🏠 Trusted Local Roofers
Commercial Roofing Market Harborough
When a commercial roof leaks, the bill is never just the roof. Stock gets wet, machines stop, and staff stand about while water drips into a unit. Tate & Sons Roofing handles commercial roofing in Market Harborough and across the Harborough District, from a small office block to a full warehouse re-cover. We plan the work around your trading hours, so the roof gets fixed and the doors stay open.
This page walks you through single-ply, felt, liquid and metal systems, what each really costs per square metre, warranties, and how we phase a re-roof so your business keeps running. Start with a free drone survey and a written quote before any work begins — no scaffold just to take a look, and no charge either way. Commercial work is one part of the wider service we offer as a roofing contractor across Market Harborough.
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Downtime Is the Biggest Cost — So We Work Around Your Business
For a business, the price on the quote is only half the story. The real cost is the day you cannot trade because a crew has your roof open to the sky. A shut warehouse, a closed shop, or a wet production line costs far more per hour than the roofers on it.
That is why we plan the job before we lift a single sheet. We split larger roofs into work zones and seal each one watertight at the end of every shift. Loud tasks like strip-out and fixing get booked for early mornings, weekends or after hours. Quieter membrane work carries on while you trade.
We keep deliveries, access and skips clear of your loading bays and parking. On sites around the Market Harborough trading estates, that planning is what keeps stock moving while the roof gets done. You get a clear timeline first, so you know which zones are live and when.
Spot a Failing Commercial Roof Before It Soaks Your Stock
A commercial roof rarely fails overnight. Catch the signs early and a planned repair often does the job, before water reaches your stock or wiring.
Watch for these on your unit or office:
- Water stains spreading across ceiling tiles or plasterboard inside
- Standing water still sitting on the roof two days after rain
- Splits, blisters or lifted seams on a single-ply or felt membrane
- Rusting fixings or flaking coating on a profiled metal roof
- Blocked or overflowing outlets and gutters at roof level
- Daylight, damp or draughts around rooflights and plant penetrations
- Damaged flashings where the roof meets a parapet or upstand
If your building is more of a warehouse or factory shell, our Industrial Roofing Installation service covers profiled sheet, cladding and larger structural work.
On a large flat roof, a small fault spreads a long way before anyone below notices. Water tracks along the deck and drops in somewhere far from the split. By the time a ceiling tile sags, the insulation underneath may already be soaked. A drone survey shows the whole roof at once, so we find the source, not just the drip.
Single-Ply, Felt, Liquid or Metal — Match the System to Your Building
Four systems cover almost every commercial roof in this area. Each suits a different building, budget and lifespan. In short: single-ply membrane is the strong all-rounder for large flat roofs; built-up felt is the budget re-cover for smaller units; liquid systems suit busy plant decks and tricky detailing; profiled metal lasts longest on industrial shells. The right choice depends on roof size, what sits on it, and how long you want it to last. A survey settles it in plain terms.
Ryan Tate, our project manager, fits modern single-ply and liquid systems on commercial sites week in, week out. He will walk you through which one suits your building, your budget and how long you want it to last — in plain English, not sales jargon.
| :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| System | Typical cost (per m²) | Typical lifespan | Best for |
| Single-ply (EPDM / TPO / PVC) | £50–£90 | 20–30 years | Large flat roofs on units, offices and warehouses |
| Built-up felt (bituminous) | £45–£75 | 15–25 years | Budget re-covers on smaller flat roofs |
| Liquid applied | £70–£110 | 20–25 years | Busy plant decks, complex shapes, overlay refurbishment |
| Profiled metal sheet | £90–£140 | 30–40+ years | Industrial units and warehouse shells |
- **Single-ply membrane*lays in wide sheets with hot-air welded seams. It covers big flat areas fast, cuts weight, and stands up well to UK weather. This is the system we fit most on unit and office roofs.
- **Built-up felt*bonds layers of bitumen felt together. It is the cheapest system upfront and still a sound choice on smaller commercial roofs where budget decides it.
- **Liquid applied*goes on as a cold liquid and cures seamless. It seals around pipes, plant and awkward upstands with no joints, and can often overlay a sound existing roof.
- **Profiled metal sheet*suits pitched industrial roofs and warehouse shells. It carries the longest life of the four and shrugs off weather for decades.
