What the job costs in Southampton
Small sealed unit
Misted or cracked unit up to about 1 m² measured, made and refitted
Medium sealed unit
Units up to about 2 m², or toughened and laminated
Large or specialist
Triple glazed, solar-control or heavy units needing lifting gear
Guide ranges. The first visit is charged and priced before booking; any new glass is priced in writing before work starts. 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 Southampton
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Hythe, 3 miles from Southampton, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in SO14, SO15 and SO17. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Totton, around 4 miles out, is treated the same way.
What we do on the day
- Measuring visit to size the glass and identify its make-up
- New glazing tapes, gaskets or sealant fitted to suit the frame
- Sealed unit ordered to match or improve on the original glass
- Condition of the frame — We look at the frame closely before committing to new glass.
- Matching the glass make-up — We identify the existing glass so the replacement performs at least as well.
How the glass is replaced
On the fitting visit, the room below is protected first. The beads or cappings come off, the old unit is lifted out with suction lifters, and the rebate is cleaned and checked for damage or blocked drainage. The new sealed unit goes in on fresh packers and gaskets, the cappings are refitted and sealed, and the glass is cleaned. Most glass swaps take half a day once the new glass is made.
Do you need permission in Southampton?
In England, a new rooflight opening generally needs building regulations approval because the roof structure is altered and the glazing must meet energy rules: 2.2 W/m²K for a rooflight in an existing home, or 1.4 W/m²K (or WER Band B) for a roof window. Planning is often not needed on a house: permitted development covers rooflights that stand no more than 0.15 m proud of the roof slope and sit below the highest part of the roof. Flats, listed buildings and areas with an Article 4 direction are different, so we check your address first.
What to send us
Photos of the problem glass from inside and out, a rough width and length, and whether the rooflight opens or is fixed are enough to price the first visit. Add the postcode and how the roof is reached, and tell us if more than one unit has misted.
Common questions in Southampton
Can you replace just the glass in my rooflight?
Often, yes. If the frame, gaskets and drainage are sound, a new sealed unit can go into the existing frame. If the frame has failed, is distorted or leaks around the edge, replacing the whole rooflight is usually the better answer, and we tell you that.
Is the measuring visit charged?
Yes. The first visit measures the existing glass and checks the frame, and it is charged. We confirm that price before you book. The fitting of the new glass is then priced in writing, so you see the full cost before anything is ordered.
How long does new rooflight glass take?
The new sealed unit is made to the measured size, so there is a gap between the measuring visit and the fitting visit while it is produced. We give you the expected timing when we price the glass, and book the fitting once it has arrived.
Send photos of the problem in Southampton and we will price the visit before you book it.
