Ridge raising

Want to create more space on top of your home? You gain a lot of space with a ridge elevation. You will also increase the value of your home. You can choose from several variants, so you can extend the space to suit your needs. Curious about the costs of a ridge extension? Read all about it in this article.

What does a ridge lift cost?

The average cost of a ridge lift is £10,000 to £30,000. The cost of this roof extension depends on several factors, including dimensions and materials. Do you want a relocated ridge, on one side of the roof, or a ridge increase on both sides? Check out the average ridge raise costs below.

Retracted ridge

Ridge raising: The materials

As with any other construction project, it is possible to use different materials for an extension on your roof. These materials all have their own advantages and disadvantages and influence the final cost of the ridge rise. So think carefully about which material you want to use for your ridge extension.

Plastic

Plastic is incredibly light. As a result, there is no need to add extra reinforcement to the structure of your house. Moreover, plastic is available in all sorts of colours and finishes, such as wood-grained plastic. This allows you to choose a type of plastic that always suits your home. Moreover, plastic lasts a long time, because the material is not susceptible to rot.

Wood

Wood has a natural look and is available in a variety of colours and shades. Like plastic, this material is relatively light and therefore does not require a reinforcing construction. A wooden ridge raiser is best maintained regularly to prevent rot.

Steel

A stone roof extension is generally the most expensive option. The advantage of this material is that it blends effortlessly into the rest of your home, making it less visible that you have had a roof structure installed at a later date. Stone, however, is very heavy and therefore sometimes too stressful for your home. In that case, extra support should be provided to carry the build-up.

Do you need a permit for a ridge elevation?

A ridge elevation changes the structure of your house, which means that the external appearance changes. A permit is therefore required in almost every municipality to have a ridge rise installed. Check in advance whether a permit is needed. You can apply for this permit at the Environment Desk. Take the following steps into account when applying for your permit:

• File the application at the Environment Counter. Among other things, you will need construction calculations and construction drawings for this.
• The municipality will assess the application and approve it or not.
• If the application is approved, local residents have 6 weeks to object.
• If there are no objections? Then the municipality grants the permit.

The ridge increase or dormer permit price is variable. It depends on the municipality in which you live. Keep in mind that the price of a permit is at least £150 and on average 2% of the total building cost.

Placing a ridge rise

Having a ridge rise installed requires a number of steps. For both a single-sided displaced ridge or double-sided ridge rise, the subject specialist needs to perform a number of steps. Take a look below at the different work done by the specialist before your ridge rise is achieved.

1. Making space

Whether your ridge rise is double- or single-sided: space is always needed to have the ridge rise installed. The specialist will measure where the rise will be and remove all the roof tiles and insulation material. Then he makes a hole in the roof structure, while being careful not to weaken it.

2. Check construction

It is not nothing to just make a hole in a house. It is therefore important to check the construction. The specialist will check whether the roof is still stable and examine whether the house can support the new extension. It may be necessary to reinforce the structure a little with supporting beams to make sure the ridge rise stays firmly in place.

3. Place ridge rise

It is now time to place the ridge rise. If you use a prefabricated roof extension, the specialist will hoist it up and then fix it in the right place. Do you choose to install a custom-made raise? Then the specialist will build it on site.

4. The finishing

It is possible to have the ridge rise installed as a shell. This means that the specialist finishes only the outside. He installs the new roof covering and makes it waterproof immediately. Do you want the inside finished as well? Then the specialist insulates the ridge rise and finishes it on the inside too.

5. Checking

When the superstructure is completely in place, one more important check should take place. The specialist will check that the water drainage system is working properly and that the dormer is finished to perfection. Then the ridge raiser is ready for use.

Tips for buying a ridge raiser

Time to call in a specialist. With some handy tips, you can save even more on your project. Read below for three handy tips on getting a ridge rise installed.

Save money with your own finishing

The average ridge rise price is relatively high. This cost can be reduced by doing the finishing yourself. This means having the specialist install a complete, watertight shell ridge rise. If you are experienced in DIY, you can then finish the inside yourself. Clad the inside walls and lay a nice floor to give your upper floor a neat finish.

Prefab or traditional

Whether you want to save extra on the roof construction costs, it is worth looking into prefabricated ones. This is a ridge rise with a standard size that has been pre-assembled. This option is cheaper than a traditional ridge rise that still needs to be built on site. As a result, labour costs are higher and installation takes longer.

Work together with your neighbours

Have you already discussed with your neighbours whether they are also interested in raising their roofs? If two or more households request a dormer window quote at the same time, you may be able to agree on a joint total price. The dormer specialist’s prices will probably be lower, because he can do more in a short time and has to charge less travel expenses.