What the job costs in Musselburgh
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 warrant fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Covering EH21 and neighbouring districts
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Bonnyrigg, 5 miles from Musselburgh, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in EH21, EH15 and EH22. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Edinburgh, around 6 miles out, is treated the same way.
Buying your own, or letting us supply
A damaged delivery is a frequent snag on fit-only work. Before the day, unpack a replacement rooflight, photograph it, and tell the seller about any cracks or scuffs, because claims are much easier made early. We will also ask for the model or a link, so we can read the maker's instructions and check the builder's opening size and the upstand height it expects. If everything lines up, we fit it. If not, we explain what needs changing first.
On the day, we cover
- Kerb inspected for rot, height, level and fall once the old unit is off
- Roof membrane repaired and turned up where it meets the kerb
- Old rooflight or dome unscrewed, lifted out and taken away for disposal
- Is the kerb worth keeping? — We decide whether the existing kerb can stay only after checking it for rot, height and squareness.
- Energy rules for the new unit — We make sure the replacement meets the current energy limit, not just the old unit's performance.
How a fitting day runs
Morning first: the team arrives, introduces itself and walks through the job with you. Dust sheets go down in the room below and along the route in. Then the opening and upstand, or the flashing on a pitched roof, are checked against the unit's measurements. A replacement rooflight goes in, is fixed to the maker's pattern and sealed into the roof covering. Inside, the reveal is finished as quoted. Before leaving, the team clears debris and talks you through what was done. Most jobs of this type take one day.
Regulations for Musselburgh properties
If you live in Scotland, the key question is whether the job is new or a replacement. A new rooflight needs a building warrant. Swapping an old rooflight for a new one, frame included, doesn't, as long as the new unit meets the standards: the energy figure for new or replacement rooflights in alterations is 1.6 W/m²K. Conservation areas have no householder permitted development rights for roof alterations, and listed buildings need listed building consent.
Details that speed up your quote
What we cannot see, we have to guess, and guesses make quotes wider. So the more you send, the tighter the price. Useful: shots from the roof or garden, shots from the room underneath, a rough width and length, the roof finish, any access problems, and the product page if you have already ordered. Add the property postcode around EH21 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Musselburgh
Does a rooflight need a building warrant?
In Scotland a new rooflight needs a building warrant from the council before work starts. Replacing a rooflight complete with its frame doesn't need a warrant, but the new unit must meet the building standards in full, including 1.6 W/m²K. We confirm which applies to your job before you commit.
What is included in the price?
The written quote lists it line by line. Typically that covers fitting labour, fixings, sealants, membrane or flashing materials, any upstand work, internal finishing if agreed, and taking away the waste. For supply and fit, the unit itself is included too. Scaffold, lifting gear and any third-party fees, where needed, are shown separately so you can see what each part of the job costs.
Do I need planning permission for a rooflight in Musselburgh?
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 Scotland. 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.
Send a few photos and your EH21 postcode, and we will put together a written quote for the job.

