What the job costs in Portslade
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 Portslade
Looking at a property near Portslade but not quite in it? We work across BN41, BN3 and BN1 and outwards to Hove, Shoreham-by-Sea and Brighton. Give us the full postcode when you get in touch, because access, parking and the route for a large unit all depend on the exact street. Those details shape the quote for any job around Portslade.
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
- Opening and closing tested and the controls explained
- Kerb checked or built square, level and to the maker's height
- Gas struts or actuator fitted and adjusted for full opening
- Clear opening size — We check the hatch's clear opening rather than its outer size.
- How far the lid opens — We check how far the lid swings open and what it swings over.
From arrival to clean-up
Fitting days start with a look at the sky. If rain is due, the order of work changes so the roof is never left open to it. A typical day for a roof access hatch runs like this: set up access, protect the room, open up the roof or prepare the existing kerb or frame, check sizes, fix, seal, then finish inside. On jobs that take more than a day, the opening is weather-sealed overnight. The last hour goes on tidying, waste removal and a walk-round with you.
Planning, building control and Portslade
Two sets of rules matter in England. Planning: a rooflight on a house is normally permitted development if it projects no more than 0.15 m and stays below the highest part of the roof, but flats, listed buildings and Article 4 areas need checking. Building regulations: new openings need approval for the structure and energy performance, and a replacement is a controlled fitting. We are not registered with a competent person scheme, so we notify replacements to building control with a building notice and put the council's fee on the quote.
What to send for a quick quote
What we cannot see, we have to guess, and guesses make quotes wider. So the more you send, the tighter the price. Useful: shots from the roof or garden, shots from the room underneath, a rough width and length, the roof finish, any access problems, and the product page if you have already ordered. Add the property postcode around BN41 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Portslade
Do you cover Portslade?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in Portslade and the surrounding districts, including BN41. 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.
How does payment work?
Payment terms are set out on your written quote before you accept it. Depending on the job, that may mean a deposit, stage payments for larger work, or payment on completion. The contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd, part of the S&K Group. Nothing is added without your agreement: if something unexpected comes up, we discuss it and agree any change before carrying on.
Does a rooflight need building regulations approval?
A new opening usually needs building regulations approval. A replacement is a controlled fitting: it must be self-certified by an installer registered with a competent person scheme or notified to building control. We are not registered with a scheme, so replacements we fit are notified to building control with a building notice, and the council's fee is shown on your quote.
Got a unit waiting to go in, or need one sourced? Either way, start with your Portslade address and a couple of photos.
