St Ives at a glance
- Postcode districts
- PE27
- Population
- about 16,815 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Huntingdonshire District Council
- Building approval
- Huntingdonshire District Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Cambridge, about 12 miles
- Guide price region
- East of England (+5% on West Midlands rates)
What does a balcony or terrace in St Ives need?
A roof terrace in St Ives may be re-waterproofed when the owners want to change the finish, swapping old tiles for decking or porcelain on pedestals. Lifting the surface exposes the membrane, and replacing it then avoids having to lift the new finish again later.
In and around St Ives, flat roofs are typically found on lock-up garage blocks on estates, and on bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers. 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 St Ives?
Guide price in St Ives: £2,000–£3,400 for a 12 m² balcony in a liquid-applied system including scaffold, including VAT at East of England rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Balcony (12 m²), liquid-applied, scaffold | £2,000–£3,400 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,700–£2,950 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £3,150–£5,650 |
Do I need planning permission for a balcony or roof terrace?
For a new balcony or roof terrace, generally yes. In England, balconies and raised platforms are not permitted development for houses, so a planning application is normally needed, and the other nations have their own rules.
Re-waterproofing an existing, approved balcony that looks the same afterwards does not normally need planning. Building regulations are a separate question. A terrace over a heated room is a thermal element, so replacing most of it can bring insulation requirements and approval. Turning a flat roof into a terrace also raises structural questions, because people, furniture and paving add load, and it needs guarding, such as a balustrade, that meets the regulations. A structural engineer should confirm that the roof can carry the new use.
Listed buildings and conservation areas add another layer of control. Our building regulations page covers approvals, and our planning permission guide covers the planning side.
What's included?
- Lifting and setting aside of existing paving or decking
- New liquid, GRP, single-ply or asphalt waterproofing
- Sealed details at doors, outlets, walls and balustrade posts
- Free survey of the deck, falls, outlets and door thresholds
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?
Balconies and roof terraces in St Ives: questions
Do you cover St Ives?
Yes. St Ives is part of our Cambridgeshire coverage, including postcode districts PE27. Surveys and roofs are carried out by vetted roofing teams working under S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd.
Who checks building regulations for a flat roof in St Ives?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Huntingdonshire District Council building control, or a registered building control approver. We tell you at the survey whether your job needs it and deal with the paperwork as part of the quote.
How much does balcony or terrace waterproofing cost in St Ives?
£2,000–£3,400 for a 12 m² balcony in a liquid-applied system including scaffold, at East of England guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
How long does balcony waterproofing last?
It depends on the system and how well it is protected. As indicative ranges, liquid-applied systems last 10–25+ years by product and mastic asphalt 30–60, with good maintenance.
Can you waterproof a balcony without lifting the tiles?
Sometimes a liquid system can go over a sound, well-bonded surface, but if water is already getting under the tiles they usually have to come up.