- Price per m²
- £63–£110
- Typical life
- 15–25 years
- Manufacturer guarantees
- 10–20 year material guarantees on specified systems
- Typical garage roof
- £1,600–£2,750
Bedfordshire at a glance
- Largest towns
- Luton, Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard
- Postcode areas
- LU, MK, SG
- Building control
- Luton Borough Council, Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council
- Neighbouring areas
- Hertfordshire · Buckinghamshire · Northamptonshire · Cambridgeshire
- Guide price region
- East of England (+5% on West Midlands rates)
How much does a torch-on felt roof cost in Bedfordshire?
Guide prices including VAT at East of England rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,600–£2,750 |
| Extension (20 m²), felt, new deck + insulation | £2,850–£4,900 |
| Block of flats (150 m²), felt + insulation + scaffold | £16,350–£28,550 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,700–£2,950 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,950–£5,150 |
Which flat roofs are common in Bedfordshire?
Flat roofs in Bedfordshire sit on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions, low-rise post-war blocks of flats and 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches. 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. 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 Bedfordshire the application goes to Luton Borough Council, Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council. More on the rules.
Is torch-on roofing safe, and what is the difference between two- and three-layer systems?
Yes, torch-on is safe when hot works are properly controlled, because most roof fires linked to torching start at hidden timber or debris near edges and upstands, not on the open roof. Our teams follow a hot-works routine on every job:
- check eaves, fascias, soffits and wall cavities for timber, nests and debris before lighting a torch;
- use a cold-applied or self-adhesive membrane, rather than a flame, at edges, against combustible materials and in tight details;
- keep fire extinguishers on the roof and the gas bottles secured and away from the work;
- stop torching well before the team leaves, then carry out a fire watch so smouldering is spotted while people are still on site.
As for layers, a two-layer system (underlay plus cap sheet) is common on domestic roofs such as garages and extensions. A three-layer system adds an intermediate sheet, giving more thickness and redundancy, and is often specified on larger, commercial and multi-occupied roofs. The right choice depends on the size and use of the roof and the system's requirements, so we set it out in the quote.
Near a boundary, the external fire performance of the tested build-up, such as a BROOF(t4) classification, can also matter, and we check it where it applies.
Does replacing a felt roof mean upgrading the insulation?
Usually, yes, when the roof is over a heated space and more than half of it is being re-covered. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland that is renovation of a thermal element, which should be brought towards the renovation U-value where feasible; a Scottish project goes through the council's building standards service, which confirms whether a warrant applies.
A felt replacement is a good point to switch to a warm roof, with insulation laid above the deck under the new membranes. On larger roofs, tapered insulation can also correct poor falls that have caused ponding, which a patch repair cannot fix. Raising the roof level affects upstands and door thresholds, so we check heights at survey. Any approval is arranged by us as part of the job, and the building regulations page sets out the rules by nation.
Which towns in Bedfordshire do we cover?
Torch-on felt roofing in Bedfordshire: questions
Which towns in Bedfordshire do you cover?
All of Bedfordshire. 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 torch-on felt roof cost in Bedfordshire?
£1,600–£2,750 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in torch-on felt, at East of England 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 Bedfordshire?
It depends on where the roof is: in Bedfordshire that's Luton Borough Council, Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council. 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 torch-on felt go over an existing felt roof?
Sometimes, if the old roof is dry, well bonded and the deck is sound. Often stripping is better, because overlaying can trap moisture and hide rot; our guide to overlay or strip explains how we decide.
Can torch-on felt be laid in wet weather?
Not in rain or on a wet deck, because moisture trapped under the membrane causes blisters. Light cold weather is usually workable, but we will postpone rather than lay on a damp surface.
Why does my felt roof have blisters?
Blisters usually form when moisture or air trapped beneath the felt expands in the sun. A few small, intact blisters may be monitored, but widespread or split blisters point to a repair or replacement.
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