Felt Roof Cost

Written by Julia Cameron
Julia Cameron
Writer
Julia is a content writer who is originally from Brighton, but now lives in Spain. She writes about home improvements and health & Wellness. When she’s not working, she likes to get out in the sunshine with a good book.
21st August, 2026
Edited by Emily Dick
Emily Dick
Editor
I have 7 years of experience in content editing, with a strong focus on home improvement content. I specialise in reviewing and refining articles for clarity, accuracy, and structure, creating easy-to-understand, reliable, and user-friendly guides for homeowners.
How we get our data
We gather our data from real quotes given by UK tradespeople to UK homeowners on the MyJobQuote platform.
At a Glance
  • The average cost of a replacement felt roof is around £1,500.
  • It will take approximately 2 to 3 days to complete this type of job.
In this guide, you'll find the following:
  • A breakdown of how much a felt roof replacement typically costs in 2026.
  • Felt roof replacement cost factors, job timescales, and what's typically involved.
  • How to find a felt roof contractor near you using MyJobQuote.

Looking into the cost of a felt roof in 2026?

Felt is a popular roofing material because it's affordable, easy to install, and reasonably durable, so it's commonly used on the flat roofs of garages, sheds, porches, and bay windows.

However, felt roofs have a shorter lifespan than traditional pitched roofs, and you may have to think about a felt roof replacement after around 15 to 20 years.

Learn more about felt roof replacement costs below.

felt roof hammer

The average cost of felt roof replacement

It will take between 2 and 3 days, depending on the size and complexity of the job.

£1,500

How Much Does a Felt Roof Cost?

The cost of your replacement felt roof will depend on a number of factors, primarily the size of the roof and the felt roofing system you choose. Replacing the felt roof on a typical 15m² garage with a professionally installed SBS-modified felt roof system would cost between £1,200 and £1,800.

If you're replacing the felt roof on a shed or outbuilding, or you're looking to cut costs, a more basic roof system might be a better option. Installing a basic mineral felt roof system on an 8m² shed would cost between £400 and £640.

Felt Roof Replacement Prices (Including Labour)

The table below shows the typical costs of common felt roof replacement projects using either a basic mineral felt system or an SBS-modified felt system:

Felt Roof Replacement Project Basic Mineral Felt SBS-Modified Felt (Multi-Layer Torch-On) Timescale
Shed (8m²) £400–£640 £640–£960 1 day
Porch (3m²) £250–£400 £450–£700 1 day
Bay window (5m²) £350–£550 £600–£900 1 day
Single garage (15m²) £750–£1,200 £1,200–£1,800 2 to 3 days
Double garage (25m²) £1,250–£2,000 £2,000–£3,000 3 to 4 days
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Felt Roof Replacement Costs per m²

felt shed roof

One of the biggest factors affecting the cost of your felt roof replacement will be the roofing system you choose.

Basic mineral felt is usually the most affordable option, while SBS-modified felt has improved flexibility and durability, so it costs more.

The table below shows the felt roof replacement costs per square metre for these two roofing system options.

Felt Roofing System Installed Cost (per m²) Typical Lifespan Best For
Basic mineral felt £50–£80 10 to 15 years Sheds, outbuildings and budget projects
SBS-modified felt £80–£120 20 to 30 years Garages and most domestic flat roofs
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As well as the size of your felt roof replacement project and the type of roofing system you choose, your total costs will also depend on factors such as whether any additional repairs are needed, roof layout or access challenges, and labour rates where you live.

How Much Do Felt Roofers Cost? (Labour Only)

It takes time to remove the existing roofing cover, inspect the structure, carry out repairs, improve insulation or renew damaged sections, and then lay the new felt roofing, so labour costs will take up a large part of the quote.

While most contractors will probably provide a fixed quote for the job, expect roofers to charge around £250 to £350 per day (or about £30 to £45 per hour). The table below shows the typical labour costs and timescales for common felt roof replacement projects.

Felt Roof Replacement Project Typical Timescale Estimated Labour Cost
Shed (8m²) Up to 1 day £250–£350
Porch (3m²) Up to 1 day £250–£350
Bay window (5m²) Up to 1 day £250–£350
Single garage (15m²) 2 to 3 days £500–£1,050
Double garage (25m²) 3 to 4 days £750–£1,400
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Obviously, anything that increases the time it takes to replace your roof will increase your labour costs. So existing felt roofs that are difficult to access or remove, roof decks that need repairing or replacing, or delays due to poor weather could all increase the costs of labour.

Where you live is also likely to affect your total labour costs, as roofers' rates in London and the South East can be 20% to 30% higher than average for the rest of the UK.

