How Much is a Garage Roof?
So, how much does a garage roof cost?
The average cost for a single roof replacement is around £750-£2,000 and the average cost for a double garage roof replacement is around £1,600-£3,500. This includes the costs of materials and labour, although can be higher depending on the complexity of the job.
There are several things that can affect the overall cost of replacing a garage roof.
Some examples include the size of the roof, the materials used, the complexity of the job, the ease of access, and your location in the UK.
Here are some other cost factors to consider...
Those based in and around the London area can expect to pay more for a roof replacement than those based in the North or other areas of the UK.
Can you do this yourself?
Replacing a garage roof is a difficult task, but it is definitely manageable for someone with adequate DIY skills. However, there are some important factors to consider when taking on this type of work.
Most people choose to hire qualified professionals for this task.
Garage Roof Prices
The table below shows the average cost of a garage roof replacement:
| Job Description | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Single garage flat roof materials replacement | £750-£2,000 |
| Double garage flat roof materials replacement | £1,600-£3,500 |
| Single garage full replacement including timber | £1,150-£1,500 |
| Double garage full replacement including timber | £1,350-£1,800 |
- How Much is a Garage Roof?
- What are the Supply Costs of Replacing a Garage Roof?
- What are the Additional Costs of a Garage Roof Replacement?
- Tradesmen Costs for Replacing a Garage Roof
- How Long Does It Take to Replace a Garage Roof?
- Types of Garage Roof
- Benefits of Replacing a Garage Roof
- Planning Permission and Building Regulations
- How do you remove asbestos from a garage roof?
- How Long Does it Take to Remove a Garage Roof?
- FAQs
What are the Supply Costs of Replacing a Garage Roof?
If you are thinking about tackling this project as a DIY job, you will only need to know how much the supplies cost. If you do decide to replace your garage roof yourself, you may be able to save yourself a considerable amount of money as you won't need to worry about the labour costs.
When it comes to the supply costs of replacing your garage roof, the prices will depend on the type of material that you are using. Some materials can be quite reasonably priced, such as fibreglass roof materials that are around £15-£40 per square metre.
Some roofing materials are cheaper, such as rubber garage roof materials - unless you're choosing EPDM rubber that tend to cost about £60-£90 per square metre.
As well as the roofing materials themselves, you will also need to think about insulating the roof. There are several options for insulating a garage roof.
The most cost-effective option is spray foam insulation, which usually costs around £10-£20 per spray can making it ideal for smaller DIY projects. Although when applied professionally or in larger quantities, the cost works out to roughly £35-£70 per square metre.
More affordable options include fibreglass insulation at approximately £6-£10 per square metre and PIR insulation boards at around £5-£15 per square metre.
Below is a table showing the average costs that you can expect to pay for the supplies needed for replacing a garage roof:
| Supply type | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Felt roof materials | £20–£50 per square metre |
| Rubber roof materials (EPDM) | £60–£90 per square metre |
| Fibreglass roof materials (GRP) | £30–£40 per square metre (standard) |
| Insulated fibreglass roof materials | £80–£145 per square metre |
| Fibreglass insulation | £6–£10 per square metre |
| PIR insulation boards | £5–£15 per square metre |
| Spray foam insulation | £35–£70 per square metre |
What are the Additional Costs of a Garage Roof Replacement?
There are several additional costs that may come with a garage roof replacement. Below is a list of the additional things that you may need to budget for:
New Garage Build
If your garage has seen better days and is in need of a complete overhaul, then you may be interested in a completely new garage build.
Similarly, if you don’t currently have a garage at your property, then you may like to know how much you will need to budget for to have a garage built.
The average cost for a single attached garage is around £3,600-£7,400 whereas a detached garage of the same size is around £3,400-£6,800. If you would prefer a double attached garage, this will cost around £6,000-£12,800 and a double detached garage costs around £6,300-£13,600.
Scaffolding Hire
Depending on the height of your garage, you may need to arrange scaffolding hire to complete the work appropriately and safely. The average cost of scaffolding for a garage roof is around £550-£700.
