Kettering at a glance
- Postcode districts
- NN15, NN16
- Population
- about 56,676 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Building approval
- North Northamptonshire Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Northampton, about 12 miles
- Guide price region
- East Midlands (−2% on West Midlands rates)
Why choose a green roof in Kettering?
Homeowners in Kettering building a new extension may find a green roof can help with a planning application, as some councils encourage them for biodiversity and slower rainwater run-off. It is worth raising early with your designer, before the roof structure is drawn up, so the joists can be sized for the extra weight.
Around Kettering, flat roofs are common on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches and on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions. 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 green roof cost in Kettering?
For Kettering we use East Midlands rates: £4,300–£7,900 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 | £4,300–£7,900 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,750–£4,800 |
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
- Gravel strips kept clear around edges and outlets
- Structural check of joists, deck and supports
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?
- Wellingborough · 7 mi
- Corby · 7 mi
- Rushden · 9 mi
- Market Harborough · 10 mi
- Northampton · 12 mi
- Wigston · 20 mi
Green and sedum roofs in Kettering: questions
Do you cover Kettering?
Yes. Kettering is part of our Northamptonshire coverage, including postcode districts NN15, NN16. 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 Kettering?
Where the work needs approval it goes to North Northamptonshire 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 Kettering?
£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.
Can you put a sedum roof on a garage?
Often, yes, if the structure is strong enough. Many older garage roofs have light timbers, so a structural check comes first and strengthening may be needed.
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.