Can anyone help...retile roof?

itsgototstop

Hi All,

I live in a conversion flat ( one of four in a victorian house ) my flat is on ground floor and has the garden. I have a small 6ft by 5ft extension done about 20 years ago with a tiled roof.

I was planning on getting this retiled on a like for like basis next week, but am now worried that I need to comply with building regs?

Any help at all much appreciated

CJay_2

Hi,

See my post updated today about my own tiling nightmare
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=677643

According to 2006 building regulations you do need approval when replacing more than 25% of a 'thermal element' of a property - that is wall, ceiling, roof (including tiles). I don't think this is very well known. Well I certainly didn't know it and neither did the roofer.

I think the situation used to be that replacing 'like for like' is fine. It isn't anymore, because of amendments that aim to conserve energy.

The regulations are here
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/4000000000563.html

I think it's the part called Approved Document L1B: Conservation of fuel and power (Existing dwellings) (2006 edition)

How I understand it is that getting approval is optional - I am not sure if there is an obligation. But if you try to sell the property and the buyer insists on seeing a certificate, you could run into problems.

The best thing to do is phone the building control department of your council for advice. I found they are really very helpful... even if it's not always good news.

Having said all that............ if you find out anything different please let me know because it may help me...

itsgototstop

Hi,

Thanks for that, I phoned the council and they said it would be classed as repairs if on a like for like basis so no biulding regs

If I changed type of tile however it would need building regs

CJay_2

That's cool then, glad to hear that.

My tiles were identical to the old ones too. Hmm, is this the great roof tile postcode lottery...?

itsgototstop

It does sound like it.....they didn't mention size or 25% rule or anything

adr0ck

just throw some extra insulation into the roof space

to meet current bldg regs you need 270mm of bog standard insulation (u value 0.16)

This shouldn't cost you more than about £15

B&Q currently have 170mm rolls @ £16 each (8m2 in a roll) so just buy one of these and double layer it

all in for £16

note this is in a standard roof space

CJay_2

Yeah..... if only there was roofspace for insulation.

My small flat is in the roofspace
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=677643

The council says that for a retrospective certificate for the roof tiling, the plaster has to be taken off the internal sloping walls (which means most of the walls of the [newly decorated!] flat) and ceiling, insulated plasterboard put in, and insulation put into the rafters of the flat roof at the top, with a vent created for ventilation. I have tried cost-benefit arguments with no luck (even though the regulations say that when retiling, "an opportunity exists for cost-effective insulation at marginal additional cost", and this work doesn't sound marginal to me).

Anyway. Sorry to hijack someone else's thread!

adr0ck

sorry cj...didn't realise

ok your tilers should still be able to retro fit insulation...but that means they are going to need to replace the felt and battens

next question...do you know how deep your rafters are?

you need to achieve a U Value of 0.20

to do this you need 200mm of frameroll or frametherm 35 (come in 100mm layers @ approx £5/m2)

this is a better spec than standard insulation

you will then need to get your tilers to fit breathable felt (say 1 roll @ £100 - Max )

they will then need to cross batten (i.e. put one batten directly onto rafters than batten in standard way....just gives air space for roof to breathe)

this will probably be cheaper than replastering etc from underneath

chappers

CJay you have PM

adr0ck you are correct with the u-value requirements but there are provisions for not meeting these if not practicable or cost effective also CJay lives in a terraced property and it specifically mentions this as a reason for non compliance in the regs.

Phirefly

sorry OP, nothing constructive to add only that every time I catch sight of the title of this thread, I keep thinking it says reptile roof....

adr0ck

chappers wrote: »

CJay you have PM

adr0ck you are correct with the u-value requirements but there are provisions for not meeting these if not practicable or cost effective also CJay lives in a terraced property and it specifically mentions this as a reason for non compliance in the regs.

agreed

was under the impression that the council was being annoying and not moving