🏠 Melton Mowbray Felt Roofing Specialists
Felt Roofing Melton Mowbray — A Proven, Affordable Flat Roof That Still Keeps the Rain Out
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Felt roofing is still one of the most affordable ways to keep a flat roof watertight in Melton Mowbray. It has covered garden sheds, garages and single-storey extensions across the town for generations, and a properly fitted system still earns its place today. Tate & Sons Roofing fits and repairs felt roofing in Melton Mowbray, using proper multi-layer systems rather than a single sheet dropped over whatever was there before.
This page walks you through when felt is the right call, which type suits your roof, what it costs, and how we install it so it lasts. Felt roofing is one part of the wider work we do as a roofing contractor across Melton Mowbray, alongside repairs, re-roofs and other flat roof systems. Start with a free drone survey and a written quote before anything is agreed — no charge either way.
Know the Signs Your Felt Roof Needs Repair or Replacing
A felt roof rarely fails without warning. Small signs appear first, and they are easy to miss if you never actually go up and look.
Watch for these on any flat-roofed shed, garage or extension around Melton Mowbray:
- Bubbles or blisters raised on the surface of the felt
- Cracks or splits, especially along the laps where sheets overlap
- Water sitting on the roof more than two days after rain
- Dark, damp patches on the ceiling directly below
- Felt that has turned grey, brittle or chalky to the touch
- Edges lifting away from the trim or fascia board
- A roof over 15 years old that has never been checked
Most felt roofs last 15 to 20 years, though budget shed felt can wear out sooner and a well-fitted torch-on system can run longer. Once blisters split open or a lap fails, water gets under the felt fast and the timber deck underneath starts to suffer. A free drone survey shows exactly what is happening on the surface, without anyone needing to climb a ladder first.
Repair, Re-Felt or Replace — Getting the Right Call for Your Roof
A single blister or one lifted edge is not a reason to strip an entire roof. Localised damage on a felt roof that is otherwise sound is usually a straightforward job, and it is worth checking our felt roof repair service first if that is all you are dealing with.
Widespread cracking, several damp patches, or felt that has simply reached the end of its working life is a different matter. Patching a roof in that state buys you a season at best, and it usually costs more over a few years than one proper re-felt.
We see this pattern often on the older garage roofs around Asfordby’s mid-century terraces, where standard shed felt has usually done its 15 years and is due a straight swap rather than another patch.
We check the whole roof before recommending either route, not just the patch someone points at. A free drone survey gives you the full picture, including trims, upstands and outlets that are easy to miss from a ladder.
Shed Felt, Torch-On or High-Performance Felt — Choosing the Right System
Three types of felt cover almost every flat roof around Melton Mowbray. Each suits a different budget and a different job. In short: shed or mineral felt is the cheapest option and suits low-cost outbuildings; built-up torch-on felt is the standard choice for garages and extensions; high-performance mineral felt costs more but holds up longest on larger or more exposed roofs.
| Felt type | Typical cost (per m²) | Typical lifespan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shed / mineral felt | £25–£40 | 10–15 years | Garden sheds, low-cost outbuildings, budget garage roofs |
| Built-up torch-on felt | £60–£100 | 15–20 years | Garages, extensions and dormers needing a durable seal |
| High-performance mineral felt | £70–£120 | 20–25 years | Larger flat roofs and extensions where longevity matters most |
Felt is not the only flat roof option. If you want a longer-lasting single-sheet membrane instead, our flat roofing service covers EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass systems too. Daniel Oakland, our project manager, fits both felt and single-ply systems and will talk you through which one suits your roof, your budget and how long you want it to last.
On flat-roofed units around Melton Commercial Park on St Bartholomew’s Way, we tend to specify the higher-performance felt or a single-ply system, since these roofs carry plant and foot traffic that a budget felt was never built for. A shed roof at the bottom of a garden in Long Clawson has no such demands, and standard felt does the job well.
What a Felt Roofing Job Really Costs in Melton Mowbray
Cost comes down to felt type, roof size and access. As a general guide, a garden shed refelt typically runs £250–£450. A single garage roof around 15m² usually costs £800–£1,500 in standard felt, or more with a torch-on system. A larger garage or extension roof of 25–30m² typically runs £1,200–£3,500.
What pushes a price up or down:
- Felt type — shed felt costs least, high-performance mineral felt costs most
- Roof size and shape — more upstands, outlets and trims all add labour
- Old roof removal — stripping and disposing of failed felt typically adds to the total
- Deck condition — rotten timber boarding usually adds £300–£800 before new felt goes down
- Access — a ladder job costs less than one needing scaffold or a tower
- Insulation upgrade — adding insulation above the deck adds to material and labour cost
Labour in this part of Melton Mowbray generally runs in the region of £200–£300 per day. These are general market ranges, not a quote for your roof — two garages the same size can price differently once deck condition and access are factored in. A fixed price needs a survey.