What Commercial Roofing Costs in Market Harborough
Cost comes down to four things: system, roof size, access and how much we work around your hours.
As a general guide, built-up felt runs roughly £45–£75 per square metre, single-ply £50–£90, liquid systems £70–£110, and profiled metal £90–£140. On a typical 300m² unit roof, that works out at around £13,500–£22,500 for felt, £15,000–£27,000 for single-ply, £21,000–£33,000 for liquid, and £27,000–£42,000 for metal.
What pushes a commercial price up or down:
- **Roof size and access*— a high roof with limited crane or scaffold access costs more per square metre to reach
- **Existing deck condition*— wet insulation or corroded metal decking has to come out before the new system goes on
- **Plant and penetrations*— vents, ducts, rooflights and units all add detailing labour
- **Insulation upgrade*— bringing a re-cover to the current Building Regs U-value adds board and labour
- **Out-of-hours working*— weekend or night shifts to protect trading add to the labour cost, but save the downtime that would cost far more
These are general market ranges, not a quote for your roof. Two units the same size can price very differently once access, deck condition and phasing are factored in. The only way to a firm figure is a proper survey — which is exactly what our free drone survey gives you, followed by a clear written price with nothing added later. A fixed price needs a survey.
Warranties and Lifespan — What the Money Really Buys
A commercial roof is a long-term asset, so the warranty matters as much as the price. Single-ply membranes carry manufacturer guarantees of 20 to 25 years and often last 30. Liquid systems run to around 20 to 25 years, and profiled metal shrugs on past 40.
A warranty is only as good as the fit behind it. Most manufacturer guarantees depend on a trained installer and a correct build-up, or the cover falls away when you need it. We fit to system specification and hand you the paperwork, so the guarantee stands if you ever have to call on it.
For an independent view on specifying a commercial roof, the Building magazine commercial roofing checklist sets out fire rating, wind load, watertightness and certified installers. It is a useful read before you commit to a system or a contractor.
How We Phase a Re-Roof Around a Working Site
A commercial re-roof follows the same order on every job, phased so your business keeps trading:
- Survey the roof by drone and set the work zones and timeline
- Strip one zone at a time back to a sound deck
- Replace any wet insulation or corroded decking found underneath
- Upgrade insulation to the current Building Regs standard where needed
- Fit and weld the new membrane or sheet, sealed at every upstand and outlet
- Make each zone watertight before the crew leaves at the end of the shift
If your building has a smaller flat area over an office or extension, our Flat Roofing service covers EPDM, GRP and felt on that scale.
Job length depends on size and access, and we give you a realistic timeframe before work starts, not an optimistic one to win the job. On a large roof, phasing means only a section is ever open, so the building stays dry throughout. You will know which zone is live each day and who is on site.
Insulation and Building Regs — Get It Right the First Time
A commercial re-cover is your one clear chance to sort the insulation. Current Building Regulations expect a re-covered flat roof to hit a U-value of around 0.18 W/m²K. That usually means a warm-roof build-up with rigid board above the deck.
Getting this right cuts your heating bills and heads off condensation for good. A cold, poorly insulated deck drips on the underside and rots the structure over time. Fixing that later means opening the roof again, so it pays to build it right while the roof is already off. We handle the Building Control side as part of the job.
Why Market Harborough Businesses Call Tate & Sons First
You are not just buying a membrane — you are buying whoever fits it. Ryan Tate, our project manager, joined the trade full-time after his NVQ Level 3 in Roofing, and specialises in modern commercial flat systems and site work. He runs the job on the ground, coordinates the phasing, and is part of the same crew that turns up to fit your roof.
Founder Michael Tate started his apprenticeship at sixteen and built Tate & Sons on one conviction: survey properly and fix the cause, not just the symptom. He never patches a roof to look right for a season and fail again the next. Between us we carry over 45 years of combined experience, hold NVQ Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Roofing Occupations, and keep CSCS cards and NFRC trade-body membership. Hannah Freeman, our office manager, keeps you posted from the first phone call through to final inspection. Read more about the people behind the work on our About Tate & Sons Roofing page.
Areas We Serve Across Market Harborough and the Harborough District
We fit and repair commercial roofs across Market Harborough and the surrounding towns and trading estates. If your unit or premises is not on the list below, call us anyway — if you are nearby, there is a strong chance we cover you.
