UK Flat Roof Waterproofing Market Analysis

The UK flat roof waterproofing market is projected to have a marginal increase of +3% in 2028. The 7^th edition of the UK flat roof waterproofing market report presents our forecast from 2024 to 2028 and market analysis for the following products:

• Bitumen membranes (RBMs & felts).
• Single ply membranes (SPMs) – including EPDM.
• Liquid roofing systems – cold applied including GRP, hot melts.
• Mastic asphalt.

Flat Roof Waterproofing Market Overview

The UK flat roof waterproofing market remained resilient in the last three years, despite economic uncertainties. Nonetheless, the market faces several challenges in the short term, such as skilled labour shortages.

Changing legislative landscape may underline market opportunities as energy efficiency requirements are becoming more important across the construction industry, and the trend towards green and blue roofs are sustained in the flat roof waterproofing market.

We expect the market to grow in the next five years, supported by a greater push towards sustainability leading to RMI activities in the roofing sector, as well as technological developments improving product offering in this market.

Challenges and Trends

The UK flat roof waterproofing market is a mature market strongly dependent upon the non-residential sector. Despite economic uncertainty faced in the last three years, demand has remained positive for roofing repair and maintenance works.

This trend has been reinforced by recent changes to building regulations, such as Document Part L stating the importance to improve buildings’ energy efficiency, or even the Future Homes and Building Standard which should be introduced in 2025 and will likely steer manufacturers towards the use of sustainable resources.

Nonetheless, the market remains challenged by skilled worker shortages and expensive imports. Aesthetic and sustainable trends are influencing the flat roof waterproofing market and its technological progress, with products being developed in several colour, garden rooftops, and the growing importance of green, blue, and smart roofs.

The increasing importance of alternative sources of energy are likely to continue having an impact on the market, with solar panels for instance.

Market Segmentation

By value and volume, single ply membranes and liquid roofing systems together represent more than 50% of the flat roof waterproofing market. Sustainability, ease of installation, and aesthetic are driving demand for these two products.

Nonetheless, bitumen membranes remain widely used in the UK, but several factors are impacting its use such as import prices and skilled worker shortages.

Despite this, product innovations are continuing in this sector, emphasising the product’s resilience in the flat roof waterproofing market. The share of mastic asphalt used within the flat roof waterproofing market remains small, but sustained thanks to its long-lasting properties and recyclability.

Major suppliers in the flat roof waterproofing market include BMI Group UK, IKO, Sika, Bauder, Cure-it Composites, Radmat, and Renolit.

Distribution

The distribution of flat roof waterproofing products in the UK is composed of four main channels – direct to contractors, builders’ merchants, roofing merchants and specialist distributors, and others such as home improvement multiples.

However, distribution varies depending on the individual sectors i.e. membranes, insulation, decking and ancillary products, making flat roof waterproofing distribution in the UK fairly complex.

Despite this, most products are distributed direct to contractors or by roofing merchants and specialist distributors.

The latter group includes companies such as SIG, Burton Roofing Merchants, Rinus Roofing Supplies, and Skyline Roofing Centres. Leading roofing contractors in the UK include Breyer Roofing and Briggs Amasco, among others, relying on UK suppliers, and sometimes overseas manufacturers such as Casali S.p.A, Imperbit Membrane Industries, and Bitufa Waterproofing BV.

Flat Roof Waterproofing Forecasts

Much like other markets in the construction sector, the UK flat roof waterproofing was affected by reduced activity in the construction industry in 2020.

However, the market strongly recovered in 2021, underlined by a +10% marginal growth compared to 2020 levels, a trend which continued in 2022.

The market is expected to grow in the next five years, with a +3% marginal growth in 2028 reaching an estimated value of £427m at Manufacturer Selling Price (MSP).

RMI activities are projected to support this market more than new orders in the short term. Further, although not the principal end-use sector in this market, expected RMI roofing activities in the residential sector are projected to also support the market, particularly following the Labour government pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament.

An increasing focus on sustainability and product circularity is expected in all market sub-sectors, although some sub-sectors are forecast to grow faster than others.