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Supply Costs of Felt Roof Replacement

Although labour accounts for a large part of a felt roof replacement, materials also influence the cost. Roof size makes a difference in the amount you need to spend, along with the quality of the materials and whether the underlying deck needs to be replaced.

rolls of felt

The total cost of your felt flat roof will increase if you choose premium felt systems and better-quality materials. They will cost more, but they will last longer with better resistance to the weather.

The cost of supplies for a felt roof will depend on the size of the roof, the specification of the material you have chosen and whether you need to repair or replace decking or structural elements.

The table below shows you the average unit costs, amount of materials required, and the total material supply costs for the typical materials that might be required for a felt roof replacement project on a 15m² garage roof.

Felt Roofing Material Average Supply Cost Typical Requirement Typical Cost
Roofing Felt £4–£8 per m² 15m² £60–£120
Torch-on Felt System £8–£15 per m² 15m² £120–£225
OSB Roof Decking Boards £15–£30 per board 6 boards £90–£180
Timber Decking £20–£45 per board 6 boards £120–£270
Edge Trims £5–£15 per metre 16 metres £80–£240
Roofing Adhesive £15–£40 per tin 1 tin £15–£40
Flashings £10–£30 per metre 3 metres £30–£90
Fixings £5–£20 per pack 1 pack £5–£20
Protective Roof Coating £20–£60 per tin 1 tin £20–£60
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Additional Felt Roof Costs

There might also be additional costs when you are replacing your felt roof.

Sometimes the removal and disposal of an old felt roof is included in a quote for the installation of a new one. Check this when comparing quotes because skip hire, if included, will raise the price of the quote, but then you don't need to arrange this yourself.

You might also find that when the work begins, the contractor finds unexpected problems with the structure, and you have to have the damaged joists or rotten timber decking replaced.

rotten decking

These are some of the additional costs you may need to add to your budget:

Additions to Your Budget Average Cost
Scaffold Hire £600–£1,000
Skip Hire £60–£400
Waste Removal £150–£400
Replacing Rotten Timber Decking £40–£80 per m2
Repairing Joists £500–£2,000+
Renewing Fascias or Soffits £100–£250 per metre
Improving Insulation £40–£80 per m2
Fixing Drainage Issues £100–£1,000+
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What Impacts the Felt Roof Cost?

There are several factors that influence the final cost of installing a felt roof, and that's mainly why the quote you receive for a felt roof replacement might be different from your neighbour's.

One of the most important factors is the size of the roof. Smaller roofs use less material and take fewer hours to install, so they tend to be at the cheaper end of the scale.

For example, a small shed will be cheaper for a felt roof replacement than a double garage felt roof because it is a much smaller area.

The size of the roof will also influence the amount of felt used, and the cost will depend on the quality you prefer. Felt costs on average between £50 and £80 per m2.

Felt removal also impacts the amount of time a job takes to complete. Older felt roofs often have several layers of felt which have been applied on top of the original covering over the years.

Structural work also creates more work. If, once the felt has been stripped, it becomes obvious that the decking or joists are damaged, then they will have to be repaired or replaced before any felt is laid.

Other costs you might want to consider are the amount you need to spend on edges, upstands, flashings and roof penetrations, plus the labour to install them and make sure they are watertight.

Waste disposal is often included in a quote for felt roofing replacement, but if it isn't, then this will be an additional cost. Skip hire is the easiest way to dispose of waste.

Low roofs can usually be accessed using a ladder, but if you are working on a high roof, you may need to budget for scaffolding, which can cost between £600 and £1,000 for a week's hire. A week's skip hire generally costs between £60 and £400, depending on the size of the skip.

Although it is tempting to use poor-quality materials and leave a damaged structure for the sake of speed and to spend less, it could be a false economy. If the structural problems become so bad that they need to be fixed, it means your new roof covering will have to be removed, creating more expense.

hand screw felt roof

Awkward access, a complex project or bad weather can slow down the installation process, which might add between 1 and 3 days onto the completion time.

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Building Regulations for Felt Roof Replacement

Building regulations do apply if you are completely replacing a flat roof.

man laying felt roof

If you hire a roofer who is a member of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) Competent Person Scheme, they will issue you with a certificate confirming compliance with building control.

If the roofer you use isn't a member of the NFRC Competent Person Scheme, then you will have to notify your local authority's building control department and pay a fee to have the work inspected and approved.

Types of Felt Roof

When you decide to have a felt roof installed, you will have a choice of felt types:

Traditional Shed Felt

Traditional shed roofing is the most affordable. The lightweight material is fitted to the roof deck using nails and adhesive. It is well-suited to smaller outbuildings like sheds or summer houses. The material is thinner than other felt materials, which can mean it is susceptible to damage from high winds.

