Harlow guide prices
Diagnostic visit
Roof and inside inspected, cause found, written repair price
Reseal and re-flash
Failed sealant and flashing taken out, joints cleaned, resealed and taped
Upstand or membrane repair
Rotten kerb section or roof membrane at the upstand repaired
Guide ranges. The first visit is charged and priced before booking; any repair 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 Harlow
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Hoddesdon, 5 miles from Harlow, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in CM20, CM18 and CM17. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Ware, around 6 miles out, is treated the same way.
On the day, we cover
- Lifted flashing or tape removed and renewed
- Failed sealant cut out, joints cleaned, dried and resealed
- Controlled water test where it helps pin down the entry point
- Warranty and who fitted it — We ask who fitted the rooflight and when before working on it.
- Water lying against the kerb — We check whether rainwater sits against the upstand after it stops raining.
How a repair visit goes
A repair visit starts outside. The fitter looks at the roof around the unit for ponding, split membrane, loose flashing and failed sealant, then moves inside to check stains, the frame and the condensation channels. Where it helps, a controlled water test narrows down the entry point. Before leaving, they explain what they found and whether a small fix can be done within the agreed visit, or needs a separate written quote.
Planning and building rules in England
England's rules in short: permitted development usually covers a rooflight on a house roof provided it doesn't stick out more than 0.15 m or rise above the ridge, though a listed building always needs consent and some streets have Article 4 directions. Building regulations apply to new openings, and replacements go through building control; as we are not registered with a competent person scheme, we use a building notice and show the fee on the quote. The energy limit for rooflights in existing homes is 2.2 W/m²K, and the 2026 Approved Document L, in force from 24 March 2027, keeps that figure.
What to send us
Photos help us price the visit. Send one of the stain or drip inside, one of the rooflight from outside if you can reach a safe viewpoint, and a note of when it leaks: in heavy rain, in wind, or all the time. Add the postcode, CM20 or similar, and how the roof is reached.
Common questions in Harlow
Is it condensation or a leak?
Condensation tends to appear on cold mornings, on the inner face of the glass, and runs down the frame. A leak usually follows rain or wind from a particular direction and often stains the ceiling around the opening. Blocked condensation channels can make the two look alike. Photos and a note of when it happens help us narrow it down before the visit.
Should I repair or replace my old leaking rooflight?
It depends on the age and condition of the unit and what has failed. A single perished seal or a blocked channel is worth repairing. A brittle, discoloured dome, a rotten kerb, or several faults at once usually make replacement the better value. After the diagnostic visit we set out both options with prices, so you can decide with the full picture in front of you.
Why is my rooflight leaking?
The usual causes are sealant that has cracked or pulled away, flashing or membrane that has perished at the edges, condensation channels blocked with dirt, water ponding against the kerb, or a seal failing on the glass unit. Sometimes the water is coming in elsewhere and running along to the rooflight. A diagnostic visit finds the real source before anyone starts applying sealant.
Send photos of the problem in Harlow and we will price the visit before you book it.
