Roofs in Ghent are often tiled roofs on terraced houses with gutters shared between neighbours, zinc and lead work from the original building period, and roof windows added by the residents. Renovata connects you with roofers who know these situations inside out.
Ghent consists largely of terraced houses and townhouses in the densely built city centre, with neighbourhoods such as Sint-Amandsberg, Ledeberg, Gentbrugge and Wondelgem around it, where 19th-century workers' houses and interwar homes are the norm. Many buildings stand wall to wall, with narrow facades, small courtyards at the back and old vaulted cellars.
A large share of these homes is owned by landlords and lived in by students or young households. You notice this in the state of the installations: electrics and pipes are often decades old, and work has been kept to a minimum in the past. When a house is sold or re-let, that backlog suddenly comes to light.
In the protected townscape inside the R40 ring road, extra rules apply to facades, dormer windows and windows. Work on the outside often requires an environmental permit or advice from the heritage department.
On party walls between terraced houses, the gutter often runs across the property line. Who maintains which part is not always clear — replacement needs agreement with the neighbours and is best done at the same time to avoid new leaks.
The typical lead and zinc work on Ghent roofs needs replacing after 40 to 60 years. Small holes, worn soldered seams and loose collars cause damp patches in the attic that only show after rain.
Originally there was hardly any insulation. Insulation between the rafters (with boards or blown fibres) is almost always technically possible without taking the roof apart, and immediately improves comfort and saves energy.
New VELUX or pivot windows on the street side need an environmental permit and sometimes advice from the heritage department. There is more freedom at the back. The roofer cuts the opening, fits the window and makes the connections wind- and watertight.
Open jobs on Renovata for roofer in and around Gent. This list is updated with the latest jobs when the page opens in your browser.
Post a job yourselfThe amounts below are guide prices based on common rates in East Flanders. Every job is different; the tradesperson makes a specific quote after an inspection.
Repairing a leak or a few loose tiles |
€250 – €600 |
New gutters (per metre) |
€65 – €120 |
Insulating a pitched roof from inside (per m²) |
€45 – €90 |
Full renewal of a tiled roof on a terraced house |
€8,000 – €20,000 |
Installing a VELUX roof window incl. finishing |
€1,500 – €3,000 |
For like-for-like replacement (same shape, same material, same colour) no permit is needed, not even in the protected townscape. New roof windows on the street side or changing the roof pitch or material require an environmental permit.
Legally, both owners are jointly responsible for maintaining shared parts such as gutter linings. In practice you agree on the costs and the tradesperson together. Renovata tradespeople often give a joint quote for both houses.
Insulation between the rafters is a first step; for a liveable attic room you also need a vapour barrier, finishing (plasterboard), lighting, electrics and heating. State clearly whether it is just insulation or a full attic conversion — the scope is different.
Flanders provides grants for roof insulation via Mijn VerbouwPremie and the grid operator. The amount depends on income, the type of insulation and the R-value achieved. The tradesperson supplies the compliant documents for your application.
Post your job for free and normally hear from several tradespeople in East Flanders within 24 hours.
Post your job