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
Fitters travel to the job, so the address is what counts. In Newtownards that means postcode districts BT23, BT19 and BT16, and the same teams can just as easily take on work in Bangor, about 5 miles away, or Castlereagh at roughly 8 miles. Survey and fitting dates are offered according to fitter availability, and travel is built into the quote rather than added later.
Buying your own, or letting us supply
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.
What we do on the day
- Roof membrane repaired and turned up where it meets the kerb
- New unit bedded, fixed and sealed exactly as its maker shows
- Old rooflight or dome unscrewed, lifted out and taken away for disposal
- Inside finishes — We check the condition of the plaster and trim around the opening from inside.
- Dome to glass upgrades — We check that the opening and kerb suit a flat glass unit before quoting a dome-to-glass swap.
A typical installation day
Where a job takes one day, the split is usually structural work first and finishing second. Early on, the fitters cut or prepare the opening, trim where needed and prepare the upstand or flashing. Then a replacement rooflight is lifted in, fixed and made weathertight so the roof is sound before anyone moves inside. Plasterboard, trim and filler for the reveal come after. Each evening the work area is swept, and at the end the glass is cleaned and the team talks you through what was done.
Do you need permission in Newtownards?
Northern Ireland has its own rules. Permitted development for rooflights on a house requires the unit to sit below the highest part of the roof, project no more than 15 cm where the slope faces a road, and stay at least half a metre from the ridge, eaves, party wall and verge. It doesn't apply in conservation areas or within the grounds of a listed building. For building control, structural roof alterations need an application, and rooflights must meet WER Band C or 1.6 W/m²K.
Getting a price from photos
Keep it simple. Two or three photos, outside and inside. Approximate sizes. What the roof is made of. Anything awkward about getting up there, such as a conservatory below, a narrow side path or no parking. If you bought the rooflight online, the link or model name. Then your postcode in or around BT23. That is enough for a first price.
Common questions in Newtownards
What upstand height and roof pitch does replacement rooflight fitting need?
It depends on the product. Manufacturers usually specify a minimum upstand height above the finished roof surface, and a minimum pitch on the glass so rain runs off. We follow the maker's figures for your unit rather than a rule of thumb. If your existing kerb or roof falls short, we explain the options, such as raising the upstand or choosing a unit with built-in pitch.
Do I need planning permission for a rooflight in Newtownards?
Often not. Many rooflights fall under permitted development, provided they do not project beyond the national limit and meet the other conditions that apply in Northern Ireland. Conservation areas, listed buildings and some flats are different and may need consent. Because the rules depend on the property, we confirm what is likely to apply at your address and point you to the planning authority where an application is needed.
Does a rooflight need building control approval?
In Northern Ireland a new opening alters the roof structure, so expect a building control application; confirm the position with your council, including for replacements. The new rooflight must meet WER Band C or 1.6 W/m²K. We confirm what applies before you commit.
Planning a replacement rooflight in Newtownards? Tell us about the roof and we will come back with a clear price in writing.
