Old Swan at a glance
- Postcode districts
- L13
- Population
- about 15,596 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Liverpool City Council
- Building approval
- Liverpool City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Liverpool, about 3 miles
- Guide price region
- North West (−5% on West Midlands rates)
When should a flat roof in Old Swan be replaced?
A sensible moment to replace a flat roof in Old Swan is when other work is planned on the house, such as a kitchen refit below, new windows or a loft conversion. Doing the roof first protects the new work, and it is the natural time to upgrade insulation to the level the regulations expect for a renovated roof.
In a town like Old Swan, flat roofs are commonly found on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions or newer estates where the first extension roofs are now being replaced. The North West is one of England's wetter regions, averaging roughly 1,290 mm of rain a year, so falls, outlets and well-detailed upstands matter more than the membrane colour.
How much does a flat roof replacement cost in Old Swan?
At North West guide rates, a 20 m² extension roof in EPDM with a new deck and insulation comes to £2,650–£4,650 including VAT. 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 | £2,650–£4,650 |
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,450–£2,500 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £2,850–£5,100 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,500–£2,650 |
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?
- 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
- New membrane, upstands, edge trims and outlets
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 Old Swan: questions
Do you cover Old Swan?
Yes. Old Swan is part of our Merseyside coverage, including postcode districts L13. 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 Old Swan?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Liverpool City 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 Old Swan?
£2,650–£4,650 for a 20 m² extension roof in EPDM with a new deck and insulation, at North West 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.
Do I need to be at home while the roof is replaced?
Not for most of the job, as long as the team can reach the roof and there is room for a skip. We ask you to be there at the start to agree the plan and at the end to look over the finished roof.