Old Swan at a glance
- Postcode districts
- L13
- Population
- about 15,596 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Liverpool City Council
- Building approval
- Liverpool City Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Liverpool, about 3 miles
- Guide price region
- North West (−5% on West Midlands rates)
Why upgrade to a warm roof in Old Swan?
Small commercial buildings in Old Swan with large flat roofs can lose a lot of heat through them. Where the roof is being replaced, upgrading the insulation at the same time is required in most cases and helps reduce running costs for the occupier.
In and around Old Swan, flat roofs are typically found on lock-up garage blocks on estates, and on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches. The North West is one of England's wetter regions, averaging roughly 1,290 mm of rain a year, so falls, outlets and well-detailed upstands matter more than the membrane colour.
How much does a warm roof upgrade cost in Old Swan?
Guide price in Old Swan: £2,650–£4,650 for a 20 m² extension roof in EPDM with a new deck and insulation, including VAT at North West rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,650–£4,650 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM with sedum green roof | £4,200–£7,700 |
Can a cold flat roof be converted to a warm roof?
Yes, and it is the usual approach when an older cold roof is re-covered. The old covering is stripped, the deck is checked and replaced where needed, and the vapour control layer, insulation and new waterproofing go on top.
The existing insulation between the joists is assessed at the same time. Leaving it in place can create a cold, unventilated gap that traps moisture, so it is often removed or the build-up is designed so that most of the insulation sits above the deck. We decide this case by case once we can see inside the roof. If the covering is still sound and you are only patching it, the upgrade isn't usually required, and our repair or replace guide explains how to decide between the two.
What's included?
- Survey of the deck, joists and existing insulation
- Building control or building standards handled where needed
- Vapour control layer on the warm side of the insulation
- New waterproofing, with a written workmanship guarantee
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?
Warm roof insulation upgrades in Old Swan: questions
Do you cover Old Swan?
Yes. Old Swan is part of our Merseyside coverage, including postcode districts L13. 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 Old Swan?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Liverpool City 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 warm roof upgrade cost in Old Swan?
£2,650–£4,650 for a 20 m² extension roof in EPDM with a new deck and insulation, at North West guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Can you add insulation over my existing roof without stripping it?
Sometimes, if the existing covering and deck are dry and sound. We will check at the survey and explain the risks, and our overlay or strip guide covers this choice.
Is a warm roof worth it on a garage?
On a detached, unheated garage, usually not, as there is no heated space to protect and the thermal rules don't normally apply. On an integral or heated garage, or one being converted into a room, it is.