Whickham at a glance
- Postcode districts
- NE16
- Population
- about 16,625 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Gateshead Council
- Building approval
- Gateshead Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Newcastle upon Tyne, about 3 miles
- Guide price region
- North East (−7% on West Midlands rates)
What does a balcony or terrace in Whickham need?
A roof terrace in Whickham 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 a town like Whickham, flat roofs are commonly found on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions or terraced streets with flat-roofed rear kitchens and bathrooms. England averages roughly 870 mm of rain a year; the North East is drier than the west but cold and windy near the coast, so wind uplift and freeze-thaw are in the specification.
How much does balcony or terrace waterproofing cost in Whickham?
For Whickham we use North East 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 | £1,500–£2,600 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £2,800–£5,000 |
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?
- Free survey of the deck, falls, outlets and door thresholds
- Sealed details at doors, outlets, walls and balustrade posts
- 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?
- Blaydon-on-Tyne · 2 mi
- Newcastle upon Tyne · 3 mi
- Newburn · 4 mi
- Felling · 4 mi
- Gosforth · 4 mi
- Stanley · 5 mi
Balconies and roof terraces in Whickham: questions
Do you cover Whickham?
Yes. Whickham is part of our Tyne and Wear coverage, including postcode districts NE16. 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 Whickham?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Gateshead 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 Whickham?
£1,750–£3,000 for a 12 m² balcony in a liquid-applied system including scaffold, at North East guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
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.
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.