Guide prices
Like-for-like swap
Old dome or unit removed and disposed of, new glass rooflight fitted to the existing sound kerb
New upstand and swap
Old kerb taken off, new insulated upstand built, roof covering made good, new unit fitted
Opening or large unit
Electric or larger replacement, including making good inside
Guide ranges for supply & fit; building control notice fee extra in England and Wales. Your price is fixed in a written quote after we have seen photos or surveyed. 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.
Where our fitters travel
Jobs across BT37, BT36 and BT15 are part of our normal cover for Newtownabbey. We are not an office on the high street. Our fitting teams come out to the property from wherever they are working that week. Neighbouring places such as Belfast and Carrickfergus are covered on the same terms, so a house on the edge of town is no harder to book than one in the centre.
Your replacement rooflights or ours
If you have bought a replacement rooflight yourself, we check four things before fitting. First, the delivery: open it, look for chips, cracks and bent frames, and report any damage to the seller straight away. Second, the size, measured against the builder's opening rather than the external frame. Third, the upstand height above the finished roof. Fourth, the maker's instructions, which set the fixings and sealing. Product warranty claims go to the seller and maker; our guarantee is for how it was fitted.
Included in the work
- Kerb inspected for rot, height, level and fall once the old unit is off
- Packers, an adaptor or a new insulated upstand where the old kerb falls short
- New unit bedded, fixed and sealed exactly as its maker shows
- Energy rules for the new unit — We make sure the replacement meets the current energy limit, not just the old unit's performance.
- Inside finishes — We check the condition of the plaster and trim around the opening from inside.
What happens on the day
Fitting days start with a look at the sky. If rain is due, the order of work changes so the roof is never left open to it. A typical day for a replacement rooflight runs like this: set up access, protect the room, open up the roof or prepare the existing kerb or frame, check sizes, fix, seal, then finish inside. On jobs that take more than a day, the opening is weather-sealed overnight. The last hour goes on tidying, waste removal and a walk-round with you.
Regulations for Newtownabbey properties
In Northern Ireland, the energy standard for a new or replacement rooflight or roof window in an existing home is WER Band C or a U-value of 1.6 W/m²K, under Technical Booklet F1. Cutting a new opening alters the roof structure, so a building control application is expected; confirm with the council's building control team. Planning permitted development covers many rooflights on houses if they stay below the ridge, project no more than 15 cm on a road-facing slope and sit at least 0.5 m from the ridge, eaves and verges.
Before you get in touch
Each detail you send takes a question off our list. Photos inside and out show the opening and the ceiling. Rough measurements tell us the unit size. The roof covering tells us how it will be sealed in. Access notes tell us whether a tower or scaffold is needed. A product link, if you have one, lets us check it against the opening. Your postcode, BT37 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Newtownabbey
How long does fitting take?
Fitting a replacement rooflight into an existing, correctly sized opening is often a day's work. New openings take longer, because joists or rafters need trimming, an upstand or flashing has to be built or fitted, and the inside needs finishing. Large units that need lifting gear, and days lost to rain, can stretch things further. Your written quote gives a realistic estimate for your roof.
Do you cover Newtownabbey?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in Newtownabbey and the surrounding districts, including BT37. We do not run an office there; the survey and the fitting happen at your property. A few island and remote postcodes are covered by arrangement; if yours is one, we confirm travel and dates before quoting.
What if my roof opening is the wrong size for the replacement rooflight?
We find out before the fitting day, not on it. If the opening is slightly out, it can usually be adjusted by trimming or by packing out the upstand. If it is a long way off, the choice is between altering the opening and changing the unit. Bear in mind that rooflights are often sold by builder's opening size rather than external size, so check which one your measurement refers to.
Planning a replacement rooflight in Newtownabbey? Tell us about the roof and we will come back with a clear price in writing.
