Soho guide prices
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
If you also own a property or a business unit in Pimlico, Camden Town or Islington, that is no problem. We can survey and quote both, and where it suits, line the fitting days up together. Every address is reached by fitters travelling to it from their current jobs, and W1F, W1B and W1D sit comfortably within that pattern.
What we do on the day
- Commissioning and sign-off carried out by the specialist before handover
- Existing vent, actuator and upstand surveyed with the specialist
- New vent fitted, sealed and weathered into the roof
- Certified as a system — We only fit smoke vents that are certified to BS EN 12101-2.
- Fire rules near escape routes — We check the roof around the vent for fire rules that affect it.
What happens on the day
Protection comes before tools. Floors, furniture and stairs get covered, and the ceiling below the opening is sheeted to catch dust. Up top, the fitters confirm the opening is square and the upstand or flashing suits what the maker specifies. Fixing follows, then weather-sealing into the membrane, felt or tiles. Only once the roof is tight do they turn to the internal reveal. Time on site for a smoke vent rooflight: one to two days per vent, weather permitting.
Regulations for Soho 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.
Getting a price from photos
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, W1F or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Soho
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.
Do commercial rooflights need planning permission?
Like-for-like replacements on commercial buildings rarely need planning permission. New or larger rooflights on non-domestic buildings and blocks of flats usually need checking with the planning authority, because householder permitted development rights don't apply. We tell you what we know about your building and point you to the right team.
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.
For a free, no-obligation quote in Soho, use the form or call us with the details of your roof.
