Whats the best material to surface a flat roof or balcony?
This is a complicated one. There are lots of options, from flagstones to felt, but when we asked the National Federation of Roofing Contractors which is best, it insisted the variables were such that there was no simple answer. ‘No reputable contractor should recommend a product without making a site visit first,’ said a spokesman. So what are the factors that might affect your decision? Here are a few: what material is the roof set on? What’s underneath the balcony? (If it’s over empty space, it won’t need insulating.) Do you want to be able to walk on it? How high are the upstands (the bits around the edge), because there must be a height differential of at least 15cm between them and the surface of the roof. And that’s just for starters. Follow the NFRC’s advice and get someone to talk through what you want and have a look at what you’ve got. You can find a vetted local contractor through the NFRC on 020-7436 0387 (nfrc.co.uk). Colourful worktops We’ve just bought a 1970s semi and I