Getting Ready for Felt Roofing Installation Day
Before we start, we clear the working area and check access for materials and equipment. Anything stored directly under the roof, such as garden furniture or a car on the drive below a garage, is best moved out of the way.
Felt bonds best in dry, mild weather, so we plan around the forecast rather than a fixed date that ignores it. Spring and early autumn tend to run smoothest around Melton Mowbray, with fewer weather-lost days than the depths of winter. Torch-on and cold-applied systems both need a dry deck to bond properly, so a settled few days matters more than the calendar month.
What Happens on Installation Day, Start to Finish
A felt roofing job follows the same order on every property:
- Old felt stripped back to the timber deck
- Deck checked and any rotten boarding replaced
- Insulation added or upgraded where needed
- First felt layer laid and bonded to the deck
- Top cap sheet torched or bonded over the first layer
- Edges, upstands and trims detailed to shed water cleanly
- Site cleared and the finished roof checked before we leave
A garden shed usually takes a single day. A garage roof typically takes one to two days, and a larger extension roof two to four days depending on size and deck condition. We never lay new felt straight over old felt — it traps moisture underneath and shortens the life of everything on top, so stripping back to the deck is always the first step.
How We Check Every Felt Roof Before We Leave
A felt roof only performs if every lap, edge and outlet is finished properly, not just the flat middle section. Before we pack up, we check that every joint is fully bonded with no trapped air underneath.
We also confirm the roof falls correctly toward its outlet or gutter, since standing water is one of the most common causes of early felt failure. Trims, upstands and any flashing against a wall are checked last, because these edges are where a felt roof usually fails first if they are rushed. You get a walk-through of the finished roof, not just an invoice.
Keep Your Felt Roof Watertight for Years to Come
A felt roof needs very little upkeep, but a few minutes each year adds real years to its life.
- Clear leaves and moss from the surface each autumn
- Check for standing water a day or two after heavy rain
- Look for blistering or cracking, especially along the laps
- Keep foot traffic on the roof to a minimum
- Book a free drone survey every few years, or after a storm
Trapped moisture and repeated freeze-thaw cycles are behind most early felt failures, and both are easier to catch early than to fix after a leak reaches your ceiling. For wider, independent guidance on keeping a flat roof in good condition, the Mastic Asphalt Council’s roof maintenance and repair guidance covers the general principles well. Properties out toward the Vale of Belvoir scarp and the higher ground around Scalford take a harder battering from wind-driven rain, so we pay close attention to edge fixings and trims on exposed roofs in those spots.
Why Melton Mowbray Homeowners Call Tate & Sons for Felt Roofing
You are not just buying a roll of felt — you are buying whoever fits it. Daniel Oakland, our project manager, has more than twenty years in the trade and personally specialises in flat roof systems, from felt through to EPDM, GRP and standing-seam. He is part of the same crew that turns up to your job, not just the person who quoted it.
Founder James Tate started the business after fifteen years working roofs across Melton Mowbray and the East Midlands, and still prices most jobs himself. He set Tate & Sons up to work the way he always wished his old employers had — find out what is genuinely wrong, use the right materials, and stand behind the result.
Between us we bring over 40 years of combined team experience, hold NVQ Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Roofing Occupations, and carry CSCS cards. Janice Whitmore, our office manager, keeps you posted from the first phone call through to final sign-off. Read more about the people behind the work on our About Tate & Sons Roofing page.
Areas We Serve Across Melton Mowbray and the Vale of Belvoir
We fit and repair felt roofing across Melton Mowbray and the surrounding villages. If your area is not on the list below, call us anyway — there is a strong chance we already cover you.
- Melton Mowbray (LE13)
- Asfordby (LE14 3)
- Old Dalby (LE14 3)
- Nether Broughton (LE14 3)
- Frisby on the Wreake (LE14 2)
- Wymondham (LE14 2)
- Long Clawson (LE14 4)
- Harby (LE14 4)
- Stathern (LE14 4)
- Waltham on the Wolds (LE14 4)
- Bottesford (NG13)
Got Questions?
Your Felt Roofing Questions, Answered
How long does a felt roof actually last?
Most felt roofs last between 15 and 20 years when they are fitted properly and looked after. Budget shed felt on a low-cost outbuilding tends toward the shorter end of that range, while a well-fitted, multi-layer torch-on system can run longer. Sunlight, ponding water and freeze-thaw cycles all shorten the working life of any felt roof over time. Regular checks and prompt small repairs are the single biggest factor in getting the full lifespan out of it.
