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 does a garage roof in Ely need replacing?
If your garage in Ely has an old cement sheet roof, it will eventually crack and let in water. Any suspected asbestos is tested and removed by a licensed specialist first, then the garage can be given new timbers, a deck and a modern membrane that should last for decades with sensible maintenance.
In a town like Ely, flat roofs are commonly found on lock-up garage blocks on estates or 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions. 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 new garage roof cost in Ely?
For Ely we use East of England rates: £1,700–£2,950 is the guide for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, VAT included. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,700–£2,950 |
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,600–£2,750 |
| Single garage (18 m²), GRP fibreglass | £1,850–£3,400 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £3,150–£5,650 |
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?
- Free survey of the deck, fall and gutter line
- New membrane dressed into fresh edge and drip trims
- Gutter or outlet renewed where the old one has failed
- Replacement of soft or swollen deck boards
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 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 new garage roof cost in Ely?
£1,700–£2,950 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, at East of England guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
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.
Can you put a new roof on a garage with a cement sheet roof?
Yes, once any suspected asbestos has been tested and removed by a licensed specialist. The garage then usually needs new timbers and a deck before the new membrane goes on.