However, the price will vary depending on how long you hire the scaffolding for, the size of your garage, and your location in the UK.
Skip Hire
When you replace an old garage roof, you may need to think about waste removal if the company you choose doesn’t take care of this for you. There is likely to be a lot of waste when you remove the old roof.
With this in mind, it’s usually a good idea to investigate the cost of skip hire for the easy removal of all of the waste.
The average cost to hire a skip for your garage roof replacement is around £125-£320 per weekdepending on the size of the skip that you choose and the duration of the hire.
In addition to the skip hire, if you are planning to leave it on a public road or likely to obstruct any council-owned space such as footpaths, then you will also need to apply for a temporary permit. The price of which can vary depending on your local council, but expect to pay between £15 and £60.
Structural Engineer Fees
In the event you are doing more than just replacing the garage roof, such as repairing the garage walls, then you may need to take into consideration structural engineer fees. They will often charge around £75-£125 per hour, for assistance in assessing the structural integrity of the building, and to ensure it complies with building regulations.
Tradesmen Costs for Replacing a Garage Roof
When you hire professionals to replace your garage roof for you, they will usually include the cost of the materials in the quote.
However, if you would prefer to purchase your materials separately, then you may be interested in how much it would cost for the labour side of the job alone.
An individual professional roofer will usually charge around £20-£30 per hour. When it comes to garage roof replacements, there will usually be at least two contractors working on the job.
Typically, you can expect to pay around £200-£300 per day for tradesmen rates for a professional roofer to complete the work.
If the job is particularly difficult, then you may need to pay more. However, this will be at the discretion of the contractors that you choose. If you are based in London or the South East, you can expect to pay more for labour than those based in other parts of the UK.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Garage Roof?
The time it takes for a roof replacement will vary depending on the difficulty of the job, the type of materials used, and the size of your garage.
If you are completing the work as a DIY project, you can expect it to take considerably longer than if you were to hire professionals to complete the work for you.
On average, you can expect a professional garage roof replacement to take around 7-8 hours for a single roof and approximately 1-2 days for a double garage roof. A DIY garage roof replacement may take up to a week to complete.
Types of Garage Roof
Garage roofs come in various types and some types. Below is a list of the different common styles of garage roof in the UK and the pros and cons of each type:
Flat Garage Roof
A flat garage roof often comes attached to the house and will consist of a rubber or felt roofing system. Flat roofs will feature a very small incline for drainage. However, this is not usually very noticeable.
If the roof isn't fitted correctly, the drainage system can be prone to failure and will most likely cause damage to the roof. Although a flat roof doesn't always have a guttering system, some are fitted with perimeter drainage or the garage itself may have internal drainage instead.
A flat garage roof replacement is the easiest type of roof replacement.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Simple design
- Low costs
Cons
- The drainage system may fail if not installed correctly
Apex Garage Roof
An apex roof is a triangular-shaped roof that provides more headroom than a flat roof. These roofs usually feature a drainage system of gutters and downpipes on both sides of the garage. This particular type of roof offers a traditional aesthetic to your garage building.
Pros
- Traditional appearance
- Good drainage
- Durable
Cons
- More difficult to install than flat roofs
Pent Garage Roof
A pent garage roof is one of the most popular types of garage roofs in the UK. These tend to be higher at one end to provide a higher flow rate than a flat garage roof.
With this higher flow rate, these garage roofs usually feature a guttering system that can appear at the front or back of the garage, depending on which way the slopes appears.
Pros
- Good drainage
- Popular roof type
- Easy to install
Cons
- The drainage system may fail if not installed correctly
Lean-To Garage Roof
A lean-to garage roof is usually attached to the main property and is a singular sloped roof. The high point of the slope will be attached to the home and sealed to prevent any leaks.
It will usually feature a full-length guttering system for effective drainage. The only problem with these roofs is that it can be very difficult to repair without replacement once it begins to fail.
