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 by arrangement
Jobs in Oban, including PA34, PA37 and PA64, are taken on by arrangement rather than as routine cover. Send the postcode, photos and sizes; we confirm whether and when a fitting team can travel, and the travel cost is set out in the written quote before you agree to anything.
Fit-only or supply and fit
If you have bought a roof access hatch 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.
Included in the work
- Hatch fixed and weathered, with the membrane dressed up the upstand
- Electric hatches wired ready for the electrician's final connection, quoted separately
- Opening and closing tested and the controls explained
- Access hatch or smoke vent — We confirm the hatch is only for access and not part of a building's smoke ventilation.
- Clear opening size — We check the hatch's clear opening rather than its outer size.
A typical installation 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 roof access hatch: one day, weather permitting.
Planning and building rules in Scotland
In Scotland a new rooflight needs a building warrant before work starts. A like-for-like replacement including the frame is exempt from a warrant but must meet current standards, so the glazing has to reach 1.6 W/m²K or better. For planning, rooflights on houses outside conservation areas can often go ahead under permitted development, but it is worth confirming with the planning authority.
What to send for a quick 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, PA34 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Oban
Will my new roof access hatch leak?
A correctly fitted unit should not. Leaks usually trace back to the detail around the frame: an upstand that is too low, a membrane or flashing that is not dressed properly, sealant applied to a damp surface, or water ponding against the kerb. We fit to the maker's instructions and check each of those points. The fitting carries a written workmanship guarantee, with its terms set out on your quote.
Does a rooflight need a building warrant?
In Scotland a new rooflight needs a building warrant from the council before work starts. Replacing a rooflight complete with its frame doesn't need a warrant, but the new unit must meet the building standards in full, including 1.6 W/m²K. We confirm which applies to your job before you commit.
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.
Tell us your postcode, PA34 or close by, and what you want fitted. We will reply with the next steps and a quote.
