What the job costs in Hornchurch
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.
Areas around Hornchurch we cover
Hornchurch and the districts around it, RM12, RM11 and RM2, all sit inside our working area. So does the ground between Hornchurch and Romford (2 miles), and on towards Dagenham (2 miles). When a fitting team is booked, their travel is already in the quoted price, so it does not turn up as a surprise line on the final bill.
On the day, we cover
- Failed sealant cut out, joints cleaned, dried and resealed
- Rotten kerb sections replaced where the timber has gone soft
- Outside inspection of glass, frame, sealant, flashing and roof covering
- Warranty and who fitted it — We ask who fitted the rooflight and when before working on it.
- Age of the rooflight — We weigh the age and condition of the unit before recommending a repair.
How a repair visit goes
Expect the visit to be mostly looking and testing. Dust sheets go down below the rooflight. The fitter checks seals and glass from inside, then gets up on the roof by ladder or tower. Minor jobs such as clearing a blocked drainage channel can often be dealt with there and then. Bigger work, like new flashing or a replacement sealed unit, is measured up and priced in writing afterwards.
Do you need permission in Hornchurch?
Two sets of rules matter in England. Planning: a rooflight on a house is normally permitted development if it projects no more than 0.15 m and stays below the highest part of the roof, but flats, listed buildings and Article 4 areas need checking. Building regulations: new openings need approval for the structure and energy performance, and a replacement is a controlled fitting. We are not registered with a competent person scheme, so we notify replacements to building control with a building notice and put the council's fee on the quote.
What to send us
Before booking a visit, send what you can: a photo of the ceiling or reveal where water shows, a photo of the rooflight from outside, the roof covering if you know it, and whether it is one rooflight or several. We use that to price the visit and to bring the right materials.
Common questions in Hornchurch
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.
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.
Can you replace just the misted glass?
Often, yes. Misting between the panes means the sealed unit has failed, but the frame around it may be perfectly sound. Where the maker's design allows the glass to be changed, we measure the unit and fit a replacement, which costs less than a whole new rooflight. Where it does not, or the frame is also worn out, we explain why replacement is the better option.
Send photos of the problem in Hornchurch and we will price the visit before you book it.
