Flat roof replacement (garage) - fibreglass versus rubber - Singletrack World Magazine January 17, 2020

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This topic has 7 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 4 years ago by tomd.

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Flat roof replacement (garage) – fibreglass versus rubber
strike
Free Member

Felt garage roof is coming to end of life as it’s starting to increasingly lift and leak in patches so time to consider replacement. It around 20metre-squared and due to the design must remain a flat-roof. As I understand it the 2 options are fibreglass or rubber but I don’t know any more than that…..

Posted 4 years ago

MoreCashThanDash
Full Member

We replaced our asbestos garage roof with rubber about 5-6 years ago. Has withstood everything nature has thrown at it so far.

Posted 4 years ago

edenvalleyboy
Free Member

Firestone rubber on roof gives 25 year guarantee. Just need a decent roofer to fit i.e guarantee is for the materials amd not the roofers work.

Posted 4 years ago

sharkbait
Free Member

[no help]
We have a [garage sized] beach hut in a row of 5 that all had fibreglass (over ply) roofs. After about 25 years they were seriously deteriorating and at least one hut had the fibreglass skin peel off in a storm.
We all had them replaced about 5 years ago with rubber and they’ve been great so far.

Would I use rubber again? Yes definitely.
[/no help]

Posted 4 years ago

RicB
Full Member

I asked this a few months ago, and the consensus seemed to be both are good, rubber perhaps slightly more dependent on a good fitter but the main difference is fragility- if people walk on the roof go for fibreglass, if not go for what your preferred/recommended installer normally uses

IMO the boarding under the roof is far more important than the roofing material. If the boards are rubbish/move then any roof material will leak sooner or later

Posted 4 years ago

jam-bo
Full Member

EDPM is pretty easy to DIY.

fibreglass less so.

Posted 4 years ago

jonno101
Free Member

EDPM is pretty easy to DIY.
fibreglass less so.

I would say the opposite to above. GRP can make a load of popping noises. One builder said to avoid this screw down ply sheets with 100mm centres (not 300-400).

or OSB!

Posted 4 years ago

tomd
Free Member

Our inherited flat roof extension has a GRP roof. I think it’s about 20years old and sound but one of the main pluses for me is that is easy to DIY repair. I’ve done a couple of patches and covered a hole where I removed a redundant flue. It was easy to do with a automotive repair kit + suitable pigment and the patches have held no problem. I’m pleasantly surprised, I’d always been conditioned to hate flat roofs.

Posted 4 years ago