Fibre Glass Flat Roof

[doddsredoubt]

Could anyone on answerbank give me any answers about Fibre Glass flat roofs instead of Ashfelt Roofs,there is a 20year Guaranteed with Fibre Glass but its over £2,000,with Ashfelt its a litle bit cheaper about £1,800 and a 10year Guarantee.

Thankyou for any help.

[alavahalf]

Do yourself a favour and do a bit of research on Butyl covered flat roofs .... I fitted my own over 25 years ago ... I was up on it last week, and it looks as good as ever.

[AlBags]

A well fitted mineral & gravelled felt roof will last you 15-20 years.

[WILLWONKER]

Well first of all forget about guarantees their not worth the paper they are written on, just get yourself a local builder or builders to give you a quote in ashfelt thats proved good for many years in the past any good local builder will come back and correct any problems you have after, just do you homework ask around before you pick one to do the job.

[boxtops]

Is Ashfelt a trade name? I always thought the stuff was spelled Asphalt, is this different? They look the same when I google.

[AlBags]

You spelt it correctly Boxy : )
Same type of product as used to manufacture road surfaces.
Just a broadly used name for felt .. or mineral felt in connections with roof products.

[doddsredoubt]

Thankyou alavahalf & Albags for your input,I will go to Butyl covered flat roofs.

Thankyou to you both much appreciated.

[doddsredoubt]

Thankyou WILLWONKER & boxtop and yes sorry boxtop I spelt the asphalt wrong,but does anyone know about Fibre Glass.

Thankyou both for your help much appreciated.

[boxtops]

No problem dodds, if you google ashfelt it comes up with loads of links, so I thought it was something different!

[doddsredoubt]

Sorry boxtops I left the s off,once again sorry??

[chas2008]

one thing people dont realise is that glass fibre isnt always 100% waterproof, ask any boat owner and the quality of glass in boat building will be far superior.

http://www.nautica.it/info/maint/osmosi_e.htm (have a good read of this)

Not quite sure how they do a roof but the waterproof bit is the gelcoat which is laid down first in the mould usually tinted with the boat colour then the glass fibre is laid on that...its the gelcoat which is considered to be the waterproof bit. Its when the glass fibre isnt applied correctly and there are air bubbles/voids which expand and can burst in hot weather allowing water ingress, again study a kit car with a glass shell thats a few years old and you will see what i mean. So how they expect a roof to last 20 years in all weather conditions is beyond me.

[doddsredoubt]

Thankyou chas2008,yes I will look at that now thankyou.

Thankyou for your help much appreciated.

[chas2008]

i had my garage roof done in normal felt which is very large (approx 3 cars), including replacing all the roof timber (not joists) i paid £1,800 this was with a 10 year guarantee if i had of paid more i would of got 15 years. The chances are it will last 20+., you need to shop around for prices. Im not sure if flat roofs as an extension requires a specific standard felt to meet building regs.
I worked on the theory that having replaced all the roofing boards if it does ever leak all the real hard work has been done and i consider myself competent enough to repair it if needed.

[The Builder]

I have to agree with what the others have said Doddy ............. I like the idea of using a more "modern" system like glassfibre, but I have come across the problems Chas has mentioned. Brilliant if it goes on properly, but that's a big "if".
With the old hot pitch and built-up felt, or even the newer "Torch-On" systems, you should get a good 15-20 years. Roofers I use still have flat roofs around that they did 25 years ago.

[landscaper2]

Once a felt roof has been installed correctly (including good flashing), its usually 'outside forces' that cause a premature problem, such as ivy rooting in the chippings or as happened to us,a careless window cleaner hopping up with his little ladder while we werent in and standing it directly on the chippings.

[doddsredoubt]

Thankyou,chas2008,The Builder &landscaper2,you have all made my mind up now we are going with Asphalt.

Thankyou to you all much appreciated.

[alavahalf]

You seem swayed towards this fibreglass thing ... about 6 months ago I did a bit of fibreglassing and made this ... http://i39.photobucke...xitagain/DSC03758.jpg
I'm no expert ... but fibreglass is good stuff ... I have made gutters from it and done roof repairs with it. But when It comes to covering your roof you will never get the smooth finish you may wish for..( do you overlook the roof ?)
As chas has already said .. it is not always 100% waterproof ...
When I made the boat I know it is 100% because I am applying the gel coat to a mould ... but when the gel coat is the last thing to be applied on a roof, usually with a brush. I personally would'nt be so confident.

Personally I could easily do my roof in fibreglass ...
But sorry it's Butyl every time for me ... less than a mornings work to do my whole house, no waste and it will be wrinkle free and 100% waterproof.

[doddsredoubt]

Thankyou alavahalf,I am going with Asphalt.

Thankyou for your help much appreciated.