- Price per m²
- £60–£107
- Typical life
- 25–50 years
- Manufacturer guarantees
- 20-year material warranties are common
- Typical garage roof
- £1,500–£2,600
Tyne and Wear at a glance
- Largest towns
- Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, South Shields, Washington
- Postcode areas
- DH, NE, SR
- Building control
- Newcastle City Council, Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside Council and 2 other councils
- Neighbouring areas
- Northumberland · County Durham · North Yorkshire · Cumbria
- Guide price region
- North East (−7% on West Midlands rates)
How much does an EPDM rubber roof cost in Tyne and Wear?
Guide prices including VAT at North East rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,500–£2,600 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,600–£4,550 |
| Porch or bay (4 m²), EPDM | £700–£1,150 |
Which flat roofs are common in Tyne and Wear?
Flat roofs in Tyne and Wear sit on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions, lock-up garage blocks on estates and shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats. 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. Approximate 1991–2020 regional averages based on Met Office data.
Building regulations in England
Replacing more than half of a roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so it is insulated to current standards and notified to building control. Renovated roofs over heated rooms are insulated to around 0.16 W/m²K where that's feasible, and new extension roofs are built to 0.15 W/m²K. In Tyne and Wear the application goes to Newcastle City Council, Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside Council and 2 other councils. More on the rules.
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.
How long does an EPDM roof last, and what guarantees come with it?
A well-specified EPDM roof typically lasts 25 to 50 years, and one BBA assessment of an EPDM membrane puts its expected life at 35 years or more. Problems usually come from poorly bonded upstands, damaged trims or ponding, rather than the rubber itself.
Three separate documents can sit behind an EPDM roof:
- Manufacturer material guarantee: covers the membrane and, on some systems, the wider build-up. Many need registration and a specified build-up, so we register it for you where the system allows.
- Our written workmanship guarantee: given on every re-roof, with the length set out in your quote.
- Insurance-backed guarantee: an option worth asking about if you want cover that does not depend on the contractor still trading.
A BBA certificate is an assessment of the product, not a guarantee. Our guide to flat roof guarantees explains the differences, and the lifespan guide compares EPDM with the other systems.
Which towns in Tyne and Wear do we cover?
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Sunderland
- South Shields
- Washington
- Wallsend
- Newburn
- Whitley Bay
- Houghton-Le-Spring
- Felling
- Jarrow
- Gosforth
- Whickham
- Blaydon-on-Tyne
EPDM rubber roofing in Tyne and Wear: questions
Which towns in Tyne and Wear do you cover?
All of Tyne and Wear. The main towns have their own pages below, and if yours isn't listed we still cover it: send your postcode and we'll confirm.
How much does an EPDM rubber roof cost in Tyne and Wear?
£1,500–£2,600 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, at North East guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Which council handles building control for a flat roof in Tyne and Wear?
It depends on where the roof is: in Tyne and Wear that's Newcastle City Council, Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside Council and 2 other councils. Replacing more than half of a roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so it is insulated to current standards and notified to building control. We confirm which applies at the survey.
Does an EPDM roof need maintenance?
Very little. Clear leaves from outlets and gutters, look over trims and upstands once or twice a year and after storms, and keep foot traffic to a minimum.
Can you put a green roof on top of EPDM?
Yes. EPDM is often used under sedum, with a protection layer, drainage and growing medium laid on top. The structure must be able to carry the extra weight, which we check before quoting.
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.
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