Washwood Heath at a glance
- Postcode districts
- B8
- Population
- about 32,921 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Birmingham City Council
- Building approval
- Birmingham City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Birmingham, about 3 miles
- Guide price region
- West Midlands (baseline rates)
Why choose a green roof in Washwood Heath?
In a place like Washwood Heath, 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.
Washwood Heath's flat roofs are mostly on newer estates where the first extension roofs are now being replaced, with plenty on lock-up garage blocks on estates 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 Washwood Heath?
At West Midlands guide rates, a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof comes to £4,400–£8,100 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 | £4,400–£8,100 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,800–£4,900 |
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?
- Warm or inverted build-up to suit the roof
- Drainage layer, filter and lightweight growing medium
- Pre-grown sedum blankets laid and watered in
- Gravel strips kept clear around edges and outlets
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?
- Birmingham · 3 mi
- Acocks Green · 4 mi
- Sutton Coldfield · 5 mi
- Smethwick · 6 mi
- Shirley · 6 mi
- Solihull · 6 mi
Green and sedum roofs in Washwood Heath: questions
Do you cover Washwood Heath?
Yes. Washwood Heath is part of our West Midlands coverage, including postcode districts B8. 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 Washwood Heath?
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 Washwood Heath?
£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.
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.
Can a green roof have a rooflight in it?
Yes. The rooflight sits on a raised upstand with a gravel strip around it, so the planting stays clear of the glazing and the upstand stays visible and dry.