Guide prices in March
Vent swap
Like-for-like certified vent and actuator, connected to the existing controls and commissioned by a smoke-control specialist
Vent with new controls
Vent plus new control panel and detection, commissioned by a smoke-control specialist
Multiple vents
Several stairwells or larger systems, priced from a survey
Guide ranges for supply & fit; controls and commissioning by a smoke-control specialist. 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 March that means postcode districts PE15, PE16 and PE13, and the same teams can just as easily take on work in Wisbech, about 8 miles away, or Ely at roughly 13 miles. Survey and fitting dates are offered according to fitter availability, and travel is built into the quote rather than added later.
Included in the work
- Controls, detection and wiring handled by the smoke-control specialist
- Commissioning and sign-off carried out by the specialist before handover
- Upstand checked, adapted or rebuilt to the vent maker's drawing
- Controls and backup power — We confirm the controls, detection and backup power are being dealt with by a specialist.
- Free area at the stair head — We check the free area the vent must provide before choosing a replacement.
A typical installation 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 smoke vent 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 March properties
A replacement smoke vent in England has to keep the free area and performance the building's fire strategy relies on, using a vent certified to BS EN 12101-2 with its actuator and backup power. We fit the vent and do the roof work; a smoke-control specialist connects and commissions the controls, and we confirm whether building control needs to be notified.
Help us quote accurately
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, PE15 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in March
What upstand height and roof pitch does smoke vent 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.
Can you fit a rooflight in winter or when it is raining?
Yes, within limits. Cold is less of a problem than wet, because membranes, primers and sealants need a dry surface to bond. We plan fitting days around the forecast and may move a date if heavy rain is due. If the roof has to be opened up, it is not left overnight without a temporary weather seal, so the room below stays dry while the work is finished.
How long does fitting take?
Fitting a smoke vent 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.
Ask for a quote for your March roof. Survey dates are offered based on fitter availability once you are happy with the price.
