5.051 Google reviews5.0 on Yell from 213 ratings
Flat roofing in Brighton: GRP, EPDM and felt
A flat roof that stays dry through a Brighton winter starts with the right material, and Sure Seal lay GRP, EPDM rubber and torch-on felt flat roofing in Brighton and across Sussex. Book your free drone survey and a written quote, with no deposit to pay.
Price your new flat roof
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Or call 01273 115938. No deposit, no call-out charge.
5.0 on Google51 reviews, all 5 stars
5.0 on Yellfrom 213 ratings
Expert Roofer VerifiedEvery check passed, see our profilePick the flat roof that suits your building
Each system has its own page showing how we lay it and what goes into the price. If you only need a leak or a blister sorted, head straight to flat roof repairs.
Flat roof repairs
Ponding, blisters, split felt and failed upstands fixed properly, with a straight answer on repair or replace.
See flat roof repairs
GRP fibreglass roofing
One-piece fibreglass flat roofs for extensions, dormers and garages, laid on a sound deck with neat GRP trims.
See GRP fibreglass roofing
EPDM rubber roofing
Firestone RubberCover EPDM in one sheet: flexible in frost, fitted cold with no flame, and ideal for larger flat roofs.
See EPDM rubber roofing
Felt roofing
Multi-layer torch-on felt with a mineral cap sheet, plus hot melt systems, for garages, outbuildings and extensions.
See felt roofingSigns your flat roof is on its way out
Flat roofs give you plenty of warning before water reaches the ceiling, if you know where to look.
Puddles that never drain
Water still sitting on the roof days after rain means the deck has sagged or the falls were wrong from the start. Standing water finds every weak joint.
Bubbles rising in the felt
Trapped moisture lifts old felt into soft bubbles. Step on one or let a hot afternoon bake it, and it splits open along the top.
A brown ring on the ceiling
A stain on the extension or bay ceiling is water that has already soaked through the deck, not just the surface layer above it.
Edge trims lifting or cracked
Trims hold the edge of the roof down and throw rain into the gutter. Once they crack or lift, water runs back under the covering.
Moss and grit taking hold
Green growth holds water against the roof all year round and roots work into cracks. It tells you the surface has worn thin.
A flat roof that lasts starts at the deck
Every flat roof starts with the deck. We strip the old covering, check every board and joist end, and replace anything soft with new OSB3 or plywood. We check the falls too, because a new covering on a sagging deck just gives you a shinier puddle. Where the roof needs more slope, we fit tapered firrings so the water heads for the gutter instead of sitting in the middle.
Then we lay the system you picked, GRP, EPDM or felt, with proper upstands where the roof meets the wall and flashings or trims dressed in to shed water. Edge trims go on straight and true so rain drops cleanly into the gutter. Every flat roof contract carries a 14-day cooling-off period, so you can sign, sleep on it and still change your mind with nothing lost.
- Old covering stripped back to the deck
- Soft boards replaced before anything goes down
- Falls checked so water runs off
- Upstands dressed properly at every wall
- 14-day cooling-off on every flat roof
- Waste and old felt taken away
Flat roofs on Brighton's terraces and extensions
Get above street level in Brighton and flat roofs are everywhere: rear extensions on Victorian terraces, dormers on Hove semis, garages behind the 1930s houses in Patcham and Woodingdean, and the hidden valley roofs tucked behind parapet walls in Kemptown. Up near the seafront, south-westerly gales drive salty rain sideways into every upstand, and summer sun bouncing off the sea bakes the surface. We pick the material with that exposure in mind, not just the price.
GRP, EPDM or felt: which one for your roof?
All three work when they are laid right, and the choice comes down to the shape of the roof, how you use it and your budget.
GRP fibreglass
Resin and glass mat laminated into one hard, jointless skin with a coloured topcoat. It takes foot traffic, handles tricky upstands and dormer cheeks, and gives a smart finish you can see from the upstairs window.
Best for: Extensions, dormers and roofs you walk on
EPDM rubber
A single sheet of Firestone RubberCover bonded to the deck, with no joins across the middle. Rubber flexes through frost and heat, goes down cold with adhesive and covers larger, simpler roofs in one piece.
Best for: Larger roofs and timber-framed buildings
Torch-on felt
Layers of reinforced bitumen felt fused together and finished with a mineral cap sheet that stands up to UV. It has the lowest up-front cost of the three and is easy to patch if it ever takes a knock.