How much does it cost to felt a shed roof?
A typical garden shed refelt costs around £250–£450 in Melton Mowbray, depending on the shed’s size and how much of the old felt and boarding needs replacing. Larger sheds or ones with rotten boarding underneath will sit toward the top of that range. A fixed price always needs a quick survey first, since two sheds the same size can differ once deck condition is checked. Most shed refelts are finished within a single day.
What is the difference between shed felt and torch-on felt?
Shed felt is a lighter, single-layer mineral felt nailed or glued down, and it suits low-cost outbuildings rather than anything you rely on long-term. Torch-on felt is a heavier, multi-layer bitumen system heat-bonded to the deck, giving a stronger seal and a longer working life. Torch-on costs more per square metre, but it holds up far better on garages, extensions and anywhere the roof needs to perform for fifteen to twenty years. We will recommend whichever suits your roof and your budget honestly, not just the more expensive option by default.
Can you felt over an old roof, or does it need stripping first?
No, laying new felt directly over old felt is not something we do. It traps moisture between the layers, which speeds up rot in the timber deck underneath and shortens the life of the new felt on top. Stripping back to the boards first also lets us check the deck’s condition and replace anything rotten before new felt goes down. It takes longer than a quick overlay, but it is the only way to get the full lifespan out of a new felt roof.
Why does my felt roof keep blistering or bubbling?
Blisters form when moisture or air gets trapped beneath the felt and expands in the heat, pushing the surface up. This usually points to poor bonding during the original installation, ponding water sitting on the surface, or trapped vapour rising from inside the building. Left alone, blisters split open as they expand and contract with the weather, and that is when leaks start. Catching blistering early means a repair rather than a full re-felt, which is why a yearly look at the roof pays for itself.
Is felt roofing still a good option, or should I use EPDM or GRP instead?
Felt is still a genuinely good option where budget matters most, particularly on sheds, garages and smaller outbuildings. EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass both cost more upfront but typically last 20 to 30 years against felt’s 15 to 20, so they suit roofs where you want to avoid redoing the work again in a decade. The right choice depends on your budget, how long you plan to stay in the property, and how much the roof is exposed to sun and standing water. Daniel Oakland can walk you through the trade-offs for your specific roof rather than pushing one system over another.
Can felt roofing be repaired, or does the whole roof need replacing?
A single split, blister or lifted edge on an otherwise sound felt roof is usually repairable, often within a day. Widespread cracking, several failed laps, or felt that has gone brittle across most of the roof points toward a full re-felt instead, since patching that many areas rarely holds for long. We check the whole roof, not just the spot you have noticed, before recommending either route. A free drone survey settles the question with footage rather than guesswork.
Does the fall of a felt roof affect how long it lasts?
Yes, and it is one of the most overlooked reasons a felt roof fails early. A flat roof needs a slight fall, usually built into the timber firrings beneath the deck, so water always drains toward an outlet rather than sitting on the surface. Standing water left for days softens the felt, feeds algae growth and speeds up blistering at a much faster rate than a roof that drains properly. If your roof regularly holds puddles after rain, it is worth having the fall checked rather than just patching the wet spot.
Are the older garage roofs around Asfordby well suited to standard felt?
Yes, in most cases. Asfordby’s mid-century terraces were built with modest, low-pitch garage roofs that suit standard shed or mineral felt well, and it remains the most cost-effective way to keep them watertight. Many of these garages are due a refelt simply because the original covering has done its 15 years, not because anything more expensive is needed. We will tell you honestly if a roof needs an upgrade to torch-on felt rather than recommending it by default.
Does wind exposure on the Wolds change how felt roofing is fixed down?
It does. Properties out toward the Vale of Belvoir scarp and the higher ground around Scalford and Waltham on the Wolds take a harder battering from wind-driven rain than a sheltered garden in town. On exposed roofs like these, we pay closer attention to edge trims, fixing centres and upstand detailing, since these are the points most likely to lift in strong wind. We factor a property’s height and exposure into the specification, not just a standard approach used everywhere.
Book Your Free Drone Felt Roof Survey Today
See exactly what your felt roof needs before any work starts. No ladders, no pressure — just a clear picture from a local Melton Mowbray team.
Every season a blistered or cracked felt roof is left alone, more water works its way under the surface and into the timber deck beneath it. A small repair today is almost always cheaper than the re-felt that job turns into next year. Book a free survey now, get an honest quote, and get your felt roof sorted properly — first time.
Get in Touch
Tate & Sons Roofing, Melton Mowbray
13 Cromwell Road, Melton Mowbray, LE13 0AD
📞 01664 490955
✉️ [email protected]