- Price per m²
- £66–£123
- Typical life
- 20–40 years
- Manufacturer guarantees
- 20–25 year material warranties on specified systems
- Typical garage roof
- £1,550–£2,850
County Down at a glance
- Largest towns
- Bangor, Newtownards, Newry, Banbridge
- Postcode areas
- BT
- Building control
- Ards and North Down Borough Council, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and 1 other council
- Neighbouring areas
- Belfast · County Antrim · County Armagh · County Tyrone
- Guide price region
- Northern Ireland (−12% on West Midlands rates)
How much does a GRP fibreglass roof cost in County Down?
Guide prices including VAT at Northern Ireland rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Extension (20 m²), GRP, new deck + insulation | £2,650–£4,750 |
| Dormer (8 m²), GRP, scaffold | £1,250–£2,350 |
| Single garage (18 m²), GRP fibreglass | £1,550–£2,850 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,400–£2,450 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,450–£4,300 |
Which flat roofs are common in County Down?
Flat roofs in County Down sit on low-rise post-war blocks of flats, bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers and lock-up garage blocks on estates. Northern Ireland averages roughly 1,150 mm of rain a year, spread over many wet days, so a roof that sheds water quickly to clear outlets lasts far longer than one that holds puddles. Approximate 1991–2020 regional averages based on Met Office data.
Building control in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, renovating or replacing a roof over a heated room usually means meeting Technical Booklet F1, and building control should be contacted before work starts. Technical Booklet F1 sets roof insulation at 0.18 W/m²K when a roof over a heated room is renovated or newly built, where feasible. In County Down the application goes to Ards and North Down Borough Council, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and 1 other council. More on the rules.
How long does a GRP roof last, and is it guaranteed?
A properly laid GRP roof typically lasts 20 to 40 years. The range is wide because so much depends on the laminate being fully wetted out, the deck staying dry and stable, and the topcoat being renewed if it wears.
When GRP fails early, the cause is usually one of these:
- resin laid in damp or cold conditions that never fully cured;
- cracks at board joints or trims where movement was not allowed for;
- a deck that was wet, soft or poorly fixed before laminating;
- a thin or patchy topcoat that has weathered through.
On guarantees, manufacturer material guarantees are available on many specified GRP systems, and some need a registered build-up or an approved installer. Where registration is possible, we do it for you. Every re-roof also comes with our written workmanship guarantee, with the length set out in your quote, and you can ask about insurance-backed options. Read more in our guarantees guide.
Will a new GRP roof need extra insulation to meet building regulations?
If the roof is over a heated room and you are replacing more than half of it, usually yes. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland that counts as renovating a thermal element, and in Scotland the council's building standards service will say whether a building warrant applies.
GRP pairs well with a warm roof because the new deck boards it needs can sit on top of the insulation. The result is thicker, so we check at survey that there is room under door cills and wall flashings, and that the upstands can finish around 150 mm above the new surface. Where approval is needed we arrange it with building control or building standards.
Unheated, detached garages normally sit outside the thermal rules. See the building regulations page for each nation, or the warm vs cold roof guide for why we avoid cold roofs where we can.
Which towns in County Down do we cover?
- Bangor
- Newtownards
- Newry
- Banbridge
- Dundonald
- Holywood
- Downpatrick
- Comber
- Carryduff
- Warrenpoint
- Newcastle
- Donaghadee
GRP fibreglass roofing in County Down: questions
Which towns in County Down do you cover?
All of County Down. The main towns have their own pages below, and if yours isn't listed we still cover it: send your postcode and we'll confirm.
How much does a GRP fibreglass roof cost in County Down?
£2,650–£4,750 for a 20 m² extension roof in GRP with a new deck and insulation, at Northern Ireland guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Which council handles building control for a flat roof in County Down?
It depends on where the roof is: in County Down that's Ards and North Down Borough Council, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and 1 other council. In Northern Ireland, renovating or replacing a roof over a heated room usually means meeting Technical Booklet F1, and building control should be contacted before work starts. We confirm which applies at the survey.
What colours does a GRP roof come in?
Topcoats are typically available in greys, greens, black and some other shades. Lighter colours absorb less heat, and an anti-slip finish can be added where people will walk on the roof.
Can you walk on a GRP roof?
Yes, a correctly laid GRP roof takes occasional foot traffic, such as cleaning windows or maintaining plant. For a regular walkway or terrace, an anti-slip topcoat and a suitable specification are needed.
Can GRP be laid over an existing felt roof?
Generally no. GRP needs a clean, dry, rigid timber deck, so the old felt is usually stripped and the boards replaced before laminating.
Everything about GRP fibreglass roofing → · All flat roofing in County Down →
