Whitstable at a glance
- Postcode districts
- CT5
- Population
- about 32,196 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Canterbury City Council
- Building approval
- Canterbury City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Guide price region
- South East (+10% on West Midlands rates)
Why choose a green roof in Whitstable?
In a place like Whitstable, many people look out over a flat extension or garage roof from upstairs. Grey felt or rubber isn't much of a view, and a sedum roof turns it into something green that changes colour through the seasons and flowers in summer.
In a town like Whitstable, flat roofs are commonly found on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions or bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers. Much of the South East sits in the drier Thames catchment at roughly 730 mm of rain a year, so the usual failures are at joints, upstands and outlets rather than from sheer volume of rain.
How much does a green roof cost in Whitstable?
For Whitstable we use South East rates: £4,850–£8,900 is the guide for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, VAT included. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM with sedum green roof | £4,850–£8,900 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £3,100–£5,350 |
Can my flat roof take the weight of a green roof?
Not every roof can, which is why we check the structure before quoting. A sedum roof is light compared with an intensive garden, but its growing medium holds water, and a saturated build-up adds significant weight to the roof.
We look at the joist sizes, spans and spacing, the condition of the deck and what the roof sits on. On a recently built extension with generously sized joists, an extensive green roof may be straightforward. On an older garage or a roof with undersized or rotten timbers, the structure may need strengthening, or a structural engineer's calculation may be needed before we can go ahead.
In England, a new roof covering that adds 15% or more to the weight of the roof triggers building control approval, and a green roof will often fall into that category. We handle building control where it is needed. The building regulations page covers the approval routes in each nation.
What's included?
- Root-resistant membrane or separate root barrier
- Drainage layer, filter and lightweight growing medium
- Pre-grown sedum blankets laid and watered in
- Warm or inverted build-up to suit the roof
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?
- Herne Bay · 5 mi
- Canterbury · 6 mi
- Faversham · 7 mi
- Sittingbourne · 13 mi
- Margate · 16 mi
- Ashford · 16 mi
Green and sedum roofs in Whitstable: questions
Do you cover Whitstable?
Yes. Whitstable is part of our Kent coverage, including postcode districts CT5. 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 Whitstable?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Canterbury 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 green roof cost in Whitstable?
£4,850–£8,900 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, at South East guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Can a green roof have a rooflight in it?
Yes. The rooflight sits on a raised upstand with a gravel strip around it, so the planting stays clear of the glazing and the upstand stays visible and dry.
Can you put a green roof on a pitched roof?
We install green roofs on flat roofs only. Sloping green roofs need extra restraint to stop the growing medium slipping, and they are a specialist job outside our work.