Lewes at a glance
- Postcode districts
- BN7
- Population
- about 17,297 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Lewes District Council
- Building approval
- Lewes District Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Brighton, about 7 miles
- Guide price region
- South East (+10% on West Midlands rates)
Why choose EPDM rubber roofing in Lewes?
Where an older flat roof in Lewes has a sound structure but a tired covering, EPDM is a straightforward upgrade: strip, check the deck, add a warm-roof build-up if the room below is heated, and bond the new membrane. It also makes a good base for a sedum green roof.
Around Lewes, flat roofs are common on shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats and on newer estates where the first extension roofs are now being replaced. Much of the South East sits in the drier Thames catchment at roughly 730 mm of rain a year, so the usual failures are at joints, upstands and outlets rather than from sheer volume of rain.
How much does an EPDM rubber roof cost in Lewes?
At South East guide rates, a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM comes to £1,750–£3,100 including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,750–£3,100 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £3,100–£5,350 |
| Porch or bay (4 m²), EPDM | £850–£1,400 |
How are the joins, edges and upstands made watertight on an EPDM roof?
They are bonded with contact adhesive and sealed with purpose-made EPDM tapes and pre-formed pieces, because the edges and details are where most rubber roof leaks start.
- Wall upstands: the rubber is turned up the wall, usually to about 150 mm above the finished roof, fully bonded, then finished with a termination bar or a cover flashing chased into the masonry.
- Corners: folded rather than cut where possible, or finished with pre-formed pieces.
- Joins: on roofs wider than one sheet, the laps are cleaned, primed and joined with splice tape, then rolled firmly.
- Pipes and vents: sealed with pre-formed pipe boots rather than relying on mastic.
- Edges and outlets: drip and kerb trims are fixed and the junction with the membrane is sealed with cover tape; outlets are bonded into the membrane at the lowest point.
We also check the falls before laying, because standing water around an outlet shortens the life of any detail. There is more on this in our pages on edges and drainage and rooflight upstands.
What's included?
- Warm-roof insulation and vapour control layer where required
- New drip and kerb trims, outlets and upstand details
- Strip-out of the old covering, with waste taken away
- Deck check and replacement of soft or rotten boards
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?
EPDM rubber roofing in Lewes: questions
Do you cover Lewes?
Yes. Lewes is part of our East Sussex coverage, including postcode districts BN7. 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 Lewes?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Lewes 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 an EPDM rubber roof cost in Lewes?
£1,750–£3,100 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, at South East guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Can a punctured EPDM roof be repaired?
Usually, yes. The area is cleaned and primed, then an EPDM patch or cover tape is bonded over the damage. If water has reached the deck, a survey first is sensible.
How long does it take to fit an EPDM roof?
A single garage typically takes one to two days and an insulated extension roof two to three, weather permitting. Larger roofs, scaffold and complex details add time.