Horsforth at a glance
- Postcode districts
- LS18
- Population
- about 19,350 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Leeds City Council
- Building approval
- Leeds City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Leeds, about 5 miles
- Guide price region
- Yorkshire and the Humber (−5% on West Midlands rates)
Why choose a green roof in Horsforth?
In a place like Horsforth, 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.
In and around Horsforth, flat roofs are typically found on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches, and on terraced streets with flat-roofed rear kitchens and bathrooms. England averages roughly 870 mm of rain a year; the Pennine side of Yorkshire is wetter and windier than the east, so we specify for the site rather than the county.
How much does a green roof cost in Horsforth?
Guide price in Horsforth: £4,200–£7,700 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, including VAT at Yorkshire and the Humber 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 | £4,200–£7,700 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,650–£4,650 |
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?
- Drainage layer, filter and lightweight growing medium
- Gravel strips kept clear around edges and outlets
- Structural check of joists, deck and supports
- 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 Horsforth: questions
Do you cover Horsforth?
Yes. Horsforth is part of our West Yorkshire coverage, including postcode districts LS18. 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 Horsforth?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Leeds 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 Horsforth?
£4,200–£7,700 for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, at Yorkshire and the Humber 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.