- Price per m²
- £99–£160
- Typical life
- 25–35+ years
- Manufacturer guarantees
- 20–25 year guarantees on specified systems
- Typical garage roof
- £2,250–£3,650
Kent at a glance
- Largest towns
- Maidstone, Gillingham, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Folkestone
- Postcode areas
- BR, CT, DA, ME, TN
- Building control
- Maidstone Borough Council, Medway Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and 10 other councils
- Neighbouring areas
- Essex · London · East Sussex · Surrey
- Guide price region
- South East (+10% on West Midlands rates)
How much does a single-ply roof cost in Kent?
Guide prices including VAT at South East rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Commercial roof (100 m²), single-ply + insulation | £14,550–£23,950 |
| Single garage (18 m²), single-ply | £2,250–£3,650 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,750–£3,100 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £3,100–£5,350 |
Which flat roofs are common in Kent?
Flat roofs in Kent sit on newer estates where the first extension roofs are now being replaced, 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches and low-rise post-war blocks of flats. Much of the South East sits in the drier Thames catchment at roughly 730 mm of rain a year, so the usual failures are at joints, upstands and outlets rather than from sheer volume of rain. Approximate 1991–2020 regional averages based on Met Office data.
Building regulations in England
Replacing more than half of a roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so it is insulated to current standards and notified to building control. Renovated roofs over heated rooms are insulated to around 0.16 W/m²K where that's feasible, and new extension roofs are built to 0.15 W/m²K. In Kent the application goes to Maidstone Borough Council, Medway Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and 10 other councils. More on the rules.
Should a single-ply roof be mechanically fixed or adhered, and how are the seams welded?
Most commercial single-ply roofs are mechanically fixed, while adhered systems suit decks that cannot take fixings or roofs where a smooth finish is wanted. The choice depends on the deck, the wind exposure of the site and the manufacturer's specification.
| Method | How it works | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanically fixed | Fasteners and plates hold the membrane through the insulation into the deck, hidden under the lap of the next sheet | Metal, timber and concrete decks on commercial roofs |
| Adhered | Membrane bonded to the insulation or deck with adhesive | Domestic roofs, roofs where fixings are unsuitable |
| Ballasted | Loose-laid and held down by paving, gravel or a green roof | Inverted roofs, terraces, green roofs |
Fixing patterns are worked out for the site, with more fasteners at corners and perimeters, where wind uplift is strongest.
Seams are welded by hot-air machines and hand tools that melt the overlapping edges so they fuse. Each seam is then probed along its length to find any gaps, and test welds are made at the start of the day to set the machine for the weather. On commercial jobs we also check that walkways protect the membrane around plant.
What insulation and approvals does a single-ply re-roof need?
On a heated building, a full single-ply re-roof usually triggers the thermal-element rules, so insulation should be brought towards the renovation standard where feasible. In England that is 0.18 W/m²K for non-domestic and 0.16 W/m²K for domestic roofs, with Wales and Northern Ireland setting their own figures; Scottish roofs follow Section 6 of the building standards, and the council confirms whether a building warrant is required.
Single-ply suits a warm roof well, and tapered insulation can correct poor falls at the same time. A thicker build-up raises the roof, so we check upstand heights, door thresholds and rooflight kerbs at survey. Near boundaries, the external fire classification of the tested build-up can matter. We handle building control or building standards where needed; see the building regulations page.
Which towns in Kent do we cover?
- Maidstone
- Gillingham
- Royal Tunbridge Wells
- Folkestone
- Margate
- Ashford
- Canterbury
- Sittingbourne
- Gravesend
- Dartford
- Ramsgate
- Dover
- Tonbridge
- Strood
- Whitstable
- Deal
- Sevenoaks
- Herne Bay
- Broadstairs
- Faversham
- Swanley
- Longfield
- Swanscombe
Single-ply membrane roofing in Kent: questions
Which towns in Kent do you cover?
All of Kent. 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 single-ply roof cost in Kent?
£14,550–£23,950 for a 100 m² commercial roof in single-ply with insulation, at South East 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 Kent?
It depends on where the roof is: in Kent that's Maidstone Borough Council, Medway Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and 10 other councils. Replacing more than half of a roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so it is insulated to current standards and notified to building control. We confirm which applies at the survey.
Can single-ply be used on a house?
Yes. It can be used on garages, extensions and dormers, usually adhered rather than mechanically fixed. On small domestic roofs, though, EPDM or GRP is often more economical.
How long does a commercial single-ply roof take?
A roof of around 100 m² typically takes several days, depending on strip-out, insulation, details and weather. Work is phased so the building stays weathertight and occupied areas are protected.
Is single-ply roofing noisy in the rain?
No more than other flat roofs. Noise depends far more on the deck and insulation than on the membrane, and an insulated warm roof dampens rain noise well.
Everything about single-ply membrane roofing → · All flat roofing in Kent →