find a skilled, knowledgeable, highly experienced and local Northampton roofer. A skilled professional is worth the financial investment and can ensure roofs will last longer.

In order to extend the living space in your property you may consider an extension however you could be faced with a lack of natural light in the new area for example if you are unable to install a window into a new wall or if you are converting part of your garage to extend your kitchen. The costs of any extension can increase if extra double-glazed windows need to be installed but there is a solution to this problem namely installing a roof light.

The main consideration when installing a roof light in a roof is that it is adequately sealed to avoid any leaks due to rainwater and damage to the interior of the property. When installing the unit, the enclosed fitting instructions should be followed to ensure that the roof light is correctly fitted and sealed. Scaffolding may be required so If you do not feel competent to install the roof light yourself a reputable builder should be able to install the roof light for a reasonable cost.

A concern for some people is how to clean the roof light but recent developments in self-cleaning glass means that this is not the problem it used to be and should not prevent you from installing this feature in your new extension to bring in that natural light.

Homes are changing, with modern, open plan living becoming the norm and demands for more natural light and brightness taking precedence over other design features. Architects use flat glass skylights to introduce more natural light into buildings and create the modern, coveted aesthetic; many new builds, or homes that have extensions, now use this type of skylight as part of the structure. No two properties are the same, so architects are best placed to choose the correct size, type and positioning of the skylight, though the homeowner and end user may also want to specify some of the features they would like – there are lots available.

As a property owner or as an architect, it is therefore very beneficial to know about and understand the different flat glass rooflight and skylight options and to pick and choose between them, based on either your client’s preferences, or your lifestyle and the ways in which you want to use your home. Skylights are very versatile and can often be fitted into both flat and pitched roofs, so whatever you are looking for, there will be an option for you. For example, if appearance is your primary concern, there will be rooflights that provide wonderful sky views and that look ultra modern. If you need more ventilation in an area such as a kitchen or a bathroom, there are options for this too.

The different flat glass skylight options you can pick

These are some of the most popular and widely bought types of flat glass skylight on the market that will allow you to customise and personalise a space:

Flat fixed glass skylights

These are fixed skylight units that do not open; they sit flat to the roof and have a low profile, making them subtle, modern and stylish. They are a very popular option for flat roof extensions to let in more light whilst also creating a highly desirable appearance; the rooflight frame tends to be made of aluminium and comes in various RAL colours to help when styling a home. Modern colours such as anthracite are often chosen and will complement virtually any interior design features, as well as looking attractive from the outside in. 

Hinged flat glass skylights

This type of skylight is very similar to a fixed flat glass skylight but with the addition of a hinged opening mechanism as well. They can be opened manually or automatically – different options are available with different brands and types of skylight.

Walk-on glass skylights

Made with strong reinforced glass, walk-on skylights can be used on balconies, verandas and in other outdoor spaces with foot traffic, where there is a room underneath. They are very safe thanks to the strength of the glass and they are flush with the flooring, avoiding trip hazards.

Multi-part flat glass skylights

For larger roof areas, multi-part flat glass skylights can reduce the cost and effort of installing lots of skylights. There are simple and innovative options available with a modular construction to make installation easier.

Having a pitched roof can have many advantages over a flat roof but this does often come with a higher price tag. While flat roofs can be built to accommodate foot traffic, pitched roofs can be converted to add a substantial amount of extra living space inside. Within a pitched room you can create an attic or even a spare room. This can give you the much-needed space you need and even add value to the property.

Pitched roofs are often more durable than flat roofs and usual last a long time. Due to their design, pitched roofs are also more reliable when it comes to drainage, with water naturally channelled into downpipes and guttering. There is far less chance of water and other weather conditions entering your roof space with a pitched roof.

The price of a pitched roof is always more expensive than some other roof designs and often does require regular maintenance. There are a number of different types of pitched roofs, the Double-Pitched roof is the most common design for roofs that have a pitch. This design can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. A mono-pitched roof usually has a pitch which is lower than the height of the ceiling.