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Freephone: 0800 023 8350
Telephone: 01438 229 655
Mobile: 07961 147 476
enquiries@tjcoppingroofing.com

A 4th generation family run business

Roofing Services Harlow | Roofer Harlow | Roof Repair Harlow | Flat Roof Repair Harlow

Our scores are based on 1093 reviews
(each score is out of 10)

Reliability and timekeeping

9.87

Tidiness

9.71

Courtesy

9.88

Workmanship

9.79

Invoice history is based on 166 reviews

Charged as per quote

92.2 %

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T. J. Copping Roofing Ltd Roofing Specialists are a family owned roofing company who have been successfully trading since 1960. Their desire to offer a quality roofing service with competitive rates is as strong today as it's always been.

Flat roofing: Harlow by T. J. Copping Roofing Ltd Roofing Services.

Although Harlow is a predominantly new town, it has Old Harlow founded in the early medieval age with most of its high street buildings being early Victorian and residential. A lot of Harlow properties have areas of flat roofing that certainly keep us busy.

Early history of Harlow

The earliest deposits in Harlow are of a Mesolithic hunting camp from around 10,000 BC that was excavated in the 1970s and closely followed by the large and unexcavated deposits of Neolithic flint beside Gilden Way. These deposits are mostly known because of the large numbers of surface-bound, worked flint. Substantial amounts of worked flint suggest an organised working of flint in the area. Many artefacts litter the area and tools found include axe heads, hammers, blades, dowels and other boring tools and multipurpose flints such as scrapers. An organised field walk held a few years ago indicated that most of Harlow, some 80 hectares, produced worked flint from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age with a smattering of Mesolithic. This indicates organised industry existed from 5000 BC to 2000 BC. The deposits are so large and dispersed that any major archaeological work in the area will have to take this into consideration before any ground work is started.

Later history of Harlow

The original village of Harlow, mentioned in the Domesday Book, developed as a typical rural community around what is now known as Old Harlow, with many of its buildings still standing. This includes for instance the Grade II listed St Mary's Church in Churchgate Street. Its former Chapel is in a ruinous state in a field which was once the Harlowbury Abbey part of Old Harlow, is Grade I listed and is a scheduled ancient monument.

T. J. Copping Roofing Ltd Roofing Services specialise in flat felt roofing construction and have a very long list of satisfied customers in the Harlow area.

We have been in the flat roofing business for many years and can supply any new customers with references and a free, no obligation quote. All our work carries a guarantee for you added peace of mind too.

Flat roof construction methods in Harlow

Any sheet of material used to cover a flat or low-pitched roof is usually known as a membrane and the primary purpose of these membranes is to waterproof the roof area.

Materials that cover flat roofs typically allow the water to run off from a slight inclination or camber into a nearby gutter system. Gutter systems have the advantage of keeping both walls and foundations dry. Gutters on smaller roofs often lead water directly onto the ground, or better still, into a specially made soak away or water butt. Occasionally, however, flat roofs are designed to collect water in a pool, usually for aesthetic purposes, or for rainwater buffering.

Traditionally most flat roofs in the western world make use of tar or asphalt more usually felt paper applied over roof decking to keep a building watertight. The felt paper is in turn covered with a flood coat of bitumen, which is asphalt or tar, and then gravel to keep the sun's heat, UV rays and weather off it and helps protect it from cracking, blistering or degrading too rapidly. Roof decking is usually of plywood, chipboard or Oriented Strand Board, also known as Sterling board of around 18mm thickness, steel or concrete. The mopping of bitumen is applied in two or more coats as a hot liquid, heated in a kettle. A flooded coat of bitumen is applied over the felts and gravel is embedded in the hot bitumen.

A main reason for failure of these traditional roofs is ignorance or lack of maintenance where people or events cause the gravel to be moved or removed from the roof membrane, commonly called a built-up roof, thus exposing it to weather and sun. Cracking and blistering occurs and eventually water gets in, which is why you should give us a call regularly to save a large repair bill at a later date.

Roofing felts are usually a paper or fibre material impregnated in bitumen. As gravel cannot protect tarpaper surfaces where they rise vertically from the roof such as on parapet walls or up stands, the felts are usually coated with bitumen and protected by sheet metal flashings.

Benefits and uses of flat roof systems in Harlow

A flat felt roof is the most cost-efficient roof shape as all space can be used fully, whether it is below or above the roof. Having a smaller surface area, flat felt roofs require less material and are usually stronger than pitched roofs. This style of roof allows ample space for solar panels or outdoor recreational use such as roof gardens. Applying a tough waterproofing membrane forms the ideal substrate for green roof planting schemes.

Where gable roofs are uncommon or space is limited, flat roofs may be used as living spaces, with sheltered kitchens, bathrooms, living and sleeping areas. In third world countries, such roof tops are commonly used as areas to dry laundry, for storage, and even as a place to raise livestock. Other uses include pigeon coops, helipads, sports areas like tennis courts, and restaurants outdoor seating. So you see there really is no end to the uses of a felt flat roof.

Flat roof maintenance in Harlow

A flat felt roof will last much longer if it is properly maintained. Some will use 10 years as the average life cycle of a felt roof, although this does depend on the type of flat roof system in place. Some old tar and gravel roofers acknowledge that unless a roof has been neglected for too long, a BUR, otherwise known as a built up roof of tar, paper and gravel, will last 20-30 years. There are BUR systems in place dating to the early 1900s.

So if you live in or around the Harlow area and would like to talk to us about your flat felt roof, or any other roofing project, we want to hear from you.

We are frequently in the Harlow area and all our roofing work is carried out with the utmost professionalism and care, we know you'll be delighted with the end result. Call T. J. Copping Roofing Ltd Roofing Services today for a free, no obligation quote.

T. J. Copping Roofing Ltd Roofing Specialists are always a phone call away and are happy to offer a thoroughly professional roofing service to their clients. With public liability insurance and a guarantee of a free, no obligation quotation, we really are the roofing company you can trust to get the job done.

Some of the specialist roofing services we carry out:

  • Any new roof work and repair work
  • Domestic and commercial roofing
  • Slating and tiling
  • Flat roofs (single ply membrane and high-performance torch-on felt)
  • Lead work, Bays, valleys, parapets, flashings and box gutters
  • Cement work (verges and chimney stacks)
  • Fascias, soffits and guttering
  • Insurance work
  • Repairs and maintenance such as slipped slates, broken tiles, leaking gutters and overhauls.

Get in Touch

Like what you've read? Want to know more? Then please do not hesitate to call us on our office number: 01438 229 655, our mobile number: 07961 147 476, or alternatively, please click here to make an online enquiry today.

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