- Guide price
- £4,300–£7,900
- Survey
- Free for new and replacement roofs
- Quote
- Fixed, in writing
- Coverage
- England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Northamptonshire at a glance
- Largest towns
- Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough
- Postcode areas
- NN
- Building control
- West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council
- Neighbouring areas
- Leicestershire · Bedfordshire · Warwickshire · Cambridgeshire
- Guide price region
- East Midlands (−2% on West Midlands rates)
How much does a green roof cost in Northamptonshire?
Guide prices including VAT at East Midlands rates. 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 | £4,300–£7,900 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,750–£4,800 |
Which flat roofs are common in Northamptonshire?
Flat roofs in Northamptonshire sit on terraced streets with flat-roofed rear kitchens and bathrooms, 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches and 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. Approximate 1991–2020 regional averages based on Met Office data.
Building regulations in England
Replacing more than half of a roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so it is insulated to current standards and notified to building control. Renovated roofs over heated rooms are insulated to around 0.16 W/m²K where that's feasible, and new extension roofs are built to 0.15 W/m²K. In Northamptonshire the application goes to West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council. More on the rules.
How is a green roof built on top of a flat roof?
From the bottom up, a green roof is a deck, a waterproofing system with root protection, then drainage, filter, growing medium and plants. The waterproofing does the job of keeping water out. The green layers sit above it.
- Warm roof build-up: vapour control layer, insulation and waterproof membrane on the deck, then the green layers on top. This is the usual choice on a home extension being re-roofed.
- Inverted build-up: waterproofing on the deck, then insulation boards designed to sit above it, then the green layers. This is common on terraces and some commercial roofs.
- Root barrier: roots will exploit any weakness, so the membrane needs to be root-resistant. Some membranes are tested as root-resistant; others need a separate root barrier laid on top.
- Drainage and edges: a drainage layer carries surplus water to outlets, and a gravel or pebble strip is usually left around edges, outlets, upstands and rooflights to keep them clear and accessible.
Upstands still need to rise around 150 mm above the finished surface, which on a green roof means above the top of the growing medium. We check that at the survey, alongside the external fire performance of the build-up where the roof is close to a boundary.
Can a green roof go on my existing flat roof?
Only if the existing waterproofing is sound, root-resistant or protected by a root barrier, and has plenty of life left. In most cases it makes more sense to lay a green roof as part of a replacement.
Once the sedum, substrate and drainage layers are down, the membrane underneath is hard to inspect and expensive to repair, because the green layers have to be lifted to get to it. Putting a green roof on an ageing covering risks paying for the greenery twice. Our repair or replace guide helps you judge whether your current roof is a sensible base.
As for planning, re-covering a house roof normally needs no application if its appearance doesn't change materially. Because a green roof does change how a roof looks, check with your council, especially for listed buildings, conservation areas and roofs that are easily seen. The planning guide has more.
Which towns in Northamptonshire do we cover?
Green and sedum roofs in Northamptonshire: questions
Which towns in Northamptonshire do you cover?
All of Northamptonshire. The main towns have their own pages below, and if yours isn't listed we still cover it: send your postcode and we'll confirm.
How much does a green roof cost in Northamptonshire?
£4,300–£7,900 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, at East Midlands guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Which council handles building control for a flat roof in Northamptonshire?
It depends on where the roof is: in Northamptonshire that's West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council. Replacing more than half of a roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so it is insulated to current standards and notified to building control. We confirm which applies at the survey.
Can I walk on a green roof?
Only for maintenance, and only where it is safe. Most extensive green roofs on homes aren't designed as roof terraces, and a terrace generally needs planning permission and edge protection.
Do I need to water a sedum roof?
Usually only in the first season, during long dry spells, while the blankets establish. After that, sedum copes with dry weather well.
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.
Everything about green and sedum roofs → · All flat roofing in Northamptonshire →