Truro at a glance
- Postcode districts
- TR1
- Population
- about 23,041 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Cornwall Council
- Building approval
- Cornwall Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Redruth, about 8 miles
- Guide price region
- South West (+3% on West Midlands rates)
When does a garage roof in Truro need replacing?
Many garages in Truro still carry their original mineral felt, which may have been patched several times. Once the chippings have washed off and the laps have split, water gets under the felt and into the deck, and patches stop holding. At that stage a full replacement is the practical fix.
Around Truro, flat roofs are common on terraced streets with flat-roofed rear kitchens and bathrooms and on lock-up garage blocks on estates. The South West averages roughly 1,260 mm of rain a year and many roofs face wind off the Atlantic, so we specify fixings and edge details for wind uplift as well as drainage.
How much does a new garage roof cost in Truro?
At South West guide rates, a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM comes to £1,650–£2,900 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 | £1,650–£2,900 |
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,550–£2,700 |
| Single garage (18 m²), GRP fibreglass | £1,850–£3,350 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £3,100–£5,550 |
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
- Free survey of the deck, fall and gutter line
- Strip-out of old felt, chippings and waste
- Gutter or outlet renewed where the old one has failed
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 Truro: questions
Do you cover Truro?
Yes. Truro is part of our Cornwall coverage, including postcode districts TR1. 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 Truro?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Cornwall 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 Truro?
£1,650–£2,900 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, at South West guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
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.
Do I need to empty my garage before the roof is replaced?
It helps to clear valuable or delicate items, and to cover the rest with dust sheets. Debris can fall through gaps in an old deck during strip-out.