- Market Harborough (LE16)
- Great Bowden (LE16 7)
- Little Bowden (LE16 8)
- Lubenham (LE16 9)
- Foxton (LE16 7)
- Medbourne (LE16 8)
- Kibworth Beauchamp (LE8)
- Great Glen (LE8 9)
- Fleckney (LE8 8)
- Husbands Bosworth (LE17 6)
- Desborough (NN14 2)
Got Questions?
Your Commercial Roofing Questions, Answered Properly
How long does a commercial roof last?
It depends on the system. A single-ply membrane runs 20 to 30 years, built-up felt 15 to 25, liquid systems around 20 to 25, and profiled metal 30 to 40 or more. Good detailing at the upstands and outlets matters as much as the covering itself. Regular checks and cleared outlets get you the top end of each range rather than the bottom.
Can you replace our roof without closing the business?
On most sites, yes. We split the roof into work zones and seal each one watertight before the crew leaves at night. Loud strip-out and fixing get booked for early mornings, weekends or after hours, while quieter work carries on during your day. We plan access and deliveries so your loading bays and parking stay clear. The building stays dry and trading throughout.
Single-ply or built-up felt — which is better for a commercial flat roof?
Single-ply is the stronger long-term choice on a large flat roof. It welds into wide sheets with few joints, goes down fast, and lasts 20 to 30 years. Built-up felt costs less upfront and suits smaller roofs or a tight budget, but carries a shorter life. On a big warehouse or unit roof, single-ply usually gives the better cost over its lifespan. A survey settles which fits your building.
How much does commercial roofing cost per square metre?
As a general guide, built-up felt runs around £45 to £75 per square metre, single-ply £50 to £90, liquid systems £70 to £110, and profiled metal £90 to £140. The final figure depends on roof size, access, deck condition and any out-of-hours working. A free drone survey gives you an exact written price rather than a rough estimate over the phone. A fixed price always needs a survey first.
What warranty comes with a new commercial roof?
Single-ply membranes typically carry a 20 to 25 year manufacturer guarantee, and liquid systems around 20 to 25 years. The cover depends on a trained installer and a correct build-up, so a cheap fit can void it. We fit to system specification and hand you the paperwork, so the guarantee holds if you ever need to call on it. Ask us for the exact terms on the system we quote.
Do you strip the old roof off, or can you overlay it?
It depends on what is underneath. If the existing deck and insulation are sound and dry, a liquid or single-ply overlay can save time and cost. Where the insulation is wet or the deck is corroded, it has to come off first, or the new roof fails early. The drone survey and a moisture check tell us which route your roof needs. We show you the evidence before recommending either.
How long does a commercial re-roof take?
It depends on the size, access and how far we phase the work around your hours. A small unit roof can be days, while a large warehouse runs into weeks. Phasing to keep you trading adds a little time but protects the downtime that would cost you far more. We give you a realistic timeframe and a zone-by-zone plan before work starts, not an optimistic guess.
Do commercial roofs need Building Regulations approval?
Usually, yes, once you re-cover a large area or upgrade the insulation. A re-covered flat roof is expected to meet a U-value of around 0.18 W/m²K, which most full re-covers trigger. We handle the Building Control side as part of the job, so you are not left chasing forms or worrying about sign-off. Listed or unusual buildings may need extra consent, and we check that before quoting.
Book Your Free Drone Roof Survey Today
See exactly what your commercial roof needs before any work starts. No ladders, no pressure — just a clear picture from a local Market Harborough team.
Every week a tired commercial roof waits, water works deeper into the insulation and deck beneath it — and the risk to your stock and trading grows. A quick, free survey today tells you exactly where you stand, and often the fix is smaller and cheaper than you feared. Book now, get an honest quote, and protect your premises before the next downpour finds the weak spot.
ð 5 Hood Close, Market Harborough, LE16 9XS
ð 01858 457600
Call the Market Harborough team today on 01858 457600, or request your free drone survey online. We're already working across your area.
Book Your Free Drone Roof Survey
See exactly where your roof stands, with no obligation and no pressure. Call our Market Harborough team or request your free drone survey today.
Get in Touch
Tate & Sons Roofing — Market Harborough Office
5 Hood Close, Market Harborough, LE16 9XS
📞 01858 457600
✉️ [email protected]