Lifespan: 5 to 10 years

Torch-on Felt

Torch-on-felt, as the name suggests, is installed using a blow torch. It heats the bitumen backing so the material is strongly bonded to the roof's surface. It creates a strong, durable roofing cover used on garages, porches and extensions.

torch legs felt roof

Lifespan: 15 to 25 years

High-Performance Felt Systems

High-performance felt systems are made from premium materials. The felt comes in multiple layers with a bitumen backing. It is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including heavy rainfall. Its quality, however, means it is more expensive than other types of felt roof covering.

This type of felt system is often used on larger buildings and in locations that are subject to high winds or heavy rain.

Lifespan: 20 to 30 years

Mineral Felt Finishes

A mineral felt layer has protective mineral granules and is often installed as the final layer in a felt flat roof to protect the layers below from UV rays, wind and rain. It can help to extend the roof's lifespan.

Alternative Types of Flat Roof Covering Costs

If you decide a felt flat roof isn't for you, there are other alternatives you can choose:

EPDM Rubber Roofing Cost

Rubber roofing is a durable material that's easy to install, and it can be recycled at the end of its lifespan.

Cost: £80 to £100 per m2

Lifespan: 25 to 35 years

Fibreglass Roofing Cost

Fibreglass roofing is a premium material that's strong and durable with an attractive finish. However, it is more expensive than felt or rubber.

cream coloured fibreglass

Cost: £120 to £180 per m2

Lifespan: 35 to 50 years

Single-Ply Membranes Cost

Single-ply membranes are made from synthetic materials such as PVC and are often used on home extensions. They are popular for their weatherproofing and durability.

Cost: £80 to £140 per m2

Lifespan: 20 to 30 years

Liquid Roofing Systems Cost

Liquid roofing systems are often used on roofs that have awkward angles or complex shapes. The liquid is waterproof, and it is poured directly onto the surface of the roof and then left to cure.

Cost: £60 to £120 per m2

Lifespan: 15 to 25 years

Checklist: Hiring Felt Roofers in the UK

Consider the following points before you hire a roofer to install your replacement felt flat roof:

roofing felt tape measure
  • Are they a member of the NFRC Competent Person Scheme? This will make it easier for you because you won't have to pay for a building control inspection.
  • Are they willing to handle building control approval if they aren't members of the Competent Person Scheme?
  • Is the removal and disposal of your old roof included in the quote? Check this when you compare quotes because one quote may appear to be cheaper than another, but if it doesn't include the costs of removal and disposal, this will be an additional cost.
  • Do they have public liability insurance? It's not a legal requirement, but it is important for any tradesperson working on your property in case of an accident.
  • Do they have 2 years or more of experience working with flat roofs? 2 years is the ideal amount of time for a roofer to gain the right amount of experience.
  • Do they have any examples of similar work they have done previously or feedback from satisfied customers?
  • Is there a warranty or guarantee with the felt roof installation?

What's Involved in Replacing a Felt Roof?

To replace the roof, the old felt will need to be removed, the deck below checked for damage and then new felt layers applied to create a weatherproof finish.

Step One, strip off all the old felt

Step Two, check the deck underneath and the joists for any wear or damage. Decide if repairs or replacements are needed.

Step Three, make any repairs or replacements if necessary

Step Four, dispose of old felt

pile of roofing felt

The removal process will be slower if issues such as damaged decking or water damage have to be addressed, or the roof is difficult to access.

FAQs

How Much Does a Felt Roof Replacement Cost?

The cost of felt roof replacement depends on the type and size of the flat roof you are covering. If you are looking for a cheap material, basic mineral felt is the cheapest you can use. For example, a typical single garage will cost, on average, between £750 and £1,200.

How Long Does a Felt Roof Replacement Take?

Typically, it takes between 1 and 3 days to install a new felt flat roof. It will take longer, however, if the decking needs to be repaired.

Can a Felt Roof Be Repaired Rather Than Replaced?

That depends on the damage to the roof. If the damage isn't major, then a repair will likely be a cheaper option. But if the timber deck is worn or damaged and the felt has worn over a large area, then a roofing contractor will probably recommend a roof felt replacement.

How Long Will a Felt Roof Last?

A well-installed felt roof made from good-quality materials can last between 15 and 20 years. Regular inspections and repairs of minor damage will ensure it remains durable.

Can I Fit a Felt Roof Myself?

It isn't impossible to fit a flat felt roof as a DIY job, but it isn't recommended. Firstly, working at height is dangerous. Secondly, you will need to have or hire the correct equipment to do the job, including safety goggles and boots.

Next, you will need the skills to deal with any additional work you might find needs doing once you remove the old felt.

You will need to comply with building regulations and get building control approval for the work.

Finally, the work must be finished correctly. If not, the roof will be prone to leaks or come apart during high winds.

A professional roofer will have the experience and expertise to fit a felt roof replacement that complies with building regulations, withstands weather conditions, and lasts the appropriate number of years.

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