FAO Builder - Roof felt

[parris]

If the bedroom ceiling leeks occasionaly only due to extremely heavy rain, could that be caused by problems with the roof felt. 3 different builders have said different things. I don't know whom to believe. Is it costly to have the felt replaced?

[Clanad]

Unless by felt you mean something entirely different than what the term means here in the U.S., one can't replace the felt without tearing off the entire roof covering of shingles. That becomes reasonably expensive. The best thing to do is to go into the attic the next time you have a good, sustained rain and see exactly where the water is coming in on the underside of the exterior roof. Even this may be disceiving, since it can enter at one place and run a course before dripping off, but this would let you see if, perhaps, it's leaking at a vent, valley or crown. Once that's determined, you'll be better armed with the knowledge of how it should be repaired or replaced...

[MustafaTickl]

To strip off the existing felt and dispose then replace with a new 3 layer felt system stuck down budget �40 per square metre.

[tezestwing]

Hi parris is it a flat roof or a pitched roof ? in the UK? if it is a pitched roof then any roofer worth his salt only needs to remove tile/slates/battens replace damaged area of felt then re fix the biggest cost to do it this way would be the cost of tower/scaffold access get a few quotes from roofer's for cost we had a bungalow with similar probs done for �60 + vat.
If is flat roof then see Mustafa post hth Tez

[parris]

Thank you for your replies. As I mentioned earlier 3 builders have diagnosed different problems. The 1st one said that the loft extension was not done properly (although we have never had any problems before in the 25 years that we have lived here with this extension), the 2nd builder said that it was part of the gutter missing and another builder reckons it is the felt on the roof (even though he has not been up on the roof to check). The quote from the last builder is for replacing parts of the felt on the roof and it is near enough �1000. The water leaks into the bedrooms below the loft extension.

[tezestwing]

Hi parris If you have had 25 trouble free years you need to look a bit closer at the roof make up in the area of the leak.
1st Lead Valleys at roof junctions could become porous and fail over this time
2nd Felt same as above
3rd Felt at the gutter is very exposed and vulnerable but is not always the cause of a leak it just fails to transfer water from roof into the gutter.
4th Gutter systems seals down pipes all need checking best done when it rains make a note of any leaks so that any future work/estimates can be a bit more precise.
Any information you can gather to pinpoint the problem restricts any unnecessary works and subsequent cost ,it may also help provide a more detailed estimate hth Tez