What the job costs in Southsea
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
Covering Southsea means covering the people who live and work there, not a single postcode. We take on domestic and commercial jobs in PO5, PO1 and PO4, and are happy to quote further out in Portsmouth and Gosport. If your address sits between towns, tell us and we will confirm whether it falls in our normal area or needs travel set out separately on the quote.
Already bought your unit?
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
- Kerb checked for rot, size and height before the new unit goes on
- Multi-skin domes and energy — We fit multi-skin domes rather than single-skin ones as replacements.
- Upgrading to glass — We check whether the kerb suits a glass unit before recommending one.
From arrival to clean-up
Arrive and agree the plan. Sheet the floor and furniture. Set up the ladder, tower or scaffold. Check the opening, the upstand or flashing, and the unit against the paperwork. Fix and pack a dome rooflight level. Seal it into the roof. Line the reveal or fit the ceiling trim. Clean the glass, clear the waste, and talk you through it. That is the shape of most fitting days, and for this type of job it usually takes a few hours per dome.
Planning, building control and Southsea
Replacing a rooflight in an English home is a controlled fitting: it has to be self-certified by a scheme-registered installer or notified to building control. We are not registered with a competent person scheme, so replacements we fit are notified with a building notice, and the new unit has to meet current energy limits. Adding a new one usually means a building regulations application, because joists or rafters are trimmed. On the planning side, most house rooflights are permitted development if they project 0.15 m or less; on a side slope the glass must be obscured and fixed unless the opening part is over 1.7 m above the floor.
Details that speed up your quote
Each detail you send takes a question off our list. Photos inside and out show the opening and the ceiling. Rough measurements tell us the unit size. The roof covering tells us how it will be sealed in. Access notes tell us whether a tower or scaffold is needed. A product link, if you have one, lets us check it against the opening. Your postcode, PO5 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Southsea
Do I need planning permission for a rooflight in Southsea?
Often not. Many rooflights fall under permitted development, provided they do not project beyond the national limit and meet the other conditions that apply in England. Conservation areas, listed buildings and some flats are different and may need consent. Because the rules depend on the property, we confirm what is likely to apply at your address and point you to the planning authority where an application is needed.
Do you cover Southsea?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in Southsea and the surrounding districts, including PO5. We do not run an office there; the survey and the fitting happen at your property. A few island and remote postcodes are covered by arrangement; if yours is one, we confirm travel and dates before quoting.
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.
Planning a dome rooflight in Southsea? Tell us about the roof and we will come back with a clear price in writing.
