Reading at a glance
- Postcode districts
- RG1, RG2, RG4, RG6, RG30, RG31
- Population
- about 318,014 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Reading Borough Council
- Building approval
- Reading Borough Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Guide price region
- South East (+10% on West Midlands rates)
When does a garage roof in Reading need replacing?
Garage roofs in Reading take the weather head-on, often with no shelter from surrounding buildings. Wind lifts loose edge trims, frost works at cracked felt, and leaves block small gutters. When several of these faults appear together, a new roof with fresh edges is usually better value than chasing each one.
In a city like Reading, flat roofs are commonly found on bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers or newer estates where the first extension roofs are now being replaced. 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 garage roof cost in Reading?
At South East guide rates, a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM comes to £1,750–£3,100 including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,750–£3,100 |
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,650–£2,900 |
| Single garage (18 m²), GRP fibreglass | £1,950–£3,600 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £3,300–£5,900 |
Do I need planning permission or building regulations for a garage roof?
Usually not for planning, and often not for building regulations either, if the garage is detached and unheated. Re-covering a roof without materially changing its appearance does not normally need a planning application.
An unheated detached garage is not normally a thermal element, so the insulation rules for renovated roofs do not usually apply. That changes if the garage is attached and heated, used as a room, or being converted. A new roof covering that adds 15% or more to the existing weight, or any structural change, still needs building control approval in England. Wales has its own threshold for re-roofing, Scotland works through building standards and NI through district council building control.
Listed buildings and conservation areas can bring extra controls. We confirm what applies at survey and handle approvals where they are needed; our building regulations page covers the detail.
What's included?
- Written workmanship guarantee, with material guarantees registered where available
- Replacement of soft or swollen deck boards
- Free survey of the deck, fall and gutter line
- New membrane dressed into fresh edge and drip trims
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?
Garage roofs in Reading: questions
Do you cover Reading?
Yes. Reading is part of our Berkshire coverage, including postcode districts RG1, RG2, RG4, RG6, RG30, RG31. 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 Reading?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Reading Borough 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 garage roof cost in Reading?
£1,750–£3,100 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, at South East guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Should I insulate my garage roof?
Only if the garage is heated or you plan to use it as a room. Insulating a cold, unheated garage roof can cause condensation unless it is designed carefully, so we advise case by case.
Can you replace a shared garage roof in a block?
Yes. We can quote for one garage in a row or the whole block, and we take care with the joins between bays so neighbouring roofs stay watertight.