Leicester at a glance
- Postcode districts
- LE1, LE2, LE3, LE4, LE5
- Population
- about 368,600 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Leicester City Council
- Building approval
- Leicester City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Guide price region
- East Midlands (−2% on West Midlands rates)
When does a garage roof in Leicester need replacing?
If your garage in Leicester 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.
Around Leicester, flat roofs are common on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches and on bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers. The East Midlands is drier than the west of Britain, so most flat roofs here fail through age, UV and poor detailing at upstands rather than sheer rainfall.
How much does a new garage roof cost in Leicester?
Guide price in Leicester: £1,550–£2,750 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, including VAT at East Midlands 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 | £1,550–£2,750 |
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,500–£2,550 |
| Single garage (18 m²), GRP fibreglass | £1,750–£3,200 |
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £2,950–£5,300 |
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?
- New membrane dressed into fresh edge and drip trims
- Written workmanship guarantee, with material guarantees registered where available
- Gutter or outlet renewed where the old one has failed
- Free survey of the deck, fall and gutter line
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 Leicester: questions
Do you cover Leicester?
Yes. Leicester is part of our Leicestershire coverage, including postcode districts LE1, LE2, LE3, LE4, LE5. 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 Leicester?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Leicester 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 Leicester?
£1,550–£2,750 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, at East Midlands guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
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.
Can a garage roof be replaced in one day?
A small single garage with a sound deck can often be stripped and re-covered in a day. Deck repairs, a double garage or poor weather can stretch it to two or three.