Norwich Roofers provides commercial roofing installation, repair, and maintenance for businesses in Mattishall and across Norfolk.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Commercial roofing is a different discipline from domestic work. The materials are different, the access challenges are greater, and the cost of getting it wrong falls on your business rather than just your home. We install, repair, and maintain commercial roofs on warehouses, retail units, office buildings, and schools, serving Mattishall and the wider Norfolk area from our base in Norwich.
The systems we work with include single-ply membranes, EPDM rubber, metal sheet roofing, and built-up felt systems. Each has its place depending on the size of the roof, the building's use, your budget, and how long you need the system to last. Getting the right system from the right contractor matters far more than getting the cheapest quote.
A commercial flat roof is not simply a larger version of a domestic one. Drainage design, load calculations, detailing around plant and pipework, and maintaining access for future maintenance all have to be planned before a single sheet of membrane goes down. Poor detailing at upstands, gutters, and penetrations is where most commercial roof failures begin.
Metal sheet roofing on industrial and agricultural buildings presents its own set of issues: box profile and standing seam systems need correct fixings, correct overlap dimensions, and proper sealing at the ridge and eaves. A roof that looks watertight from the ground can still allow water ingress through poorly sealed laps or corroded fixings.
Built-up felt systems, still common on older commercial buildings, are assessed by how many layers are present, the condition of the substrate, and whether the falls are adequate. A single-ply membrane installation requires the substrate to be structurally sound and flat, with all old failed material stripped before the new system goes down. Fitting over a failing substrate is one of the most common reasons a new commercial roof fails prematurely.
Choosing the right contractor is the single most important decision you make on any commercial roofing project. The materials cost roughly the same whoever buys them. The quality of the finished roof depends entirely on the people who install it.
Below is a practical guide to what you should look for, what you should ask, and what the answers should sound like.
A contractor should be able to name the specific system they intend to install - not just "single-ply" but which product, what thickness, and whether it is mechanically fixed, fully adhered, or ballasted. The same applies to built-up felt: how many layers, what type of cap sheet, and what insulation specification? Vague answers at quote stage usually mean vague work on site.
Ask why they have recommended that particular system for your building. The answer should reference your roof's size, its drainage arrangement, the structure underneath, and your expected use of the roof (plant access, foot traffic, and so on). A good contractor tailors the specification to the building. A less careful one fits whatever they carry in the van.
Ask whether the old material will be stripped back to the deck before the new system goes down, or whether they plan to overlay. Overlaying can be acceptable in specific circumstances, but it should be a deliberate decision based on the condition of the existing layers - not a way to save time. If they propose overlaying, ask them to explain why, and check whether the additional weight is within the structural allowance for your building.
Ask what happens if they find the deck is damaged once the old material is removed. A straightforward contractor will tell you that any additional timber, plywood, or steel work will be priced separately and shown to you before the work proceeds. Walk away from anyone who cannot give you a clear answer to this.
Some roofing businesses quote the job themselves but then pass the work to a subcontractor. There is nothing automatically wrong with that, but you should know about it. Ask directly: will your own operatives be on site, or will you be using a subcontractor? If it is a subcontractor, ask who they are and whether you can speak to them before work starts.
Also ask how many people will be on the job and how long the work is expected to take. A rough timeline should be straightforward to provide. If the answer is vague, that is worth noting.
Commercial roofing work can be noisy, and on a live business premises the timing of noisy operations matters. Ask whether the contractor will work around your operational hours if needed, and how they plan to protect your building's interior during the work. Water ingress during a re-roof is a real risk if the job is not planned carefully, particularly on a building that is occupied during the works.
Ask how the site will be left at the end of each day. Loose materials, exposed areas of deck, and unguarded rooflight openings are all hazards. A well-run job is a tidy job.
A quote that simply says "re-roof in single-ply membrane - £X" tells you almost nothing. Ask for a written specification that describes the system, the preparation work, the insulation type and thickness, how penetrations and upstands will be detailed, and what edge trim or fascia detail will be used. This document protects you if there is a dispute later about what was agreed.
Compare quotes on the basis of the specification, not just the price. Two quotes can look similar in price but describe very different scopes of work. The cheaper quote may exclude stripping the old roof, or specify a thinner insulation board, or omit the upstand detailing entirely.
Commercial roofing covers a wide range of roof types. A contractor who specialises in flat single-ply work may have limited experience with standing seam metal roofing, and vice versa. Ask how much work they have done on roofs similar to yours, and ask whether they can point you to examples of similar completed jobs. You do not need a formal reference process - simply asking the question and watching how they respond is useful.
A well-structured commercial roofing quote should include:
If a quote does not contain most of this information, go back and ask for it. A contractor who resists providing a written specification is one to approach with caution.
Pressure to sign quickly, requests for a large cash deposit upfront, reluctance to put the specification in writing, and an inability to explain the technical choices they have made are all worth taking seriously. The roofing industry does have its share of poor operators, and commercial contracts are large enough that the consequences of a bad choice are significant.
A contractor who cannot explain why they have specified a particular system, or who dismisses your questions, is not someone you want on your roof. Good contractors welcome questions because the answers demonstrate their knowledge.
Commercial flat roofing using a single-ply membrane typically costs in the range of £70 to £120 per square metre, depending on the system, the insulation specification, and the complexity of the detailing. Built-up felt systems are generally at the lower end of that range. EPDM rubber systems sit in the middle. The highest-specification single-ply systems with warm roof insulation sit towards the top.
Metal sheet roofing on industrial buildings is priced differently, often per linear metre of sheet, and varies considerably with the profile chosen and the extent of any structural work to the purlins. Emergency repair work is priced by the job rather than by area.
These figures are a guide only. The only way to get a reliable cost for your building is to have a contractor on site to assess the roof properly.
If you manage or own a commercial property in Mattishall and you are concerned about the condition of your roof, the sensible first step is a survey. Arrange one with a contractor, who should assess the roof and give you a clear written breakdown of what needs doing and what it will cost.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
