Guide prices in Harpenden
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.
Fitting across Harpenden and nearby
Fitters travel to the job, so the address is what counts. In Harpenden that means postcode districts AL5, AL3 and AL4, and the same teams can just as easily take on work in St Albans, about 5 miles away, or Luton at roughly 5 miles. Survey and fitting dates are offered according to fitter availability, and travel is built into the quote rather than added later.
Fit-only or supply and fit
There are two ways to do this. Supply and fit means we source a dome rooflight that suits your roof and install it, so one company answers for both the product choice and the fitting. Fit-only means you buy the unit and we install it. With fit-only, the product warranty stays with the maker or seller, and our written guarantee covers the fitting work. Both routes get the same checks on the opening, the upstand and the maker's instructions before anything is fixed.
What we do on the day
- Adaptor or packing fitted where the old kerb needs it
- Old dome unscrewed, lifted off and taken away
- New multi-skin dome or glass unit fixed and sealed
- 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
On the day, you need to be in at the start and at the end. In between, the fitters get on with it. They will want the room below cleared where possible, a parking spot if you have one, and somewhere to set the unit down safely. After checking the opening and the upstand or flashing, they fix a dome rooflight, seal it and finish the inside. Packaging and any old unit leave with them unless the quote says otherwise.
Planning, building control and Harpenden
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, AL5 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Harpenden
Can you remove and dispose of the old rooflight?
Yes. Taking out the old unit is part of any replacement job, and it leaves with the rest of the waste unless you ask to keep it. Old domes, glass and frames go through proper waste routes. If removal turns up a rotten kerb or damaged decking, we show you what we have found and agree the repair with you before going any further.
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.
What upstand height and roof pitch does dome rooflight fitting need?
It depends on the product. Manufacturers usually specify a minimum upstand height above the finished roof surface, and a minimum pitch on the glass so rain runs off. We follow the maker's figures for your unit rather than a rule of thumb. If your existing kerb or roof falls short, we explain the options, such as raising the upstand or choosing a unit with built-in pitch.
Got a unit waiting to go in, or need one sourced? Either way, start with your Harpenden address and a couple of photos.
