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 control fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Coverage in and around Durham
Our fitters come to you. For Durham that covers DH1, DH7 and DH6, plus nearby Spennymoor and Chester-le-Street. We do not keep a yard or showroom in the area, and you do not need to visit one. The survey happens at your property or, for fit-only work, from the photos you send. Dates follow fitter availability, which we confirm when you accept the quote.
Fit-only or supply and fit
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
- Electric hatches wired ready for the electrician's final connection, quoted separately
- Hatch fixed and weathered, with the membrane dressed up the upstand
- 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.
What happens on the day
Where a job takes one day, the split is usually structural work first and finishing second. Early on, the fitters cut or prepare the opening, trim where needed and prepare the upstand or flashing. Then a roof access hatch is lifted in, fixed and made weathertight so the roof is sound before anyone moves inside. Plasterboard, trim and filler for the reveal come after. Each evening the work area is swept, and at the end the glass is cleaned and the team talks you through what was done.
Planning and building rules in England
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.
What to send for a quick quote
For fit-only work, the product details matter most: the link, the spec sheet, or a photo of the label on the box. Alongside that, send pictures of the roof and the ceiling below, approximate opening sizes, the type of roof covering, and how someone would get onto the roof. For supply and fit, the same photos and sizes do the job. Finish with your postcode, such as DH1.
Common questions in Durham
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.
Do you cover Durham?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in Durham and the surrounding districts, including DH1. 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.
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.
Questions before you commit? Send them over with your Durham postcode and we will answer them plainly, with a quote alongside.
