Flat Roof Calculation for Home Insurance

AlanS

We've had a loft conversion which includes dormers on the back roof of the house.

I'm looking to change my house insurance and one company I've looked at states that the total area of flat roof must not be over 50%, but now that part of our original slate roof has been replaced with dormers with flat roofs, I suspect we may be over the 50%.

I'm trying to work out the best way to calculate the % of flat roof. One way I could do it, is to calculate the area of my house, calculate the area of flat roof and work it out from that, but since the original roof is sloping, this will give a figure which is not quite right ( i.e. a higher percentage than it actually ).

I'm guessing a more accurate way it to measure the actual area of the sloping part of the roof, and not just my roofs "footprint at ground level" ... it could be the difference in being just under 50% or just over 50%

Do insurance companies have a standard way of measuring this?

We've also had a kitchen extension which has a sloping slate roof ... can I include this in my calculation as this may get me under the magical 50% !!

*Scarlett

I would say that yes the kitchen extension does count as part of the sloping roof - I assume that it is part of the main building. I would say that the % would be the ground level footprint ie 2 same size bedrooms upstairs and 1 has flat roof - flatroof = 50%

Many mainstream companies will cover a flat roof or % flat roof but may not quote online as it would require a referal . Depending on the construction of the roof it should be ok - they usually don't mind asphalt or concrete.

I imagine that as it is dormers the roof is not concrete but many insurers will accept asphalt up to 100% flat.

You will generally pay more for a flat roof of more than 1 third but don't get stuck on the comparison sites as some companies won't quote you online- you might be better ringing insurers directly.

There will be some underwriters who will not want to cover this but you should be able to find something competitive.