Old Swan at a glance
- Postcode districts
- L13
- Population
- about 15,596 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Liverpool City Council
- Building approval
- Liverpool City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Liverpool, about 3 miles
- Guide price region
- North West (−5% on West Midlands rates)
When does a garage roof in Old Swan need replacing?
Many garages in Old Swan 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.
Old Swan's flat roofs are mostly on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions, with plenty on shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats too. 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 Old Swan?
Guide price in Old Swan: £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?
- Free survey of the deck, fall and gutter line
- Replacement of soft or swollen deck boards
- Written workmanship guarantee, with material guarantees registered where available
- Strip-out of old felt, chippings and waste
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 Old Swan: questions
Do you cover Old Swan?
Yes. Old Swan is part of our Merseyside coverage, including postcode districts L13. 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 Old Swan?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Liverpool 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 Old Swan?
£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.
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.
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.