A lot of garages across Patchway were originally fitted with a felt roof, and by now many of those coverings are well past the point where patching is a sensible long-term solution. Converting an old felt garage roof to EPDM is a common and generally straightforward upgrade, provided it's approached properly rather than simply covering over what's already there.
The process starts with removing the existing felt covering entirely, rather than laying the new membrane directly on top of it. This step matters because it allows the timber decking underneath to be properly inspected — something that simply isn't possible if the old felt is left in place, and skipping it risks installing an otherwise good EPDM membrane over a deck that isn't actually sound.
It's fairly common, when an old felt garage roof in Patchway is stripped back, to find that sections of the decking have softened over the years. Felt roofs, particularly older ones, often develop small weaknesses at seams and edges long before any leak becomes obvious inside the garage, and slow moisture ingress through these weak points can quietly affect the timber underneath. Any deteriorated sections need to be replaced before the new membrane goes down.
Once the deck is confirmed sound, or repaired where needed, converting to EPDM is a relatively efficient process. The rubber membrane is supplied in large sheets, which is particularly useful on a garage roof, since most garage roofs are small enough to be covered with very few, if any, joints — reducing the number of potential weak points compared with the multiple layers and edges typical of an older felt installation.
Edge trims and detailing are usually upgraded as part of the conversion too. Older felt garage roofs often have basic, low-cost trims that have degraded over time, and replacing these with properly fitted, modern edge details as part of the EPDM installation helps ensure water is directed away from the structure effectively.
The result is a garage roof that should need far less attention going forward. EPDM typically lasts significantly longer than felt roofing, and is commonly guaranteed by manufacturers for 20 years or more, compared to felt which often needs replacing within around 10 to 15 years, making conversion a sensible long-term choice for a structure that's easy to forget about once it's sorted.
It's also a relatively quick project compared to many other roofing jobs, since most domestic garages in Patchway have a modest roof area, and a straightforward conversion with no unexpected decking repairs can often be completed within a day or two, minimising disruption to the use of the garage itself.
If you have an old felt garage roof in Patchway that's showing its age, Brunel Roofing Bristol can assess the existing covering and deck and talk you through what converting to EPDM would involve for your specific garage.
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