I've found some useful info on this site, but I'm still confused. I've been trying to figure out for ages what materials and who to use.

I have a flat roof - roughly 15metre square which will be used as a garden. It currently has mastic asphalt which is in not too bad nick, but the there is significant pooling so I want to get sloping insulation boards put on.

I do have a few different quotes for different materials, but its quite hard to find objective info. Looking for someone who might know

On Greenspec website I found that TPO and EPDM as top recommended on environment. I've had a quote for EPDM which was just ridiculously expensive - £10,000 (even though on DIY site I found the material is quite cheap) and I've had trouble finding other installers - and other roofers have said they don't think that much of it (coming away at seams etc) Anyone know of reasonable installers in London?

Does anyone know anything about Fibreglass roofing - as I have had a reasonable quote from a well established company offering a 50 year guarantee - which is very appealing, but I can't find info on its environmental credentials.

Is reinforced bitumen membrane similar to mastic asphalt in its environmental credentials - can it really last up to 80 years as one roofer claimed?

I've had a quote for Sarnafil single ply (at the time thinking I was getting a quote for EPDM!) - is that a TPO?

Help, its a jungle out there!

Also if anyone knows of roof garden covering - recycled tiles - rubber or otherwise?

thanks :-)

Roof loadings are definatly something to consider!

Also, your current flat roof will be what is called a cold roof (i.e. insulation between the roof joists with a ventiallation gap between the top of the insulation and bottom of the roof deck/covering.) When you put the insulation on top you change it to a warm roof, and generally warm roofs do not have insulation between the joists. If you go down this root, get a condensation risk analysis done to make sure adding the insulation to the top doesn't bugger up the way the roof works! although could be totally fine!

Hi,

thanks for your comments. Its already a roof garden so no issues with planning - and will have plant containers on it. It had containers on it before, but the main sagging in in a place where there wasn't a lot (it had decking on top previously), so I suspect it just wasn't done well.

I shall try and find out more about insulation - none of the roofers have commented on potential condensation issues which is perhaps a bit worrying. Although one thought it probably wasn't already insulated.

If anyone knows anything about fibre glass roofing's environmental credentials that would be good as I'm thinking of going with them as they are offering the best price. Its got a polyester resin topcoat if that helps.

thanks

Mastic asphalt is a very good long lasting roofing material so why rip it out? Is it leaking?

Posted By: tonyMastic asphalt is a very good long lasting roofing material so why rip it out? Is it leaking?

Mastic asphalt is generally fine if you don't have people jumping about on it punching stones through the surface.

Thanks for all your comments. My internet been playing up so can't get online so easily. Any news from the Green Guide.

I'm replacing the roof as I have damp coming though on one of the walls below, though not sure if its a crack in the edge of the asphalt or crack in wall, but the roof also needs re-falling. I want to establish garden including climbers, so I'm hoping to get something done that lasts for a good long time. I am tempted by fibre glass as no need to have another surface on top like tiles.