Ely at a glance
- Postcode districts
- CB7
- Population
- about 20,574 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- East Cambridgeshire District Council
- Building approval
- East Cambridgeshire District Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Cambridge, about 15 miles
- Guide price region
- East of England (+5% on West Midlands rates)
When should a flat roof in Ely be replaced?
A mineral felt roof laid decades ago may still look intact from the ground in Ely, yet have lost its chippings, cracked at the laps and pulled away at the upstands. Those faults let water track under the covering, so by the time a ceiling stain appears, the deck has often been wet for some time.
In and around Ely, flat roofs are typically found on bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers, and on terraced streets with flat-roofed rear kitchens and bathrooms. The East of England is the driest part of Britain, with parts of the Anglian region around 630 mm a year, so summer heat and UV, not rainfall, do most of the ageing on a felt roof.
How much does a flat roof replacement cost in Ely?
Guide price in Ely: £2,950–£5,150 for a 20 m² extension roof in EPDM with a new deck and insulation, including VAT at East of England rates. 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 | £2,950–£5,150 |
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,600–£2,750 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £3,150–£5,650 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,700–£2,950 |
Which system should I replace my flat roof with?
The right system depends on the roof's size, shape, use and number of details, so no single material suits every roof. These are the usual starting points:
- EPDM rubber suits simple, rectangular roofs, where one sheet can often cover the area with few or no joins.
- GRP fibreglass suits roofs with many corners, rooflights or edges, and gives a rigid surface for occasional maintenance traffic.
- Torch-on felt is a layered, hard-wearing system that keeps the cost down on larger or plain roofs.
- Liquid-applied systems handle awkward details and can overlay a sound existing surface.
- Single-ply and mastic asphalt are more usual on commercial roofs, blocks and terraces.
We recommend a system at survey and explain why. Our EPDM vs GRP vs felt guide sets out the trade-offs if you want to compare first.
What's included?
- New deck, firrings and warm-roof insulation where needed
- Building control handled where needed, plus a written workmanship guarantee
- Fixed written quote listing the full build-up
- Strip-out of the old covering, with waste and skip
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?
Flat roof replacement in Ely: questions
Do you cover Ely?
Yes. Ely is part of our Cambridgeshire coverage, including postcode districts CB7. 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 Ely?
Where the work needs approval it goes to East Cambridgeshire 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 flat roof replacement cost in Ely?
£2,950–£5,150 for a 20 m² extension roof in EPDM with a new deck and insulation, at East of England guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Is VAT charged on a flat roof replacement?
Yes, roof replacement is standard-rated at 20%, and an insulated replacement is treated as a single supply. Our guide prices already include VAT.
Will a new flat roof be better insulated than the old one?
If it is over a heated room, yes. A full replacement usually has to be upgraded towards current insulation levels where feasible, and we build it as a warm roof with the insulation above the deck.