Newcastle upon Tyne at a glance
- Postcode districts
- NE1, NE2, NE3, NE4, NE5, NE6, NE7, NE13 and 2 more
- Population
- about 300,125 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Newcastle City Council
- Building approval
- Newcastle City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Guide price region
- North East (−7% on West Midlands rates)
Why choose a green roof in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Homeowners in Newcastle upon Tyne 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.
Newcastle upon Tyne's flat roofs are mostly on low-rise post-war blocks of flats, with plenty on shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats too. England averages roughly 870 mm of rain a year; the North East is drier than the west but cold and windy near the coast, so wind uplift and freeze-thaw are in the specification.
How much does a green roof cost in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Guide price in Newcastle upon Tyne: £4,100–£7,500 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, including VAT at North East 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 | £4,100–£7,500 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,600–£4,550 |
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.
What's included?
- Structural check of joists, deck and supports
- Gravel strips kept clear around edges and outlets
- Root-resistant membrane or separate root barrier
- 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?
Green and sedum roofs in Newcastle upon Tyne: questions
Do you cover Newcastle upon Tyne?
Yes. Newcastle upon Tyne is part of our Tyne and Wear coverage, including postcode districts NE1, NE2, NE3, NE4, NE5, NE6 and 4 more. 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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Newcastle 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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
£4,100–£7,500 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, at North East 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.
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.