Forres guide prices
About 1 × 2 m
Aluminium lantern, double glazed, fitted and glazed on a ready upstand
About 1.5 × 3 m
Mid-size lantern, solar-control glass options
2 × 4 m and over
Large lanterns, lifting gear on the day
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.
Fitting across Forres and nearby
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Elgin, 11 miles from Forres, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in IV36, IV30 and IV31. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Inverness, around 24 miles out, is treated the same way.
Already bought your unit?
There are two ways to do this. Supply and fit means we source a roof lantern that suits your roof and install it, so one company answers for both the product choice and the fitting. Fit-only means you buy the unit and we install it. With fit-only, the product warranty stays with the maker or seller, and our written guarantee covers the fitting work. Both routes get the same checks on the opening, the upstand and the maker's instructions before anything is fixed.
What the job includes
- Frame assembled on the kerb in the maker's set order
- Glass lifted and laid into the frame by hand or with gear
- Roof membrane checked where it meets the lantern frame
- Following the build order — We assemble lanterns in exactly the sequence the instructions give.
- Heat and glare — We talk through the glass options before you order a large lantern.
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 lantern: one to two days, weather permitting.
Do you need permission in Forres?
In Scotland, forming a new rooflight opening needs a building warrant from the council, because the roof is being altered. Replacing an existing rooflight complete with its frame doesn't need a warrant, but the new unit still has to meet the building standards, including the 1.6 W/m²K energy figure for windows and rooflights in alterations. Planning depends on the house and where it is: householder permitted development rights don't apply in conservation areas, and listed buildings need consent. We confirm this with you before quoting.
What to send for a quick quote
Start with your phone. Take a picture of the roof where the unit goes or already sits, then one from inside looking up. Measure what you can, even roughly. Tell us what the roof is covered with and how a fitter would reach it: ladder, garden access or scaffold. Bought it already? Send the link or spec. Add your full postcode, for example in IV36, and we can price it.
Common questions in Forres
Do you need scaffolding to fit a rooflight?
Not always. Single-storey roofs can often be reached safely with ladders, a tower or edge protection. Higher roofs, steep pitches and large units usually need scaffold or a mobile platform, and heavy glass may need a crane. We assess access from your photos or at the survey, and any scaffold or lifting cost is shown as its own line on the written quote.
What upstand height and roof pitch does roof lantern fitting need?
It depends on the product. Manufacturers usually specify a minimum upstand height above the finished roof surface, and a minimum pitch on the glass so rain runs off. We follow the maker's figures for your unit rather than a rule of thumb. If your existing kerb or roof falls short, we explain the options, such as raising the upstand or choosing a unit with built-in pitch.
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, IV36 or close by, and what you want fitted. We will reply with the next steps and a quote.
