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Garage Roof Replacement Market Harborough
A garage roof takes the same weather as your house roof, yet it rarely gets the same care. Left alone, an old felt or asbestos sheet cover slowly lets water in, and soon the boxes, tools and car below start to suffer. Tate & Sons Roofing handles garage roof replacement in Market Harborough and the wider Welland Valley, from a small single garage to a long double with a pitched apex. We fit felt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and metal box profile, and we tell you which one your garage really needs.
This page runs through flat versus pitched garages, the four main coverings and what each costs, plus the asbestos question that comes up on so many older garages around here. You will also see when a job suits a capable DIYer and when it pays to call a pro. Start with a free drone survey and a written quote before any work begins — no charge, and no pressure either way. Garage roofs are one part of the wider service we offer as a roofing contractor across Market Harborough.
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Know the Signs Your Garage Roof Has Reached the End
A garage roof gives plenty of warning before it fails for good. Catch the signs early and you often save the deck and the timber below it. Leave them, and a small fault turns into a full strip-out.
Look out for these:
- Damp patches or a musty smell inside after rain
- Felt that has blistered, split or lifted along the edges
- Sagging or a soft, spongy feel in the roof deck
- Water pooling and sitting for days after a downpour
- Green moss or algae holding damp against the surface
- Rust streaks or holes on an old metal or asbestos sheet roof
- Daylight showing through gaps when you stand inside
One split seam does not always mean the whole roof is done. On a sound deck, a single fault can be patched or a section re-covered. Widespread cracking, a deck that flexes underfoot, or the same leak coming back twice points to a full replacement instead. A free drone survey shows the whole roof, upstands and edges included, so you get the real picture before spending a penny.
Flat or Pitched — Which Garage Roof Suits Yours?
Most garages in Market Harborough carry a flat roof, usually felt over a timber deck. A flat cover is cheaper to fit and quick to strip and replace. It handles rain well when the fall and the outlets are right, which is where many old garages fall short.
A pitched or apex garage roof sheds water faster and tends to last longer. Metal box profile or tiles suit a low pitch well, and they cope with the wet winters we get across the Welland Valley. Converting a flat garage to a pitched one costs more upfront, and it can need extra structural work. For most homeowners in Great Bowden and Lubenham, a like-for-like flat re-cover in a better material gives the best value. We weigh both routes at survey and give you a straight recommendation, not the biggest invoice.
Felt, EPDM, GRP or Box Profile — Pick the Right Cover
Four coverings handle nearly every garage roof in this area. Each suits a different budget, roof shape and lifespan. In short: felt is the cheapest upfront and fine for a small garage; EPDM rubber is the strong-value all-rounder with few joints and a long life; GRP fibreglass gives a seamless, walkable finish that lasts; metal box profile suits a pitched garage and shrugs off years of weather. The table below sets out the real numbers side by side.
Here is how they compare in plain terms:
Ryan Tate, our project manager, fits EPDM and GRP roofs week in, week out. He will walk you through which cover suits your garage, your budget and how long you want it to last, in plain English rather than sales talk.
| :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| Covering | Typical cost (per m²) | Typical lifespan | Best for |
| Felt (built-up) | £40–£70 | 15–20 years | Small single garages on the tightest budget |
| EPDM rubber | £50–£90 | 25–30+ years | Most flat garage roofs; few joints, strong value |
| GRP fibreglass | £80–£130 | 25–30 years | Seamless, walkable finish and the longest flat-roof life |
| Metal box profile | £40–£90 | 20–35+ years | Pitched and apex garages; fast to fit, tough in weather |
- **Felt (built-up roofing)*is layers of bitumen felt bonded together. The lowest cost upfront, and still a sound choice on a small garage where budget decides it. It has the shortest life of the four.
- **EPDM rubber*is a single-ply membrane laid in large sheets with very few joints. It stands up well to our wet-then-cold winters, and it is the cover we fit most on flat garage roofs. See our EPDM Rubber Roofing page for the full detail.
- **GRP fibreglass*goes on as a liquid and cures solid, so the surface has no seams at all. Good where you want a walkable garage roof or a finish that lasts. It also features on our wider Flat Roofing page.
- **Metal box profile*is coated steel sheet, ideal on a pitched garage. A plastisol-coated sheet can run well past 35 years with next to no upkeep.
What Garage Roof Replacement Costs in Market Harborough
Cost comes down to three things: material, garage size and access.
As a rough guide for 2025 and into 2026, felt runs about £40–£70 per square metre, EPDM rubber £50–£90, GRP fibreglass £80–£130, and metal box profile £40–£90. A typical single garage roof of around 15m² lands near £800–£1,500 in felt, or £1,500–£3,000 in EPDM or GRP. A double garage of 30m² sits higher again, and a pitched box profile job prices on its own terms.
What pushes a price up or down:
- **Garage size and shape*— more corners, upstands and pipe penetrations mean more labour per square metre
- **Access*— a garage tucked behind the house costs more to reach than one off the drive
- **Deck condition*— rotten or soft timber underneath adds cost before the new cover goes on
- **Stripping off*— how many old layers have to come off first, and skip hire for the waste
- **Asbestos*— an old cement sheet roof needs safe removal and licensed disposal, which adds to the job
For a wider view of roofing prices, the FMB new roof cost guide for UK homeowners is an honest, independent read before you commit. These are general market ranges, not a quote for your garage. Two roofs the same size can price very differently once access, deck and asbestos are factored in. The only way to a firm figure is a proper survey — which our free drone survey gives you, followed by a clear written price with nothing added later. A fixed price needs a survey.
