Balconies and roof terraces in Dunstable

What does a balcony or terrace in Dunstable need?

Balconies in Dunstable are often re-waterproofed when the ceiling below starts to stain. On many older balconies, the membrane was laid under tiles or screed with no way to inspect it, so by the time the leak appears, water may have been tracking under the surface for a long time.

Around Dunstable, flat roofs are common on lock-up garage blocks on estates and on shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats. The East of England is the driest part of Britain, with parts of the Anglian region around 630 mm a year, so summer heat and UV, not rainfall, do most of the ageing on a felt roof.

How much does balcony or terrace waterproofing cost in Dunstable?

For Dunstable we use East of England rates: £2,000–£3,400 is the guide for a 12 m² balcony in a liquid-applied system including scaffold, VAT included. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.

How long does it take to waterproof a balcony?

A small balcony is typically waterproofed in two to four working days, plus time for scaffold if it is above ground floor. Liquid and GRP systems need dry weather and cure time between coats, which sets the pace.

The balcony door will be out of use while the membrane is laid and curing, and the room behind may be noisy while old paving or screed is broken out. If the team needs to work through the house, we agree a route and protect floors. Larger terraces with paving or decking take longer, because the finish has to be lifted and reinstated. Resin systems smell while they cure, so nearby windows are best kept closed.

What's included?

• Sealed details at doors, outlets, walls and balustrade posts
• Lifting and setting aside of existing paving or decking
• Strip-out of the failed membrane and deck repairs
• New liquid, GRP, single-ply or asphalt waterproofing

Building regulations in England

Replacing more than half of a flat roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so the roof is insulated to around 0.16 W/m²K where that's technically and economically feasible, and the work is notified to building control: the council or a registered building control approver, unless a registered competent person self-certifies it. A roof on a new extension is built to 0.15 W/m²K. Patch repairs, and most unheated detached garages, don't trigger the upgrade. Structural changes, or a new covering that adds 15% or more to the roof's weight, also need approval. More on the rules.

Which nearby areas do we also cover?

• Luton · 5 mi
• Leighton Buzzard · 6 mi
• Harpenden · 9 mi
• Berkhamsted · 9 mi
• Hemel Hempstead · 10 mi
• Ampthill · 10 mi

Other flat roof work in Dunstable

• Dormer roofs
• Garage roofs
• EPDM rubber roofing
• Single-ply membrane roofing
• Flat roof surveys and leak tracing
• Extension and kitchen roofs
• All services in Dunstable