Guide prices in St Albans
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.
Fitting across St Albans and nearby
If you also own a property or a business unit in Harpenden, Hatfield or Hemel Hempstead, 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 AL1, AL2 and AL4 sit comfortably within that pattern.
On the day, we cover
- Failed sealant cut out, joints cleaned, dried and resealed
- Controlled water test where it helps pin down the entry point
- Rotten kerb sections replaced where the timber has gone soft
- 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
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.
Regulations for St Albans properties
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 St Albans
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.
Will resealing fix my leaking rooflight?
Sometimes. If the sealant has simply aged and the flashing, upstand and glass are sound, a careful reseal on a dry day can solve it. If the real problem is ponding water, a low upstand or a perished membrane, fresh sealant will only hide it for a while. We tell you which one you are dealing with before recommending any work, and quote the proper fix in writing.
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.
For a repair in St Albans, start with photos and the postcode; we confirm the visit price before anything is booked.
