Preston at a glance
- Postcode districts
- PR1, PR2
- Population
- about 313,332 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Preston City Council
- Building approval
- Preston City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Guide price region
- North West (−5% on West Midlands rates)
When does a garage roof in Preston need replacing?
Many garages in Preston 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 Preston, flat roofs are common on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions and on bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers. 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 new garage roof cost in Preston?
Guide price in Preston: £1,500–£2,650 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, including VAT at North West rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,500–£2,650 |
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,450–£2,500 |
| Single garage (18 m²), GRP fibreglass | £1,700–£3,100 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £2,850–£5,100 |
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?
- Strip-out of old felt, chippings and waste
- New membrane dressed into fresh edge and drip trims
- Gutter or outlet renewed where the old one has failed
- Written workmanship guarantee, with material guarantees registered where available
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?
- Leyland · 5 mi
- Chorley · 9 mi
- Blackburn · 9 mi
- Darwen · 11 mi
- Lytham St Annes · 12 mi
- Poulton-le-Fylde · 12 mi
Garage roofs in Preston: questions
Do you cover Preston?
Yes. Preston is part of our Lancashire coverage, including postcode districts PR1, PR2. 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 Preston?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Preston 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 new garage roof cost in Preston?
£1,500–£2,650 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, at North 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.
How long does a garage roof last?
It depends on the system. As indicative figures, EPDM lasts 25–50 years, GRP 20–40 and modern torch-on felt 15–25, with good specification and maintenance.