Flat Roof Repair, North East
Most flat roof leaks come from the detail, not the middle of the roof — splits in ageing felt, failed seams, punctures, and trim or upstand edges that have lifted. Many can be repaired properly without replacing the roof at all. We trace the real entry point, make it watertight, and tell you straight when a covering is past economic repair. Family-run team based in Sunderland, Checkatrade verified score of 9.86 from 120+ reviews.
What usually fails, by system
Torch-on felt fails at the seams and splits as it ages — the good news is a localised split can often be patch-welded so it's as good as new. EPDM rubber is the opposite problem: the membrane itself rarely fails, so leaks almost always trace to trim detail or the substrate underneath — fix the detail properly and the roof goes on. GRP fibre glass and liquid systems can be repaired and re-coated, provided the deck beneath is still sound. Whatever the system, we repair every roof type — felt, EPDM, GRP, liquid, lead and zinc — on extensions, garages, dormers and commercial buildings.
How we find the leak
Water travels. The stain on your ceiling is rarely directly under the hole — it marks where the water ended up, not where it got in. So we don't price from the stain. We talk through what you're seeing, get to the roof, and track the water back to the actual entry point — a lap, a trim, an upstand, a puncture — and photograph it as standard, so you can see exactly what we're quoting to fix.
Repair or replace — the honest call
A repair is the right spend when the failure is localised and the deck is dry. Replacement is the honest answer when the whole covering is at the end of its life or the timber deck has got wet — laying a new system over damp, soft timber just seals the problem in, and the new roof fails early no matter how good it is. Occasionally an overlay is legitimate — EPDM over an existing roof can work when the substrate is sound, dry and flat — but most of the time we recommend stripping back so we can check for rot before anything new goes down. Either way you get the reasoning in writing, not a sales pitch.
What happens when you call
- 1Tell us what you're seeing — a stain, a drip, a bubble in the felt — and we'll talk it through.
- 2We attend — urgent leaks the same day or next working day across the North East, weather permitting.
- 3Make safe — if water is coming in, we stop it getting worse before anything else.
- 4Written price — itemised, with photos of the fault, before any permanent work starts.
What it costs
Repairs are quoted as a fixed sum once we've found the fault — there's no honest way to price a leak blind, and access is often the biggest single factor. If the diagnosis points to replacement instead, our flat roof cost guide sets out real installed-price ranges by material, and our garage roof replacement page shows what a full strip-and-replace involves. Every quote is written, itemised and free — the figure you're given is the figure you pay.
Flat roof repair FAQs
Can a leaking flat roof be repaired, or does it need replacing?+
Often repaired. A localised failure — a split, a seam, a puncture, one bad trim — can usually be fixed so it lasts, and we'll always say when a repair buys real years. Replacement is the honest answer when the whole covering is at the end of its life or the deck underneath has got wet.
Is it worth patching old felt?+
If the failure is localised, yes — a split in torch-on felt can often be patch-welded so it's as good as new. If the felt is cracking and blistering across the whole roof, patching is money against a losing hand and we'll tell you so.
Can you repair EPDM rubber roofs?+
Yes. The membrane itself rarely fails — most EPDM problems come from trim detail or the substrate underneath. We repair the detail properly and check what's below the sheet before closing anything up.
How quickly can you attend a flat roof leak?+
We aim to attend urgent leaks the same day or next working day across the North East, weather permitting. Call 07840 996627 for the fastest response.
Will you quote before starting work?+
Yes. We make the roof safe first if water is coming in, then put a written, itemised price in your hands before any permanent work starts — with photos of the fault as standard.
Need Roofing Work You Can Rely On?
Contact Stoker Property Solutions for new roofs, flat roofing, repairs and maintenance across Newcastle, Sunderland and the wider North East.