Guide prices in Essex
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.
Towns we list in Essex
From the larger towns to the smaller places in between, we take on rooflight fitting across Essex. The process is the same for a terrace, a farmhouse extension or an industrial unit: details first, written quote second, fitting day third. Remote and island addresses in England, where they arise, are covered by arrangement, and we tell you that before quoting.
- Access hatches in Basildon
- Access hatches in Billericay
- Access hatches in Braintree
- Access hatches in Brentwood
- Access hatches in Canvey Island
- Access hatches in Chelmsford
- Access hatches in Clacton-on-Sea
- Access hatches in Colchester
- Access hatches in Frinton-on-Sea
- Access hatches in Grays
- Access hatches in Hadleigh
- Access hatches in Harlow
- Access hatches in Harwich
- Access hatches in Maldon
- Access hatches in Pitsea
- Access hatches in Rayleigh
- Access hatches in Rochford
- Access hatches in Saffron Walden
- Access hatches in South Benfleet
- Access hatches in South Ockendon
- Access hatches in Southend-on-Sea
- Access hatches in Stanford-le-Hope
- Access hatches in Waltham Abbey
- Access hatches in Walton-on-the-Naze
- Access hatches in Wickford
- Access hatches in Witham
What's included
- Kerb checked or built square, level and to the maker's height
- Hatch fixed and weathered, with the membrane dressed up the upstand
- Opening and closing tested and the controls explained
- Energy performance of hatches — We check the hatch's published U-value against the limit that applies.
- Safety at the roof edge — We ask how often people will use the roof and for what.
Rules that apply in England
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.
Common questions in Essex
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.
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.
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.

