Ely Roofers carries out flat roofing work in Girton and gives homeowners clear, itemised pricing so you know exactly what you are paying for and why.
Flat roofing prices in this part of Cambridgeshire vary considerably from job to job, and the range quoted online can be wide enough to be almost useless. This page sets out the realistic cost brackets for common flat roofing jobs, and more importantly, explains which factors push the price up and which keep it down. That way you can assess a quote more intelligently, regardless of which roofer you use.
The figures below are for the roofing work itself on a straightforward job with reasonable access. They do not include deck replacement, which is priced separately once the old covering is stripped and the damage is visible.
To put those ranges in context: a single garage flat roof of around 15 square metres might cost £700-£1,400 in felt or £1,000-£2,000 in EPDM. A kitchen extension roof of 30 square metres would typically sit between £1,400-£2,500 in felt or £2,000-£3,200 in EPDM. These are indicative figures for the Cambridge and Ely area - actual prices depend on the specific job.
Several factors increase the cost of a flat roofing job. Knowing them in advance means you can plan your budget more accurately and avoid being caught out by unexpected additions.
Rotten or damaged decking. This is the single biggest unknown on any flat roof job. Until the old covering is stripped, you cannot see the condition of every deck board beneath. A roof with one or two soft patches might need three or four boards replacing. A roof that has been leaking for years might need the entire deck rebuilt. Rotten decking cannot be left in place - new membrane over a rotten deck will fail early and trap the moisture inside the build-up. Ask your roofer how they handle deck replacement and whether it is priced as a day rate or a fixed rate per board.
Poor access. A flat roof over a rear extension with clear access from the garden is straightforward. A roof that requires scaffolding because of its position or height, or because the neighbours' property makes ladder access unsafe, will cost more. Scaffolding for a small flat roof can add £300-£700 to a job. Ask whether scaffolding is included in the quote or charged separately.
Complex detailing. Roofs with multiple penetrations (soil pipes, flues, rooflights), multiple walls to flash to, or awkward angles take longer and use more material. Each penetration needs to be individually detailed and made watertight. A simple rectangular garage roof with one outlet costs less per square metre to install than an extension roof with a rooflight, two walls and a parapet.
Insulation. Adding or upgrading the insulation within a flat roof build-up increases the material cost, but it also reduces heat loss from the rooms below. On an extension over a heated living space, insulating the flat roof properly is worth doing at the point of re-roofing. A warm roof build-up with 100mm of rigid insulation board will add to the overall cost but reduces it over time through lower heating bills.
Fascias, soffits and guttering. The perimeter of a flat roof connects to the fascia boards and gutters. If those are rotten or broken, they need to be replaced before or alongside the roof work. A roofer who prices the membrane but ignores a failing fascia is leaving you with a problem that will affect the edge detail of the new roof within a year or two.
Several factors help keep costs at the lower end of the range.
Good deck condition. If the existing deck boards are sound and dry, there is no remedial timber work to price in. This is more likely on a roof that has been maintained, where leaks were fixed promptly rather than left.
Simple geometry. A straightforward rectangular roof with one drain outlet and no penetrations is faster to cover and uses less material than a complex shape. The fewer external and internal corners, the lower the labour element of the price.
Easy access. A ground-level garage roof that can be accessed directly with a ladder and no scaffolding keeps the total cost down.
Choosing felt for a short-term need. If you are planning to extend or alter the building within the next few years, a felt re-roof is a lower-cost way to get a sound weatherproof covering in the meantime, accepting that it will need replacing again at a shorter horizon than EPDM.
When you receive quotes from different roofers, make sure they are covering the same scope. Check whether each quote includes stripping and disposal of the old covering, any deck replacement discovered on strip-off, all edge trims and flashings, and drainage work. A quote that looks cheaper may simply be excluding items that others have included.
Ask each roofer what happens if they find rotten deck boards once stripping starts. Some charge a day rate for additional timber work; others price it per board. Either is fine as long as you know in advance so the total does not come as a surprise.
Whether you need a new flat roof priced clearly or an existing one repaired, call Ely Roofers and we will tell you honestly what the job involves and what it is likely to cost.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
