5.051 Google reviews5.0 on Yell from 213 ratings
Felt roofing in Brighton: torch-on and hot melt
Laid in layers and finished with a mineral cap sheet, felt roofing in Brighton is still the hard-wearing, good-value answer for garages, extensions and outbuildings. Ask for a free roof inspection and we will show you what the old roof needs.
Price your new felt roof
Pick the job. It takes about 30 seconds.
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 profileHow old felt tells you it is finished
Old felt tells you when it is finished, and most of it shows from an upstairs window.
Bald patches in the cap sheet
When the mineral chippings wash off and black felt shows through, the sun is cooking the bitumen underneath. Cracking follows once it dries out.
Laps opening up
Felt overlaps open as the bitumen hardens with age. An open lap lets rain run straight under the top layer and into the timber deck.
Ridges and wrinkles across it
Rucks running across the roof mean the felt has shrunk or the boards underneath have moved. Both end up cracking open in cold weather.
Drip edge curling away
The felt drip that tucks into the gutter peels back and curls up. Rain then runs down the fascia board instead of into the gutter.
Damp on the garage ceiling
Black spots or damp patches on the underside of the boards mean water is already through. Leave it, and the whole deck turns soft.
Layer by layer: our torch-on build
Torch-on is a multi-layer system, and each layer has a job. After stripping the old roof and making good the deck, we lay a vapour control layer to keep warm, moist air from the house out of the roof. Next comes the underlay, then the cap sheet: a thick, polyester-reinforced felt with a mineral finish that takes the UV and the weather. Every layer is torched down so it fuses to the one beneath.
Laps between sheets are staggered so no joint sits on top of another. At the walls we dress the felt up the brickwork as a proper upstand and cover it with a flashing. For bigger roofs we also lay hot melt systems, where hot bitumen is poured and the membrane rolled into it for a thick, fully bonded roof. After the last torch goes out, we keep a fire watch before anyone leaves the roof.
- Vapour control layer on every roof
- Staggered laps between layers
- Mineral cap sheet for UV protection
- Proper upstands at every wall
- Hot melt for larger roofs
- Old felt stripped and carted off
Where felt still earns its place in Sussex
Plenty of Sussex roofs suit felt: the rows of garages behind Brighton's 1930s semis, flat-roofed outbuildings, and the back additions on Victorian terraces where budget matters more than looks. On the coast, the mineral cap sheet is the part that counts, because it takes the salt, UV and wind-blown grit that strip unprotected felt bare. Cheap single-layer shed felt gives up fast on a seafront garage; a proper multi-layer system is a different product altogether.
Torch-on or hot melt?
Both are bitumen roofs, and the difference is how the layers are bonded together.
Torch-on felt
Each layer is heated with a gas torch until the bitumen on its underside melts and fuses to the layer below. It suits homes, garages and extensions, and needs no heavy boiler on site.
Best for: Houses, garages and extensions
Hot melt
Hot bitumen is poured onto the roof and the reinforced membrane is rolled into it, giving a thick, fully bonded, multi-layer build. It suits larger and commercial flat roofs that see plenty of use.
Best for: Larger and commercial roofs
Straight from our Google reviews
Lovely man came to do my roof, we had a massive hole down the centre, saw two three different roofers and they all gave ridiculous quotes, this was affordable, reasonable, and a very quick and safe process, highly recommend everyone to give them a call
Sure Seal Roofing for my garage roof replacement, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. They delivered a good job at a fair price, and the entire experience was seamless. The team was professional, courteous, and ensured every detail was addressed. Thanks to their expertise, my garage now looks amazing and has significantly enhanced my home’s curb appeal. Their commitment to quality workmanship and transparent pricing truly impressed me. I highly recommend Sure Seal Roofing for anyone looking for top-notch roofing services at an affordable price.
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.
Absolute class! Came out on the day to replace a broken roof tile at a great price. Would recommend to everyone. Cheers boys!! 👊
Had Jamie over to do my fascia and new guttering last week proffesional service reasonable price
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.
Felt roof prices: what moves them
Felt has the lowest outlay of the main flat roof systems, but a few things still move the price. How many layers the roof needs, the state of the deck, how much upstand and flashing there is, and your choice of torch-on or hot melt all count. We give you a fixed figure after a free inspection, and the old felt leaves with us.
What sets the price
- Roof area
- Number of layers in the system
- Torch-on or poured hot melt
- Deck repairs needed
- Flashings and upstands
- Height and access for materials
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.
Felt roofing questions
What is torch-on felt?
Torch-on felt is a modern bitumen roofing sheet with a layer of bitumen on the underside that we melt with a gas torch as it is rolled out, so it fuses to the layer below. It is reinforced with polyester, far tougher than old nailed shed felt, and finished with a mineral cap sheet. Laid as a multi-layer system, it makes a solid, watertight flat roof.
How many layers does a felt flat roof need?
A proper felt roof on a house has at least two layers over the vapour control layer: an underlay and a mineral cap sheet. Some roofs get a third layer for extra thickness. Single-layer felt is fine for a garden shed and nothing more. We list the layers on your quote, so you can compare like with like against any other roofer.
Is felt roofing cheaper than GRP or rubber?
On most roofs, yes. Torch-on felt has the lowest up-front cost of the three main flat roof systems, which is why it stays popular on garages and outbuildings. GRP and EPDM cost more to lay but have no laps to open up over time. We can price all three for you, so you can weigh the numbers against how long you plan to stay.
Is a torch-on roof a fire risk?
In trained hands, no. We keep the flame away from exposed timber at the roof edges, using nailed or self-adhesive base layers there instead, and we stay on the roof for a fire watch after the last torch goes out. On timber buildings and garden rooms, we point you towards EPDM rubber instead, because it goes down with no flame at all.
What does the mineral cap sheet do?
The cap sheet is the top layer of a felt roof, and its mineral chippings shield the bitumen from UV, which is what makes old felt dry out and crack. The chippings also add grip underfoot and give the roof a finished look in grey or green. Without a cap sheet, even good felt breaks down quickly in the Sussex sun.
Need a felt roof that sees out the weather?
Book a free inspection and get a clear, fixed price for torch-on or hot melt.