Edinburgh at a glance
- Postcode districts
- EH1, EH2, EH3, EH4, EH5, EH6, EH7, EH8 and 9 more
- Population
- about 514,990 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- City of Edinburgh Council
- Building approval
- City of Edinburgh Council building standards
- Guide price region
- Scotland (−5% on West Midlands rates)
What do block and HMO roofs in Edinburgh need?
When a roof over heated flats in Edinburgh is replaced, insulation rules usually apply. We design the warm-roof build-up towards the required standard where that is feasible and handle building standards where it is needed, so the work is signed off properly and the top-floor flats are better insulated.
In and around Edinburgh, flat roofs are typically found on bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers, and on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions. Scotland averages roughly 1,570 mm of rain a year, with the west far wetter than the east, so drainage, falls and wind uplift are part of every specification we write.
How much does a block or HMO roof cost in Edinburgh?
Guide price in Edinburgh: £14,750–£25,850 for a 150 m² block-of-flats roof in felt with insulation and scaffold, including VAT at Scotland rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Block of flats (150 m²), felt + insulation + scaffold | £14,750–£25,850 |
| Commercial roof (100 m²), single-ply + insulation | £12,550–£20,700 |
Which roofing systems last longest on a block of flats?
Mastic asphalt, EPDM, single-ply and high-performance built-up felt all give long service lives on block roofs; the right choice depends on the deck, how the roof is used, the details and the whole-life cost.
- Mastic asphalt: 30–60 years with maintenance, common on concrete-decked blocks and walkways. See mastic asphalt roofing.
- EPDM: 25–50 years, laid in large sheets with few joins.
- Single-ply: 25–35+ years, quick to lay on larger roofs, with welded laps. See single-ply roofing.
- Built-up felt: 15–25 years for modern torch-on systems and longer for high-performance systems, robust where maintenance teams walk the roof.
- Liquid-applied: 10–25+ years by product, useful as an overlay on a sound roof with complex details.
The cheapest roof today is not always the cheapest over the life of the building. A longer-life system, with tapered insulation to cure ponding, can mean fewer reactive repairs and fewer rounds of consultation. These lives are indicative and assume good specification and regular maintenance.
What's included?
- Long-life systems: mastic asphalt, EPDM, single-ply and built-up felt
- Free survey and fixed, itemised written quote
- Resident notices, access planning and phased work
- Building standards and insulation upgrades handled where needed
Building standards in Scotland
In Scotland the building standards technical handbooks (Section 6 for energy) apply, and the council's building standards service decides whether a building warrant is needed. Like-for-like repairs to a roof covering can be exempt; alterations, structural work and new roofs usually need a warrant before work starts. The domestic roof benchmark is 0.12 W/m²K, applied as far as reasonably practicable on an existing roof. More on the rules.
Which nearby areas do we also cover?
Flats, HMOs and block roofs in Edinburgh: questions
Do you cover Edinburgh?
Yes. Edinburgh is part of our City of Edinburgh coverage, including postcode districts EH1, EH2, EH3, EH4, EH5, EH6 and 11 more. Surveys and roofs are carried out by vetted roofing teams working under S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd.
Who checks building standards for a flat roof in Edinburgh?
Where the work needs approval it goes to City of Edinburgh Council building standards. 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 block or HMO roof cost in Edinburgh?
£14,750–£25,850 for a 150 m² block-of-flats roof in felt with insulation and scaffold, at Scotland guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Can a block roof be replaced in phases?
Yes. Larger roofs can be split into sections over one or more budget years, with each phase priced separately and each section left watertight before the team leaves site.
Do residents need to move out during a re-roof?
No. Block roofs are normally replaced with residents in place, and if we need to check a ceiling inside a top-floor flat, access is arranged through the agent or landlord.