Best for: Garages, outbuildings and tighter budgets
Rated 5.0 by the people who hired us
Great service for flat & tiled roof repair. Professional and knowledgeable advice on works required. Good management which gave quick response and completion of works required.
We had an issue with a leak coming from our chimney and on getting up there realised our flat roof had been installed poorly. Brendan was so professional throughout, talking us through everything and not pressuring us to make quick decisions regarding the repair. His team were very efficient and got the job done in 2 days. Brendan kept me updated throughout the job, sending photos of the work. His team left the place spotless, even washing down the roof on completion. Having had a few quotes from some rather suspect companies, these guys are so genuine and clearly take pride in doing the job well. Would recommend and call again if needed.
If you have any roofing work or repairs to be done, then look no further than Sureseal Roofing & Guttering. I have found William and his team to be responsive & professional. They were able to address all my queries and advise wherever necessary. Most importantly their standard of finished work measured upto what had been committed, as well as my expectations of high quality. I whole-heartedly recommend their work.
The owner and his team provided a great quotation, fair pricing, and excellent communication. I recently had my garage roof repaired and was very satisfied. The work was completed efficiently and to a high standard. Highly recommended!
Had Jamie and the team out sort a leak on my roof fast reliable and even cleaned up and took away the waste would highly recommend them and even beat a previous quote I had got
We hired Thomas based on a friends recommendation, for what was meant to be a small repair job. It turned out we needed the entire roof surface redone. SureSeal were able to start the work right away and do it all in 3 days. The work was done to a high standard, tidying up afterwards was very thorough. I would especially highlight the great communication. Thomas kept me updated about everything, answered questions and concerns and was very available.
How we price a new flat roof
We price every flat roof after a free drone survey and a look at the deck, so the figure on your quote covers what is really under the old covering. The biggest swings come from the material you choose, the state of the timber and how easily we can get materials up to the roof. You pay nothing up front, and you keep the 14-day cooling-off period after you sign.
What sets the price
- Size and shape of the roof
- GRP, EPDM or felt
- How much of the deck needs replacing
- Roof lights and upstands to work around
- Access and any scaffold needed
- Insulation if you want a warm roof
No surprises: the price on your written quote is the price you pay. No deposit.
From your call to a finished job
Tell us what's wrong
Tap the problem, fill in the short form or call Jamie. We respond fast, and emergencies get a call-out 24/7.
Free drone survey
We put a drone over the roof and show you the photos, so you see exactly what we see.
Fixed written quote
One price for the job that's actually needed. No deposit and no call-out charge.
Done and cleared
We do the work, take every bit of waste away and leave the place spotless.
Flat roofs questions
Which flat roof material is best for my home?
GRP for extensions and dormers, EPDM rubber for larger, simple roofs, and torch-on felt for garages and outbuildings on a tighter budget. GRP cures hard, so it suits roofs you walk on. Rubber goes down without a flame, which matters next to timber. Felt costs least up front. We look at your roof and tell you which one we would put on our own house.
What does the 14-day cooling-off on flat roofs mean?
It means you can cancel a new flat roof within 14 days of signing, with no penalty and no questions. We would rather you felt sure than rushed, so use the time to read our reviews, compare our quote with anyone else's and talk it over at home. There is no deposit either, so nothing of yours is tied up while you decide.
Can a new flat roof go straight over the old one?
We do not lay a new flat roof over an old one. Overlaying traps damp in the old layers, hides rotten boards and leaves the new covering sitting on a deck that is still failing underneath. We strip back to the timber, replace what is soft and start clean. It adds a little labour on the day and saves you paying for the roof twice.
What happens to the timber deck under my flat roof?
We check every board once the old covering is off and replace any that are soft, delaminated or stained black with rot. Sound boards stay where they are. If joist ends are wet where they meet the wall, we show you photos and price the repair before going any further. Nothing gets covered over that would let the new roof down.
Can you replace a flat roof in winter?
Yes, on the dry days. EPDM and torch-on felt go down well in cooler weather, while GRP resin needs a dry deck and a mild spell to cure hard, so we book GRP jobs around the forecast. If your roof is leaking in January, we make it watertight straight away and schedule the full replacement for the right weather.
Ready for a flat roof you can forget about?
Send us a few details and Jamie will book your free drone survey at a time that suits you.