Lofthouse at a glance
- Postcode districts
- WF3
- Population
- about 23,458 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Wakefield Council
- Building approval
- Wakefield Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Wakefield, about 3 miles
- Guide price region
- Yorkshire and the Humber (−5% on West Midlands rates)
What does a balcony or terrace in Lofthouse need?
Owners of flats in Lofthouse sometimes find that a neighbour's balcony is leaking into their home. Where a balcony serves one flat but sits over another, the repair needs proper waterproofing and drainage, and a clear written specification helps everyone involved agree the work.
Around Lofthouse, flat roofs are common on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches and on low-rise post-war blocks of flats. England averages roughly 870 mm of rain a year; the Pennine side of Yorkshire is wetter and windier than the east, so we specify for the site rather than the county.
How much does balcony or terrace waterproofing cost in Lofthouse?
For Lofthouse we use Yorkshire and the Humber rates: £1,800–£3,100 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 | £1,800–£3,100 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,500–£2,650 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £2,850–£5,100 |
How are thresholds, drainage and paving handled on a terrace?
They are designed together, because most balcony leaks start at the door threshold, a blocked outlet or a fixing driven through the membrane. Getting those three right matters more than the brand of membrane.
Thresholds: upstands are usually 150 mm above the finished surface, but a level or low step-out door cannot always achieve that. Where the upstand has to be reduced, extra protection is needed, such as a drainage channel at the door and a fall away from it, and the membrane must still run up and under the door sill.
Drainage: every terrace needs a reliable way off for water, with outlets sized for the area and an overflow if one outlet could block. Outlets under paving need access for cleaning.
Inverted roofs and pedestals: on an inverted roof the insulation sits above the waterproofing and is held down by paving or ballast, protecting the membrane from sun and foot traffic. Adjustable pedestals lift paving slabs level above the falls, so water drains underneath and the surface stays flat. Balustrade posts are fixed through upstands or side-fixed where possible, with every penetration sealed into the membrane.
What's included?
- Lifting and setting aside of existing paving or decking
- New liquid, GRP, single-ply or asphalt waterproofing
- Strip-out of the failed membrane and deck repairs
- Sealed details at doors, outlets, walls and balustrade posts
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 Lofthouse: questions
Do you cover Lofthouse?
Yes. Lofthouse is part of our West Yorkshire coverage, including postcode districts WF3. 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 Lofthouse?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Wakefield 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 Lofthouse?
£1,800–£3,100 for a 12 m² balcony in a liquid-applied system including scaffold, at Yorkshire and the Humber 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.
Do you install balustrades?
Our work is the waterproofing and drainage. We detail the membrane around balustrade fixings so they stay watertight, and we can advise on where posts should be fixed.