Dorking at a glance
- Postcode districts
- KT23, RH4
- Population
- about 17,747 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Mole Valley District Council
- Building approval
- Mole Valley District Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Crawley, about 11 miles
- Guide price region
- South East (+10% on West Midlands rates)
What makes a good extension roof in Dorking?
Selling a house in Dorking with a tired extension roof can raise questions in the buyer's survey. A recent replacement, with building control sign-off where needed and written guarantees, gives a buyer confidence and removes a likely point of negotiation.
In and around Dorking, flat roofs are typically found on low-rise post-war blocks of flats, and on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches. 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 a new extension roof cost in Dorking?
For Dorking we use South East rates: £3,100–£5,350 is the guide for a 20 m² extension roof in EPDM with a new deck and insulation, VAT included. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £3,100–£5,350 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £3,300–£5,900 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, insulation + 1 rooflight upstand | £3,300–£5,750 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,750–£3,100 |
Does an extension roof replacement need building regulations?
Usually, yes. An extension roof over a heated room is a thermal element, so replacing most of it typically brings insulation requirements and an approval route.
In England, renovating more than half of the roof means upgrading it towards 0.16 W/m²K where that is technically, functionally and economically feasible. The approval comes from building control or a competent person scheme. A brand-new extension roof is designed to 0.15. Wales usually requires approval for most re-roofing, with a renovation target of 0.16 and a new-extension target of 0.13. Scotland handles this through building standards and the warrant process, and Northern Ireland through district council building control.
Planning is not normally needed to re-cover an extension roof that looks broadly the same afterwards. Turning the roof into a terrace is another matter. We handle building control where the job needs it; see our building regulations page.
What's included?
- New deck, vapour control layer and warm-roof insulation
- Falls set away from the house wall
- Staged strip-out so the room stays weathertight
- New abutment upstand and flashing, plus rebuilt rooflight kerbs
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?
Extension and kitchen roofs in Dorking: questions
Do you cover Dorking?
Yes. Dorking is part of our Surrey coverage, including postcode districts KT23, RH4. 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 Dorking?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Mole Valley 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 a new extension roof cost in Dorking?
£3,100–£5,350 for a 20 m² extension roof in EPDM with a new deck and insulation, at South East guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Will a new extension roof sit higher than the old one?
Usually, by the thickness of the added insulation. We check the height against the upstairs window sills, door thresholds and wall flashings at survey so everything still works.
Do I need my neighbour's permission to replace an extension roof?
Not for a like-for-like re-cover in most cases. The Party Wall Act in England and Wales can apply if the work raises or cuts into a shared wall, so we flag that at survey.