Birmingham at a glance
- Postcode districts
- B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8 and 31 more
- Population
- about 1,157,603 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Birmingham City Council
- Building approval
- Birmingham City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Guide price region
- West Midlands (baseline rates)
Why choose a green roof in Birmingham?
In a place like Birmingham, 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.
Birmingham's flat roofs are mostly on bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers, with plenty on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions too. England averages roughly 870 mm of rain a year and the West Midlands sits close to that, so falls and outlets are the difference between a roof that drains and one that ponds.
How much does a green roof cost in Birmingham?
Guide price in Birmingham: £4,400–£8,100 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, including VAT at West 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 | £4,400–£8,100 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,800–£4,900 |
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?
- Warm or inverted build-up to suit the roof
- Structural check of joists, deck and supports
- Root-resistant membrane or separate root barrier
- 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?
- Smethwick · 3 mi
- Washwood Heath · 3 mi
- Acocks Green · 4 mi
- West Bromwich · 5 mi
- Bartley Green · 5 mi
- Shirley · 6 mi
Green and sedum roofs in Birmingham: questions
Do you cover Birmingham?
Yes. Birmingham is part of our West Midlands coverage, including postcode districts B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 and 33 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 Birmingham?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Birmingham 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 Birmingham?
£4,400–£8,100 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, at West Midlands 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.
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.