Taunton at a glance
- Postcode districts
- TA1
- Population
- about 64,621 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Somerset Council
- Building approval
- Somerset Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Guide price region
- South West (+3% on West Midlands rates)
Why choose a green roof in Taunton?
Homeowners in Taunton 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.
Taunton's flat roofs are mostly on newer estates where the first extension roofs are now being replaced, with plenty on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions too. The South West averages roughly 1,260 mm of rain a year and many roofs face wind off the Atlantic, so we specify fixings and edge details for wind uplift as well as drainage.
How much does a green roof cost in Taunton?
At South West guide rates, a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof comes to £4,550–£8,350 including VAT. 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 | £4,550–£8,350 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,900–£5,050 |
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.
What's included?
- Root-resistant membrane or separate root barrier
- Drainage layer, filter and lightweight growing medium
- Structural check of joists, deck and supports
- Pre-grown sedum blankets laid and watered in
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?
Green and sedum roofs in Taunton: questions
Do you cover Taunton?
Yes. Taunton is part of our Somerset coverage, including postcode districts TA1. 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 Taunton?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Somerset 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 Taunton?
£4,550–£8,350 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, at South West guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
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.
What happens if a green roof needs repairing?
The green layers are lifted around the problem area, the membrane is repaired, and the layers are relaid. Building on a sound, long-life membrane in the first place keeps that to a minimum.