What the job costs in Newtownards
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 control fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Areas around Newtownards we cover
Covering Newtownards means covering the people who live and work there, not a single postcode. We take on domestic and commercial jobs in BT23, BT19 and BT16, and are happy to quote further out in Bangor and Castlereagh. 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.
Buying your own, or letting us supply
Supply and fit tends to suit people who would rather not pick a unit from a catalogue. We look at the roof, the opening and how you use the room, then put a roof access hatch on the quote that fits all three. Fit-only suits people who already know what they want, or have one on site. We are happy with either. The difference is who stands behind what: on fit-only, the maker or retailer covers the product, and our workmanship guarantee covers the installation.
On the day, we cover
- Gas struts or actuator fitted and adjusted for full opening
- Locks, catches or handles checked from inside and out
- Opening and closing tested and the controls explained
- How far the lid opens — We check how far the lid swings open and what it swings over.
- Safety at the roof edge — We ask how often people will use the roof and for what.
Fitting your roof access hatch, step by step
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 roof access hatch 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 one day.
Regulations for Newtownards properties
Northern Ireland has its own rules. Permitted development for rooflights on a house requires the unit to sit below the highest part of the roof, project no more than 15 cm where the slope faces a road, and stay at least half a metre from the ridge, eaves, party wall and verge. It doesn't apply in conservation areas or within the grounds of a listed building. For building control, structural roof alterations need an application, and rooflights must meet WER Band C or 1.6 W/m²K.
Getting a price from photos
A fast quote needs five things: a photo of the roof from outside, one from the room below, rough sizes of the opening or the space, the roof covering (felt, single-ply, fibreglass, tiles, slate or metal), and a note on access. If you have already bought the unit, add the product link or spec sheet. And give us the postcode, BT23 or a neighbouring district.
Common questions in Newtownards
Does a rooflight need building control approval?
In Northern Ireland a new opening alters the roof structure, so expect a building control application; confirm the position with your council, including for replacements. The new rooflight must meet WER Band C or 1.6 W/m²K. We confirm what applies before you commit.
Can you replace an old dome without redoing the whole roof?
Usually, yes. If the existing kerb is sound, level and tall enough, a new unit can often sit on it with a fresh seal to the roof covering. If the kerb is rotten or too low, we rebuild it and patch the covering around it rather than stripping the whole roof. This is checked at the survey and included in the written quote, so you know the full scope first.
Do you offer trade rates for builders and roofers?
We carry out subcontract fitting for builders, roofers, extension companies and commercial contractors. Pricing is per job or per schedule of units, agreed in writing before we start. We can work to your programme, fit on your upstand or build our own, and leave the opening ready for the next trade. Send drawings or a unit schedule and we will come back with a trade quote.
For a free, no-obligation quote in Newtownards, use the form or call us with the details of your roof.
