Felt
Torch-On Felt Flat Roofs
Torch-on felt costs €55 to €90 a m² laid, or €1,500 to €4,000 for a roof up to 20 m². It costs the least of the four common flat roof coverings and lasts 10 to 25 years.
Two layers or three, where felt suits, and what it costs.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
What a new flat roof costs for your size
Two taps: the membrane and roughly how big the roof is. The deck, insulation, rooflights and access move the price.
Your roof area × the typical rate
€1,650 to €2,700
30 m² at €55 to €90 a m² for torch-on felt, laid. An estimate, not a quote.
- A kitchen extension, 25 to 40 m², is €3,000 to €6,500 for the whole job.
- A rotten deck adds €30 to €50 a m².
- Repair and roofing work on a house is at 13.5% VAT, not 23%.
What torch-on felt is
Modern roofing felt is a modified bitumen sheet, bonded to the layer below by melting its underside with a gas torch. A roof is two or three layers: an underlay, sometimes an intermediate, and a cap sheet with a mineral finish that protects it from sunlight. A single-layer job lasts 10 to 15 years; two layers 15 to 20; three layers 20 to 25, if it's correctly specified and laid.
- For: the lowest price, familiar to most roofers, repairable, and the cap sheet takes foot traffic for maintenance.
- Against: an open flame on the roof, which needs care next to timber, fascia and rooflights; seams between the sheets; a shorter life than EPDM or GRP.
- Ask how many layers are in the price, and whether it's an SBS-modified system.
What a felt roof costs
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Torch-on felt, up to 20 m² | €1,500 to €4,000 | Two or three layers; the cap sheet |
| Porch, bay or dormer, 8 to 12 m² | €1,800 to €2,800 | Small roofs cost more a m²: the set-up, trims and access are the same |
| Single garage, 20 to 25 m², felt | €2,800 to €4,500 | Two or three layers |
| Torch-on felt, a m² | €55 to €90 a m² | Laid, with cap sheet |
Flat roof jobs we cover
Flat roof replacementExtensions, garages and dormers. €3,000 to €6,500 on a kitchen extension.More on flat roof replacement →
Flat roof repairLeaks, blisters, split seams, outlets. €250 to €900.More on flat roof repair →
EPDM rubber roofsOne sheet, no flame. €70 to €140 a m² laid.More on epdm rubber roofs →
GRP fibreglass roofsHard and walkable. €75 to €140 a m² laid.More on grp fibreglass roofs →
Warm flat roofsInsulation above the deck. €130 to €190 a m².More on warm flat roofs →Flat roofs in every county
- Carlow1.4% flat main roofs
- Cavan0.8% flat main roofs
- Clare1.2% flat main roofs
- Cork2.5% flat main roofs
- Donegal1.0% flat main roofs
- Dublin3.0% flat main roofs
- Galway1.2% flat main roofs
- Kerry1.8% flat main roofs
- Kildare1.0% flat main roofs
- Kilkenny1.4% flat main roofs
- Laois1.2% flat main roofs
- Leitrim1.2% flat main roofs
- Limerick1.6% flat main roofs
- Longford0.9% flat main roofs
- Louth2.3% flat main roofs
- Mayo2.3% flat main roofs
- Meath1.3% flat main roofs
- Monaghan0.9% flat main roofs
- Offaly1.3% flat main roofs
- Roscommon1.2% flat main roofs
- Sligo1.4% flat main roofs
- Tipperary1.6% flat main roofs
- Waterford2.2% flat main roofs
- Westmeath1.5% flat main roofs
- Wexford2.7% flat main roofs
- Wicklow2.7% flat main roofs
Free quote
Get a price in 4 taps
Tap what you need and leave your number. It goes to one flat roofing company that covers your county, and they ring you back to arrange a look and a written price.
Questions people ask
How long does a felt flat roof last?
10 to 25 years, depending on the number of layers and how it was laid.
Is felt still a good choice?
On a budget, or on a garage or shed, yes. On a roof over a heated room, compare it with EPDM on price and life.
Two layers or three?
Three lasts longer: 20 to 25 years against 15 to 20 for two. Ask which the quote is for.
Can felt be patched?
Yes. Blisters and split laps are usually repaired with a patch of the same felt.
Get a free price for your flat roof
One local flat roofing company, a look at the roof, a written price. Free, no obligation.