What the job costs in Rochester
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.
Areas around Rochester we cover
Covering Rochester means covering the people who live and work there, not a single postcode. We take on domestic and commercial jobs in ME2, ME1 and ME4, and are happy to quote further out in Chatham and Strood. If your address sits between towns, tell us and we will confirm whether it falls in our normal area or needs travel set out separately on the quote.
What the job includes
- Old glass taken out safely and removed from site
- Measuring visit to size the glass and identify its make-up
- Frame rebate cleaned and checked for damage, corrosion or failed seals
- Weight and lifting — We plan how a heavy pane gets onto the roof and into the frame.
- Condition of the frame — We look at the frame closely before committing to new glass.
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, building control and Rochester
Replacing a rooflight in an English home is a controlled fitting: it has to be self-certified by a scheme-registered installer or notified to building control. We are not registered with a competent person scheme, so replacements we fit are notified with a building notice, and the new unit has to meet current energy limits. Adding a new one usually means a building regulations application, because joists or rafters are trimmed. On the planning side, most house rooflights are permitted development if they project 0.15 m or less; on a side slope the glass must be obscured and fixed unless the opening part is over 1.7 m above the floor.
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 Rochester
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.
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.
For a repair in Rochester, start with photos and the postcode; we confirm the visit price before anything is booked.
