Flat Roof Waterpoofing Tipped For New Growth

Daniel Bracewell • 22 November 2021

Flat Roof Waterpoofing Tipped For New Growth

The UK’s flat roof waterproofing sector suffered during the pandemic, but a new report suggests it will soon be growing again.

According to a study by AMA Research, the pandemic period has seen a 13 per cent drop in the volume of jobs undertaken. However, the report forecasts that as the economy and construction sector recovers from the worst of the pandemic, the expansion of the sector will resume with a vengeance, Building Products reports.

The report noted that since 2016, the growing number of new-build homes and a large number of new school, education, office and infrastructure projects had combined to raise demand for flat-roofing work. The conclusion is that this trend has been briefly interrupted by the pandemic, but the longer-term trajectory has not been thrown off course.

Senior research manager at AMA Research Alex Blagden said flat roof waterproofing is “forecast to increase” despite shortages of some materials. He noted the fact the UK now has a trade agreement with the EU “has seen investor confidence begin to return across the commercial & industrial new build sector”.

Flat roof specialists in Manchester may find they are particularly busy as the revival of the construction sector will help strengthen what was already one of the most active areas of new building in the UK.

Many of these will be on the tall buildings planned or under construction in and around the city centre, with the latest projects including proposals by Cheshire-based Select Property Group for two towers of 11 and 31 storeys in the Northern Quarter.

However, the penchant for skyscrapers is not the only significant trend in urban building. The report also predicted flat roof demand could be increased by a growing desire to install ‘green roofs’ to improve air quality and reduce water run-off in heavily built up areas.

Among the projects in Manchester to feature flat green roofs will be a new brownfield development in Newton Heath, the Manchester Evening News revealed last month.

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Can You Install Solar Panels On A Flat Roof?

by Daniel Bracewell • 10 December 2025

If you’re exploring how to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, you may be looking at the likes of solar panels for your home. But what if your property has a flat roof rather than a pitched roof? Can you still install solar panels on a flat roof? The short answer is yes, you can! In fact, it is often easier to install solar panels on a flat roof than it is to fit them to a sloped roof, which might make this an even more appealing avenue to explore when you’re looking at flat roof ideas . In many cases, you also don’t need planning permission to install solar panels on your flat roof. Of course, there are exceptions if you have a listed building or live in a conservation area, but if you own your house (different rules apply for flats too), you should be free to add solar panels to your home as you choose. There are different kinds of mounting systems for flat roof solar panels and which is most appropriate for your home will depend on the direction it faces. It is worth noting that the cost of installing solar panels is often higher on flat roofs because of the mounting system, but some of this can be offset by the lower labour costs because the installation process is usually more straightforward. One of the main reasons homeowners install solar panels is to reduce their energy bills. Many report savings of hundreds of pounds each year, which means these panels often pay for themselves relatively quickly. What’s more, under the Smart Export Guarantee , you can sell any energy you don’t use back to the National Grid, which can increase the rate at which your investment in solar panels pays for itself. So, if you are exploring ways to make the most of your flat roof, consider solar panels as an option to reduce your energy bills and do good for the environment.