Pros
- Efficient drainage
- Sealed to prevent leaks
Cons
- Difficult to repair without replacement
Benefits of Replacing a Garage Roof
There are several benefits of replacing a garage roof. Below is a list of the main advantages of going ahead with this type of work:
Increased Property Value
If you’re looking to sell your home in the near future, a new roof can be a great advantage. Not only can a new roof provide an increased aesthetic appearance, but it can also help to prevent damage and fix any problems.
This is a huge benefit when you want to sell your home as the replaced roof will be very appealing. Many people will be willing to spend more on a property with a new roof than one with an old roof that is falling apart. This means that you can achieve a great return on your investment.
Increased Kerb Appeal
If you have a very old or damaged garage roof, it's likely that it will start looking quite unappealing over time. Your garage will look completely different once you have a new roof installed.
You will have a choice of materials to choose from, and you can create an aesthetic appeal that is attractive to anyone that lays eyes on your property.
Prevent Leaks or Damage
As your garage roof starts to age, it may become prone to leaks or other damage due to the weather. These leaks may not be noticeable at first and could cause further damage to the garage if not treated quickly.
By replacing your old roof with a new one, you can greatly reduce the possibility of leaks or damage from occurring as the materials will be new.
If you have a new roof fitted by professionals, you can rest assured that you'll have a great, effective, and efficient roof installation.
Planning Permission and Building Regulations
With a garage roof replacement, there's generally no need to apply for planning permission, providing you're keeping it to a similar style and not adjusting the height of the build. In the event you are changing the overall appearance, or carrying out other alterations to your garage, then you may to check with your local council.
As for building regulations, approval is needed to ensure the roof meets the required standards. This will relate to health and safety, as well as checking it is suitably insulated. If you hire a professional roofer, they are likely to cover this on your behalf, but it is always worth contacting your local building control department before starting work.
How do you remove asbestos from a garage roof?
Asbestos removal can be an extremely dangerous process, and it will need to be completed by trained professionals. The method of removing asbestos includes the following steps:
- Wear the right protective gear
- Cover any areas that need to be protected
- Erect barriers to keep people away from the area
- Use sprayers with a special liquid inside to control the asbestos fibres and dust
- Carefully remove the asbestos sheets
- Appropriately store and transport the asbestos waste
- Do a final detailed clean of the work area
- Provide an asbestos waste certificate
This is just a simple guide to what is involved with an asbestos removal. It actually consists of a lot more specific work to complete, which is why trained professionals should always carry it out.
If the asbestos is quite severe, then you may need an asbestos garage roof replacement.
How Long Does it Take to Remove a Garage Roof?
If you are planning on replacing your old garage roof completely with a new one, you will need to start by having the old roof removed.
The average cost of a professional garage roof removal is around £70-£90 per square metre; however, this will depend on the size of the roof and the materials used, as some may be more difficult to remove than others.
On average, you can expect it to take around a day to complete a garage roof removal. The timescales may vary depending on the materials of the roof, the size of the roof, the ease of access, and whether the contractors come across any problems in the process.
It is possible to remove a garage roof as a DIY project. However, this may take longer – especially if you are doing it on your own.
FAQs
Q: What is the best material for a garage roof?
A: Common garage roof materials include felt and EPDM rubber, both easy to install, durable, and repairable. EPDM rubber is especially good for rainy areas due to its water resistance. Fibreglass is also popular for its appearance and ease of repair. Ultimately, the best material depends on personal preference.
Q: Is it possible to repair a flat roof?
A: Yes, most flat roofs can be repaired. For minor issues like small leaks or holes, clean the area and apply new material. This can be done professionally or as a DIY project. Severe damage may require a full roof replacement.
Q: How do I maintain my new garage roof?
A: It's important to note that you should always take the appropriate safety precautions when checking over your garage roof. It would be best if you aimed to inspect your new garage roof twice each year in the spring and in the winter. Check the drainage system to ensure that water is draining away from the roof effectively and make sure there are no areas of pooling.
Q: How do I know if my garage roof needs to be replaced?
A: The most obvious sign that your garage roof needs to be replaced is if you can see some considerable damage to the roof or if you notice a leak or any signs of moisture coming in through the roof. Other signs include, water pooling, rotting timber, damp foundations, rust, holes, or tears in the roofing.
