Guide prices
Entry-level hatch
Polycarbonate or entry-level hinged hatch on gas struts, fitted to a new or existing upstand
Glazed manual hatch
Double-glazed hinged hatch on gas struts, upstand and weathering
Electric glazed hatch
Push-button glazed hatch with rain sensor; electrician's connection quoted separately
Guide ranges for supply & fit. 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 warrant fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Coverage in and around Arbroath
Jobs across DD11, DD7 and DD5 are part of our normal cover for Arbroath. 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 Dundee and St Andrews are covered on the same terms, so a house on the edge of town is no harder to book than one in the centre.
Your roof access hatches or ours
Your unit or ours, the fitting standard is the same. For supply and fit we choose a roof access hatch to suit the roof and price it with the installation. For fit-only we work with what you have, after confirming it arrived undamaged, that it matches the builder's opening, and that the upstand will sit at the height the maker asks for. Report any transit damage to the seller, as the product cover is theirs and the maker's. Our written guarantee applies to the fitting itself.
What we do on the day
- Kerb checked or built square, level and to the maker's height
- Opening and closing tested and the controls explained
- Opening and upstand sized for a clear climb-through, not just daylight
- How far the lid opens — We check how far the lid swings open and what it swings over.
- Access hatch or smoke vent — We confirm the hatch is only for access and not part of a building's smoke ventilation.
How a fitting day runs
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 roof access hatch: one day, weather permitting.
Do you need permission in Arbroath?
In Scotland, forming a new rooflight opening needs a building warrant from the council, because the roof is being altered. Replacing an existing rooflight complete with its frame doesn't need a warrant, but the new unit still has to meet the building standards, including the 1.6 W/m²K energy figure for windows and rooflights in alterations. Planning depends on the house and where it is: householder permitted development rights don't apply in conservation areas, and listed buildings need consent. We confirm this with you before quoting.
Getting a price from photos
Start with your phone. Take a picture of the roof where the unit goes or already sits, then one from inside looking up. Measure what you can, even roughly. Tell us what the roof is covered with and how a fitter would reach it: ladder, garden access or scaffold. Bought it already? Send the link or spec. Add your full postcode, for example in DD11, and we can price it.
Common questions in Arbroath
What if my roof opening is the wrong size for the roof access hatch?
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.
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.
How long does fitting take?
Fitting a roof access hatch 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 DD11 postcode, and we will put together a written quote for the job.
