What the job costs in Bideford
Like-for-like dome
Old dome taken off, new multi-skin dome fixed to the sound existing kerb
Dome with kerb adaptor
New dome where the kerb needs an adaptor or packing
Upgrade to glass
Dome swapped for a double-glazed glass rooflight on the existing sound kerb, as in our replacement service
Guide ranges for supply & fit, per dome; building control notice fee extra on homes in England and Wales. 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.
Where our fitters travel
Jobs across EX39, EX38 and EX33 are part of our normal cover for Bideford. We are not an office on the high street. Our fitting teams come out to the property from wherever they are working that week. Neighbouring places such as Barnstaple and Tiverton are covered on the same terms, so a house on the edge of town is no harder to book than one in the centre.
Buying your own, or letting us supply
If you have bought a dome rooflight yourself, we check four things before fitting. First, the delivery: open it, look for chips, cracks and bent frames, and report any damage to the seller straight away. Second, the size, measured against the builder's opening rather than the external frame. Third, the upstand height above the finished roof. Fourth, the maker's instructions, which set the fixings and sealing. Product warranty claims go to the seller and maker; our guarantee is for how it was fitted.
What we do on the day
- Kerb top cleaned of old sealant, fixings and loose felt
- Inside checked for drips and the trim refitted
- Old dome unscrewed, lifted off and taken away
- Kerb size and adaptors — We measure every kerb against the new dome's sizes.
- Upgrading to glass — We check whether the kerb suits a glass unit before recommending one.
From arrival to clean-up
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 dome rooflight: a few hours per dome, weather permitting.
Regulations for Bideford properties
Two sets of rules matter in England. Planning: a rooflight on a house is normally permitted development if it projects no more than 0.15 m and stays below the highest part of the roof, but flats, listed buildings and Article 4 areas need checking. Building regulations: new openings need approval for the structure and energy performance, and a replacement is a controlled fitting. We are not registered with a competent person scheme, so we notify replacements to building control with a building notice and put the council's fee on the quote.
Before you get in touch
Keep it simple. Two or three photos, outside and inside. Approximate sizes. What the roof is made of. Anything awkward about getting up there, such as a conservatory below, a narrow side path or no parking. If you bought the rooflight online, the link or model name. Then your postcode in or around EX39. That is enough for a first price.
Common questions in Bideford
Do you need scaffolding to fit a rooflight?
Not always. Single-storey roofs can often be reached safely with ladders, a tower or edge protection. Higher roofs, steep pitches and large units usually need scaffold or a mobile platform, and heavy glass may need a crane. We assess access from your photos or at the survey, and any scaffold or lifting cost is shown as its own line on the written quote.
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.
What if my roof opening is the wrong size for the dome rooflight?
We find out before the fitting day, not on it. If the opening is slightly out, it can usually be adjusted by trimming or by packing out the upstand. If it is a long way off, the choice is between altering the opening and changing the unit. Bear in mind that rooflights are often sold by builder's opening size rather than external size, so check which one your measurement refers to.
Send a few photos and your EX39 postcode, and we will put together a written quote for the job.