Old Garage Roof? Watch for Asbestos Before You Start
Plenty of garages built before 1999 carry an asbestos cement roof. It usually shows as grey corrugated sheeting, often weathered and brittle by now. Left undisturbed it is low risk, but cut it, snap it or drill it and it releases fibres you do not want to breathe.
This is not a job to rush into yourself. Removal needs the right kit, careful handling, and disposal by someone holding a waste carrier's licence. As a rough guide, safe removal of a single garage roof often runs £600–£1,000, and a full asbestos strip and re-cover can land anywhere from around £1,150 to £4,500 depending on size and material. We identify it at survey and handle it properly, so you never end up bagging suspect sheeting on the drive. Homeowners in Little Bowden and Medbourne with older garages ask about this often, and it is always worth checking first.
DIY or a Pro — When to Call Someone In
A small felt garage roof is within reach of a confident DIYer with a dry weekend. Clearing outlets, patching a minor split or re-bedding a loose flashing are all fair game. Doing it yourself saves labour, and for a low-value outbuilding that can make sense.
The line moves once the job gets bigger. A full strip-out, an EPDM or GRP fit, a rotten deck or any hint of asbestos calls for a pro. Get the fall wrong or seal a joint badly and water finds its way in within a season. You then pay twice, once for the botched attempt and once to put it right. A garage roof done properly the first time outlasts three cheap patches, and it holds its warranty. Weigh the saving against the risk before you climb up.
From Strip-Out to Sign-Off: What Happens on Fitting Day
A garage re-roof follows the same order on nearly every job:
- Old covering stripped back to the deck and cleared away
- Deck checked, and any rotten timber replaced
- New felt, membrane or sheet fitted and sealed at every edge and upstand
- Flashings and trims fitted so water sheds cleanly
- Outlets and drips set to carry water off the roof
- Site cleared and the finished roof checked before we leave
Most single and double garage roofs take one to two days, weather allowing. A pitched box profile job or a full asbestos removal can take longer. We give you a realistic timeframe before work starts, not an optimistic one to win the job. You will know who is turning up and roughly how long they will be there.
Why Market Harborough Homeowners Call Tate & Sons First
You are not just buying a roof cover — 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 the modern flat systems on this page: EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and full re-roofs. He is on site with the crew that fits your garage, not just the man who quoted it.
Founder Michael Tate started his apprenticeship at sixteen and built Tate & Sons on one rule: fix the cause, not just the symptom, and survey the roof properly before quoting a penny. 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. 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 replace garage roofs across Market Harborough and the surrounding Welland Valley villages, from Foxton and Kibworth Beauchamp to Husbands Bosworth and Desborough. If your area 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 Garage Roof Questions, Answered Properly
How much does garage roof replacement cost?
As a general guide, felt runs about £40–£70 per square metre, EPDM £50–£90, GRP £80–£130, and metal box profile £40–£90. A typical single garage lands near £800–£1,500 in felt, or £1,500–£3,000 in EPDM or GRP. Access, deck condition and any asbestos removal all move the figure. A free drone survey gives you an exact written price rather than a rough estimate over the phone.
Is a flat or pitched roof better for a garage?
Both work well when fitted right. A flat roof is cheaper and quicker to fit, and it suits most existing garages as a like-for-like re-cover. A pitched or apex roof sheds water faster and tends to last longer, but it costs more and can need extra structural work. We weigh both at survey and recommend the one that gives you the best value for your garage.
What is the best material for a garage roof?
It depends on the garage and your budget. Felt is cheapest but has the shortest life, so it suits a small outbuilding. EPDM rubber is the strong-value pick for most flat garage roofs, with few joints and a long life. GRP fibreglass gives a seamless, walkable finish, while metal box profile suits a pitched garage and shrugs off years of weather. A survey settles which one fits your roof.
Could my old garage roof contain asbestos?
Very possibly, if the garage was built before 1999. Asbestos cement roofs usually show as grey corrugated sheeting, often weathered and brittle. It is low risk left alone, but drilling, cutting or snapping it releases harmful fibres. We identify it at survey and arrange safe removal and licensed disposal, so you never have to handle suspect sheeting yourself.
Can I replace a garage roof myself?
A small felt roof on a low-value garage is within reach of a confident DIYer. Clearing outlets and patching a minor split are fair game too. A full strip-out, an EPDM or GRP fit, a rotten deck or any asbestos calls for a pro. Get the fall or a joint wrong and water gets in within a season, so you end up paying twice.
How long does a new garage roof last?
It depends on the cover you choose. Felt typically gives 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 25 to 30 or more, and GRP fibreglass around 25 to 30 years. A well-coated metal box profile roof can run past 35 years with almost no upkeep. A yearly look over the outlets and flashings helps any of them reach the top of that range.
Do I need planning permission to replace a garage roof?
A like-for-like garage re-roof usually does not need planning permission in England. Changing the roof shape, such as a flat-to-pitched conversion, or working on a listed building or in a conservation area, is where consent can apply. Parts of Great Bowden and Foxton sit within areas the planners watch more closely. We check this before quoting, so there are no surprises once work is booked.
How long does it take to replace a garage roof?
Most single and double garage roofs take one to two days, weather allowing. A pitched box profile job or a full asbestos removal can run longer. We give you a realistic timeframe before we start, not an optimistic one to win the work. You will know who is coming and roughly how long the job will take.
Book Your Free Drone Roof Survey Today
See exactly what your garage roof needs before any work starts. No ladders, no pressure — just a clear picture from a local Market Harborough team.
Every week a tired garage roof waits, water works deeper into the deck and timber beneath it. 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 garage 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]