Braintree at a glance
- Postcode districts
- CM7, CM77
- Population
- about 53,477 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Braintree District Council
- Building approval
- Braintree District Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Chelmsford, about 10 miles
- Guide price region
- East of England (+5% on West Midlands rates)
Why choose a liquid-applied roof in Braintree?
If a flat roof in Braintree is ageing but still dry, firmly bonded and on a sound deck, a reinforced liquid system can be applied over it. That avoids the cost and mess of a full strip-out, provided the moisture and adhesion checks at survey show the existing roof is fit to build on.
Around Braintree, flat roofs are common on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches and on low-rise post-war blocks of flats. The East of England is the driest part of Britain, with parts of the Anglian region around 630 mm a year, so summer heat and UV, not rainfall, do most of the ageing on a felt roof.
How much does a liquid-applied roof cost in Braintree?
At East of England guide rates, a typical 18 m² garage roof in a liquid-applied system comes to £2,150–£3,400 including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), liquid-applied | £2,150–£3,400 |
| Balcony (12 m²), liquid-applied, scaffold | £2,000–£3,400 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,700–£2,950 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,950–£5,150 |
Do building regulations apply if a liquid coating goes over my roof?
They can. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, re-covering more than half of a roof over a heated room is usually renovation of a thermal element, even when the new membrane goes over the old, so the roof should be insulated towards the renovation standard where feasible; for a Scottish property, the local building standards team will confirm whether a warrant is required.
A minor coating repair to a small area is different from re-covering the whole roof. Where insulation is needed, an overlay is not always practical, because the insulation has to go under a new waterproof layer. In that case we may recommend stripping to the deck, fitting a warm roof and applying the liquid system on top. Where approval applies, we deal with the paperwork; details are on the building regulations page.
What's included?
- Detailing of upstands, outlets, pipes and corners before the main area
- Top coat with optional anti-slip finish, and guarantee registration where available
- Survey of the existing roof, including moisture and adhesion checks
- Primer matched to the substrate
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?
Liquid-applied roofing in Braintree: questions
Do you cover Braintree?
Yes. Braintree is part of our Essex coverage, including postcode districts CM7, CM77. 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 Braintree?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Braintree District 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 liquid-applied roof cost in Braintree?
£2,150–£3,400 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in a liquid-applied system, at East of England guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Does a liquid roof smell when it is applied?
Some systems, particularly PMMA, have a strong odour during application, while many polyurethane and water-based products are milder. We tell you what to expect and plan around windows and vents.
What is a fleece-reinforced liquid roof?
It is a liquid membrane with a polyester fleece embedded between coats. The fleece adds strength, helps control thickness and resists cracking where the surface moves slightly.