Felt is still a common sight on flat roofs across Redcliffe, particularly on rear additions, converted outbuildings, and older properties where it was the standard covering fitted at the time. As felt roofs age, they tend to show fairly predictable signs of wear, cracking, blistering, and seam failure among them, and once those signs appear, many homeowners start asking whether EPDM rubber membrane is a suitable replacement.
The straightforward answer is yes, EPDM is very commonly used to replace ageing felt roofing, and it is one of the most frequent re-roofing jobs carried out on exactly this type of situation. The process typically starts with stripping the old felt away completely, rather than laying a new covering directly over the top, which allows the roof deck underneath to be properly inspected before anything new goes down.
That inspection stage matters a great deal, and it is worth Redcliffe homeowners understanding why it is not simply an optional extra. Felt that has been in place for many years, especially if it has developed any small leaks along the way, can allow moisture to reach the timber decking below without it being obvious from the surface. Removing the felt gives the only real opportunity to check the deck's actual condition and catch any deterioration before it becomes a much bigger problem.
Where decking is found to be damp-affected or structurally weakened, it needs to be repaired or replaced before the EPDM membrane is installed. This is a non-negotiable step in doing the job properly, since a new rubber membrane laid over compromised timber will not perform as it should, regardless of how well the membrane itself is fitted.
Once the deck is confirmed sound, or repaired where necessary, EPDM offers a genuine step up from ageing felt in terms of long-term performance. It is generally more durable and longer-lasting than felt, handling UV exposure, temperature swings, and general weathering without the same tendency toward the cracking and seam failure that eventually catches up with most felt roofs.
For roofs with an irregular shape or several junctions and upstands, which are common on Redcliffe's older properties, EPDM also tends to be easier to detail cleanly than felt, since it can be dressed as a continuous, flexible membrane rather than relying on multiple overlapping sections that each represent a potential point of failure.
Replacing felt with EPDM is generally a well-contained job that does not require altering the underlying structure of the roof, which means most Redcliffe homeowners can expect the disruption to be relatively limited compared with more invasive building work.
It is worth planning the work rather than waiting until the felt has failed completely, particularly on older Redcliffe buildings where a slow, unnoticed leak can have more time to affect the surrounding structure. Replacing felt proactively, once early signs of deterioration appear, tends to be a more straightforward job than dealing with an active leak that has already caused damp damage nearby.
If your Redcliffe property has an ageing felt roof that is starting to show signs of wear, Brunel Roofing Bristol can inspect it, check the decking underneath once the felt is removed, and replace it with a properly installed EPDM membrane.
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