- Guide price
- £110–£330
- Repair price
- Confirmed once the leak or damage is found
- Condition survey report
- £140–£290
- Coverage
- England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Fife at a glance
- Largest towns
- Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, St Andrews
- Postcode areas
- KY
- Building standards
- Fife Council
- Neighbouring areas
- City of Edinburgh · West Lothian · Dundee City · Clackmannanshire
- Guide price region
- Scotland (−5% on West Midlands rates)
How much does a new roof edge or outlet cost in Fife?
Guide prices including VAT at Scotland rates. We confirm the price once we've traced the leak or seen the damage.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Outlet or drainage repair | £110–£330 |
| Localised patch repair | £140–£480 |
| Upstand or flashing repair | £240–£620 |
| Emergency temporary weatherproofing visit | £170–£430 |
| Condition survey and leak investigation | £140–£290 |
Which flat roofs are common in Fife?
Flat roofs in Fife sit on low-rise post-war blocks of flats, shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats and terraced streets with flat-roofed rear kitchens and bathrooms. Scotland averages roughly 1,570 mm of rain a year, with the west far wetter than the east, so drainage, falls and wind uplift are part of every specification we write. Approximate 1991–2020 regional averages based on Met Office data.
Building standards in Scotland
In Scotland a building warrant is usually needed for alterations, structural work and new roofs; like-for-like repairs to a covering can be exempt. Section 6 of the technical handbooks sets a domestic roof benchmark of 0.12 W/m²K, applied as far as reasonably practicable on an existing roof. In Fife the application goes to Fife Council (building standards). More on the rules.
Should I fix the edges and drainage or replace the whole roof?
Fix the edges and drainage on their own if the covering is in good condition and the deck is sound. If the covering is near the end of its life or the falls need correcting across the whole roof, it is usually better value to do everything together as part of a replacement.
Trims and outlets are bonded into the waterproofing, so replacing them means cutting into the covering around the edge. On a roof with plenty of life left, that is a worthwhile repair. On an old, brittle covering, the new detail can end up stronger than the roof around it, and correcting falls means taking the covering off anyway. Our repair or replace guide sets out how to decide.
Why does water sit on my flat roof?
Water sits on a flat roof because it can't drain off fast enough: the falls are too shallow, part of the roof slopes the wrong way, the deck has sagged between joists, or an outlet is blocked or set too high.
Current guidance on flat roof design (BS 6229) means most roofs need to achieve a finished fall of at least 1:80, and roofs are commonly designed with a steeper fall, such as 1:60, so that building tolerances and deck deflection still leave enough slope. Many older roofs were built with less, or have settled over time.
A small amount of water that clears within a day or two of rain is often tolerable. Deeper ponding that lingers adds weight, holds dirt and debris, can shorten the life of some coverings and turns any small defect into a leak. A patch won't fix it, because the problem is the shape of the roof. The fix is to correct the falls, either with firring pieces under a new deck or with tapered insulation in a warm roof, or to add or lower outlets so water has somewhere to go. Our ponding water guide explains this in more detail.
Which towns in Fife do we cover?
Edge trims, outlets and drainage in Fife: questions
Which towns in Fife do you cover?
All of Fife. 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 new roof edge or outlet cost in Fife?
£110–£330 for an outlet or drainage repair, at Scotland guide rates including VAT. We confirm the price once we've traced the leak or seen the damage.
Which council handles building standards for a flat roof in Fife?
It depends on where the roof is: in Fife that's Fife Council. In Scotland a building warrant is usually needed for alterations, structural work and new roofs; like-for-like repairs to a covering can be exempt. We confirm which applies at the survey.
Can you add a new outlet to an existing flat roof?
Usually, yes. The outlet is cut in at a low point, connected to a downpipe or gutter, and the waterproofing is dressed into it with compatible materials. Whether it solves ponding depends on whether water can actually reach it.
Can a flat roof be re-laid with better falls?
Yes, as part of a replacement. Falls are corrected with tapered firring pieces under a new deck or with tapered insulation in a warm roof build-up.
Why is my fascia rotting under a flat roof?
Usually because water is getting behind a loose or badly lapped trim, or running back under the edge because there is no proper drip. The fascia and deck edge are replaced and new trims are fitted to stop it happening again.
Everything about edge trims, outlets and drainage → · All flat roofing in Fife →