Carmarthen at a glance
- Postcode districts
- SA31
- Population
- about 15,854 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Carmarthenshire County Council
- Building approval
- Carmarthenshire County Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Llanelli, about 13 miles
- Guide price region
- Wales (−8% on West Midlands rates)
What does a balcony or terrace in Carmarthen need?
Balconies in Carmarthen 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 Carmarthen, flat roofs are common on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions and on lock-up garage blocks on estates. Wales averages roughly 1,460 mm of rain a year, among the wettest in Britain, so we design for steady run-off: proper falls, clear outlets and upstands well above the finished roof.
How much does balcony or terrace waterproofing cost in Carmarthen?
For Carmarthen we use Wales rates: £1,750–£3,000 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.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Balcony (12 m²), liquid-applied, scaffold | £1,750–£3,000 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,450–£2,600 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £2,750–£4,950 |
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?
- New liquid, GRP, single-ply or asphalt waterproofing
- Free survey of the deck, falls, outlets and door thresholds
- Written workmanship guarantee, with approvals handled where needed
- Sealed details at doors, outlets, walls and balustrade posts
Building regulations in Wales
The Welsh Approved Document L applies. Renovating more than half of a roof over a heated room means upgrading it to around 0.16 W/m²K where feasible, and new extension roofs are built to 0.13 W/m²K. Welsh Government guidance is that most re-roofing needs building control approval, so check whenever more than a quarter of a roof is replaced or repaired. We deal with the application as part of the job. More on the rules.
Which nearby areas do we also cover?
Balconies and roof terraces in Carmarthen: questions
Do you cover Carmarthen?
Yes. Carmarthen is part of our Carmarthenshire coverage, including postcode districts SA31. 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 Carmarthen?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Carmarthenshire County 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 Carmarthen?
£1,750–£3,000 for a 12 m² balcony in a liquid-applied system including scaffold, at Wales guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Why is water coming through the ceiling below my balcony?
The usual causes are a failed door threshold, a blocked or poorly sealed outlet, or a fixing through the membrane. A survey, sometimes lifting paving, finds the source.
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.