Do I Need Planning Permission To Replace Or Repair My Flat Roof

Helpful tips relating to building regulations and planning consent

As Basildon’s leading flat roof specialist, here at High-Tech Membrane Roofing we are often asked by customers whether they will require planning consent to replace or make alterations/repairs to their existing flat roof.

To help clarify the situation, we’ve put together some helpful points relating to building regulations and planning consent however, we would like to reassure all homeowners that they needn’t worry about these matters as our experienced and highly-skilled tradesmen know the regulations inside and out and will take care of these details for you, giving you peace of mind.

As a general rule, you do not normally need to apply for planning permission to re-roof your house so long as it is no more than 150mm from the existing roof plane and that the changes are no higher than the highest part of the existing roof.

There are occasions when your roofing project will require compliance with building regulations, however, including if you were to carry out structural alterations or were planning on replacing or repairing more than 25% of the roof area.

Flat roof repairs or replacement should always be carried out by a qualified professional to ensure that no damage occurs to the roof structure and that the material is fitted correctly so it offers the protection needed. It’s also very dangerous to work at height which is why it’s best left to the experts.

Regulations state new flat roofs should have adequate ventilation to protect from condensation and should usually have a 50mm gap between any insulation and the underside of the roof. They are also required to protect against the elements, resist the spread of fire from one property to another, be energy efficient (protect against heat loss) and have a sufficient drainage system.

High Tech Membrane Roofing Ltd’s PVC single-ply flat roofing system is regarded as an industry leader and delivers performance way above what is necessary – so much so that we offer a lifetime 20-year guarantee. The single-ply system has a much longer life span than more traditional materials such as felt and offers a greater degree of protection against the elements.

High-tech PVC membranes are engineered to form a stable waterproof covering to your flat roof and its performance is unaffected by expansion and contraction. It is also fully protected against damaging solar rays and the very worst of British weather.