New Roof Investment

pred02

I got some quotes and found a roofer that I like and seems reputable. A couple of things have come up:

1. Need to decided on material for the flat roof - felt, EPDM rubber, or fibre? There is no clear answer however roofers that do felt don't want to do EPDM and vice-versa.

2. I can insulate but if I go down the and get a BR to come then I need to pay extra for scaffolding, inspections, etc. Is there anything that mandates this is done.

Thanks

Thanks

thearchitect

If you plan to move in a couple of years then I would tend towards felt, albeit well done. Be careful with the insulation in all options to minimise the risk of interstitial condensation.

FreeBear

pred02 wrote: »

2. I can insulate but if I go down the and get a BR to come then I need to pay extra for scaffolding, inspections, etc. Is there anything that mandates this is done.

As per my earlier post - Replacing more than 25% of the roof requires building regulation approval. Inspection is part of the process to get the work "signed off", and if scaffolding is required in order to provide a safe work environment, then that is what is needed. Don't try to skimp on safety.

Having the roof signed off by building control will make it much easier to sell when the time comes - Have a look at some of the threads here when all the relevant paperwork is missing during a house sale.

pred02

Thanks. Any thoughts on the material - felt, EPDM or GRP?

With BR, scaffolding, warm roof and all of the downstream impacted changes (i.e. shingles need to changed on the adjacent roof, flashings, gutters) due to raising the roof to accomodate the thermal requirements I am looking at £10k+.

I get the positives of insulating the roof - but for BR to mandate this and then pass the cost down to the homeowner does not seem fair. If making old British houses environmentally friendly is a government priority- then there should be grants to support this.

Not sure how to finance this. I surely am not the first person to have a flat roof and a leak and now am £10k+ out of pocket? Others don't have £10k sitting in the back pocket for this?

Not clear I will be able to regain this money when I sell the house.

pred02

Ended up going with GRP roof with warm roof insulation. Did the BR - it was relatively straight forward, paid the £350 the inspector came twice for about 10 minutes and signed it off. It was about £5000 for the roof, £500 for scaffolding, £350 for permit, £150 for the waste removal. So about £6000 all in.