SiteRep

How do I fix a leaking flat roof?

Patch repairs rarely last on a failed flat roof. The durable fix is to strip back, confirm the deck and falls are sound, correct the insulation and vapour control arrangement, and re-cover with a single-ply, liquid or high-performance felt system.

Most flat roof failures come from ponding water caused by inadequate falls, from movement at upstands and junctions, or from condensation within a cold roof build-up that was never adequately ventilated.

A warm roof, with the insulation above the deck and a vapour control layer beneath it, avoids most condensation risk and is the usual approach on a re-cover. It raises the roof level, so check upstand heights at doors and walls.

What a proper repair addresses

  • Minimum falls to outlets, typically 1 in 80 as built
  • Condition of the deck and any rotted timber
  • Warm roof build-up with continuous vapour control
  • Upstand heights and terminations at abutments
  • Outlet sizing and overflow provision

Sources

Last reviewed 28 August 2026. General information only — not legal or planning advice.

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