Guide prices
Per standard unit
Flat glass or polycarbonate unit on an existing kerb, as part of a multi-unit job
Per large unit
Larger or ventilating units, edge protection in place
Programme of works
Phased replacement across a building, priced from a survey
Guide ranges for supply & fit, per unit; site set-up priced separately. Your price is fixed in a written quote after we have seen photos or surveyed. Scaffold, access towers or a crane are priced separately if the job needs them, and building control fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Is your address covered?
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Reading, 3 miles from Lower Earley, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in RG6, RG2 and RG5. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Wokingham, around 4 miles out, is treated the same way.
Included in the work
- Unit schedule and handover notes for the building's records
- Phasing agreed so occupied areas stay dry and usable
- Access, edge protection and fragile-roof covers planned before work starts
- Fragile roofs and rooflights — We treat every rooflight and the roof around it as fragile until we have checked it.
- Working around occupied buildings — We plan noise, dust and access around the people using the building.
What happens on the day
Protection comes before tools. Floors, furniture and stairs get covered, and the ceiling below the opening is sheeted to catch dust. Up top, the fitters confirm the opening is square and the upstand or flashing suits what the maker specifies. Fixing follows, then weather-sealing into the membrane, felt or tiles. Only once the roof is tight do they turn to the internal reveal. Time on site for a commercial rooflight: about a day per unit, longer on big roofs, weather permitting.
Planning and building rules in England
On commercial buildings in England, new rooflights and changes to roof structure go through building control, and replacements in non-dwellings also need building control involvement unless fitted by a scheme-registered installer, which we are not; load-bearing or structural glass always goes through building control. Fire rules matter near boundaries and over escape routes, and smoke vents must be certified to BS EN 12101-2. We confirm the route and the paperwork for your building before work starts.
Getting a price from photos
What we cannot see, we have to guess, and guesses make quotes wider. So the more you send, the tighter the price. Useful: shots from the roof or garden, shots from the room underneath, a rough width and length, the roof finish, any access problems, and the product page if you have already ordered. Add the property postcode around RG6 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Lower Earley
Can you fit a rooflight in winter or when it is raining?
Yes, within limits. Cold is less of a problem than wet, because membranes, primers and sealants need a dry surface to bond. We plan fitting days around the forecast and may move a date if heavy rain is due. If the roof has to be opened up, it is not left overnight without a temporary weather seal, so the room below stays dry while the work is finished.
Do commercial rooflights need planning permission?
Like-for-like replacements on commercial buildings rarely need planning permission. New or larger rooflights on non-domestic buildings and blocks of flats usually need checking with the planning authority, because householder permitted development rights don't apply. We tell you what we know about your building and point you to the right team.
How long does fitting take?
Fitting a commercial rooflight into an existing, correctly sized opening is often a day's work. New openings take longer, because joists or rafters need trimming, an upstand or flashing has to be built or fitted, and the inside needs finishing. Large units that need lifting gear, and days lost to rain, can stretch things further. Your written quote gives a realistic estimate for your roof.
Send a few photos and your RG6 postcode, and we will put together a written quote for the job.
