A flat roof replacement strips the old covering from a low-pitched roof and lays a new waterproof system, usually EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass or torch-on felt, over a sound deck with correct falls, upstands, trims and outlets so rainwater drains away.
Edinburgh and the Lothians is part of our UK-wide coverage for a new flat roof. Places we cover include Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate, and we travel to smaller communities across the area as well. Since your property is in Scotland, the relevant planning and building rules are the ones set there. In Scotland, budget around £1,900–£4,300 with VAT; the figure is confirmed after a survey that costs you nothing.
- Guide price
- £1,900–£4,300 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days for most roofs
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Price level
- About 4% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 7
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Flat roofs prices in Edinburgh and the Lothians
The costs listed here are typical for a new flat roof around Edinburgh and the Lothians and include VAT. They reflect labour and material costs in Scotland, about 4% below the national guide, giving a range of £1,900–£4,300. Exact pricing depends on your home, so we only fix it once a free site survey is done.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Edinburgh and the Lothians |
|---|---|---|
| Small roof (up to 8m²) | A dormer, bay, porch or small garage roof re-covered in EPDM or GRP. | £750–£1,900 |
| Extension or garage (15–25m²) | A typical extension or single garage roof stripped and re-covered. | £1,900–£4,300 |
| Large or new warm roof | Larger roofs, or roofs needing a new deck and insulation build-up. | £3,800–£8,600 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Roof area and access to the roof
- Covering system: EPDM, GRP or torch-on felt
- Condition of the deck and joists underneath
- Insulation upgrades and changes to roof height at edges
What’s included?
- Survey of the covering, deck, falls, upstands and drainage
- Replacement of rotten or soft deck boards
- Insulation upgrade to a warm roof build-up where agreed
- New EPDM, GRP or torch-on felt membrane laid to falls
- New trims, outlets and gutter connections
- Rooflights refitted or replaced where required
Housing across Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh's New Town is a planned Georgian sandstone townscape within a World Heritage Site, and districts such as Marchmont and Leith have Victorian tenements. Bungalows and villas fill the suburbs, Midlothian has former mining villages, Livingston was built as a new town, and East Lothian villages often have red pantile roofs.
Listed and conservation-area homes need careful window and stone repairs. Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and dormers, and suburban semis take extensions and garage conversions.
East-coast weather brings cold winds, haar and frost, and exposed hills around the city catch wind-driven rain.
Planning and building rules in Edinburgh and the Lothians
The notes below cover Scotland, which is where Edinburgh and the Lothians sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
In Scotland, like-for-like re-roofing does not usually need planning permission, except on listed buildings or in conservation areas.
Like-for-like re-covering does not usually need a building warrant, but structural changes or new roof windows can. Bats are protected across the UK; if they roost under roof tiles, soffits or fascias, work stops and a licensed ecologist advises before it restarts.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Survey and measure
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new flat roof, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Your fixed price
The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.
Getting ready
With the quote agreed, we book the work in and handle preparation: permissions where needed, building control notifications, material orders and access arrangements for your Edinburgh and the Lothians property.
On site to finish
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
What you can expect from us
Questions about a new flat roof in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Do I need planning permission in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Edinburgh and the Lothians is in Scotland, so Scotland's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Can you repair my flat roof instead of replacing it?
A flat roof can often be repaired if the damage is limited to a small split, a failed joint or a loose upstand and the rest of the covering is sound. If the deck is soft, the covering is blistered or cracked across the roof, or leaks keep returning, replacement is usually better value. We assess the whole roof and give you an honest recommendation.
Which is better, EPDM rubber or GRP fibreglass?
EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass are both reliable modern flat roof systems. EPDM is a single flexible sheet with very few joints, which copes well with movement and suits most extensions and garages. GRP is a hard, seamless finish that copes better with foot traffic and complex shapes, but needs dry weather to apply. Felt costs less but usually lasts less long. We recommend a system after seeing your roof.
Why does water sit on my flat roof?
Ponding water on a flat roof is usually caused by inadequate falls, sagging joists, a deck that has dipped or blocked outlets. Small puddles that dry within a day or two are not always a problem, but standing water speeds up wear and finds any weakness. A new roof can be laid on firring strips or tapered insulation to create proper falls. We check falls during the survey.
Do you cover Edinburgh, Livingston and Musselburgh?
Yes. As well as Edinburgh and the Lothians, we cover Edinburgh, Livingston and Musselburgh and the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
Towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Below is our list of Edinburgh and the Lothians towns for a new flat roof. If yours isn't shown, we may still cover it, so it is worth asking us directly.