Worcester at a glance
- Postcode districts
- WR1, WR2, WR3, WR4, WR5
- Population
- about 101,659 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Worcester City Council
- Building approval
- Worcester City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Guide price region
- West Midlands (baseline rates)
Why choose a green roof in Worcester?
In a place like Worcester, 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.
Around Worcester, flat roofs are common on terraced streets with flat-roofed rear kitchens and bathrooms and on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches. 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 Worcester?
For Worcester we use West Midlands rates: £4,400–£8,100 is the guide for a 20 m² insulated extension roof finished as a sedum green roof, VAT included. 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 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
- Warm or inverted build-up to suit the roof
- Gravel strips kept clear around edges and outlets
- 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?
- Droitwich · 6 mi
- Great Malvern · 7 mi
- Stourport-on-Severn · 11 mi
- Bromsgrove · 12 mi
- Evesham · 13 mi
- Kidderminster · 14 mi
Green and sedum roofs in Worcester: questions
Do you cover Worcester?
Yes. Worcester is part of our Worcestershire coverage, including postcode districts WR1, WR2, WR3, WR4, WR5. 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 Worcester?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Worcester 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 Worcester?
£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.
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.
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.