What the job costs in Harwich
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.
Fitting across Harwich and nearby
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Felixstowe, 3 miles from Harwich, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in CO12, CO14 and CO13. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Walton-on-the-Naze, around 7 miles out, is treated the same way.
What the job includes
- Old vent removed with the stairwell kept protected below
- Certified vent and actuator matched to the opening and controls
- Upstand checked, adapted or rebuilt to the vent maker's drawing
- Certified as a system — We only fit smoke vents that are certified to BS EN 12101-2.
- Upstand and weathering — We check the upstand suits the new vent and that the roof around it is sound.
What happens on the day
Arrive and agree the plan. Sheet the floor and furniture. Set up the ladder, tower or scaffold. Check the opening, the upstand or flashing, and the unit against the paperwork. Fix and pack a smoke vent rooflight level. Seal it into the roof. Line the reveal or fit the ceiling trim. Clean the glass, clear the waste, and talk you through it. That is the shape of most fitting days, and for this type of job it usually takes one to two days per vent.
Do you need permission in Harwich?
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.
What to send for a quick 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 CO12 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Harwich
What if my roof opening is the wrong size for the smoke vent 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.
Do you cover Harwich?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in Harwich and the surrounding districts, including CO12. 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 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.
Send a few photos and your CO12 postcode, and we will put together a written quote for the job.
