What the job costs in Letchworth Garden City
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.
Covering SG6 and neighbouring districts
If you also own a property or a business unit in Hitchin, Stevenage or Biggleswade, that is no problem. We can survey and quote both, and where it suits, line the fitting days up together. Every address is reached by fitters travelling to it from their current jobs, and SG6, SG5 and SG7 sit comfortably within that pattern.
On the day, we cover
- New glazing tapes, gaskets or sealant fitted to suit the frame
- Sealed unit ordered to match or improve on the original glass
- Joints water tested and the glass cleaned inside and out
- Can the glass come out? — We check whether your rooflight has removable glass or a bonded unit before booking a fitting visit.
- Weight and lifting — We plan how a heavy pane gets onto the roof and into the frame.
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.
Planning and building rules in England
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
To price the measuring visit, send a photo of the rooflight from inside showing the misting or crack, one from outside if you can reach a safe viewpoint, and the rough size of the glass. If you know the make or have the original paperwork, include that too, along with the postcode.
Common questions in Letchworth Garden City
Can I upgrade the glass while it is being replaced?
Usually. Solar-control, self-cleaning, toughened or laminated glass can be specified as long as the frame can take the thickness and weight. We check that on the measuring visit and price the options side by side.
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.
Is new glass or a new rooflight better value?
If the frame, gaskets and drainage are sound, new glass is usually the cheaper fix. If the frame is cracked, distorted or leaking at the kerb, a full replacement is better value. After the measuring visit we price both so you can compare.
For a repair in Letchworth Garden City, start with photos and the postcode; we confirm the visit price before anything is booked.
