DH4 – DH5 · Bitumen felt

Traditional Felt Flat Roofs, Houghton

Where GRP and EPDM don't suit — very shallow-pitched roofs, complex detail around parapets, or where clients specifically want the traditional look — torch-on felt is still the right answer, and we install it in Houghton regularly. We're regularly on roofs close to the A690, through Newbottle and Hetton-edge.

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Three-layer polyester-reinforced SBS-modified bitumen
Perforated base sheet (partial bond) — prevents deck-stress cracking
Underlay and mineral cap sheet fully torched with 100mm laps
Aluminium drip and trim to gutter edge — not felt turn-down
Upstand dressed to 150mm minimum against any abutment
20-year manufacturer's guarantee on the membrane

What we don't do

Two-layer 'quick' felt roofs, or torching straight to a damp deck. Both fail early. If the deck's wet, we lift and re-board — it's usually £150–£300 of ply, and it's the difference between a 5-year and a 20-year roof. We check the deck before we quote — ply and OSB decks under felt should be re-boarded if they're damp. Torching to wet timber is what causes the classic 5-year failure.

Torch-on vs GRP vs EPDM in Houghton

Torch-on: forgiving of shallow falls, repairable in strips, traditional look, 20-year. GRP: hard-wearing surface, single-piece finish, less forgiving of movement, 25-year. EPDM: near-zero movement, giant single sheet, fewer joints, 30-year. We spec by roof, not by fashion.

Coverage

DH4 – DH5 in full, direct access off the A690. We also cover Sunderland, Hetton, Chester-le-Street.

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Torch-on felt flat roofing in Houghton — FAQs

How long does a torch-on garage roof last?+

20+ years for a three-layer SBS-modified system installed correctly. We've walked on 25-year-old roofs of ours still bone-dry.

Can you overlay onto existing felt?+

Only if the existing is dry, sound and well-bonded. Nine out of ten times it isn't — we strip and re-lay. Overlaying a failed roof just adds weight to a problem.

Is torch-on cheaper than GRP?+

Slightly cheaper on materials, similar on labour, and marginally cheaper overall. Difference isn't big — pick on suitability, not price.

Do you cover Houghton?+

Yes — DH4 – DH5 in full, and neighbouring towns.

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.

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