What the job costs in Altrincham
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.
Is your address covered?
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Hale, 1 mile from Altrincham, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in WA14, WA15 and M33. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Sale, around 3 miles out, is treated the same way.
What we do on the day
- Upstand checked, adapted or rebuilt to the vent maker's drawing
- Certified vent and actuator matched to the opening and controls
- New vent fitted, sealed and weathered into the roof
- Upstand and weathering — We check the upstand suits the new vent and that the roof around it is sound.
- 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.
Planning and building rules in England
In England, smoke vents for common stairs must be certified to BS EN 12101-2, provide the free area the fire strategy requires (Approved Document B calls for at least 1 m² at the top of a common stair), and have backup power. Smoke vents have their own energy limit, commonly 3.5 W/m²K. Controls and commissioning are handled by a smoke-control specialist, and building control is involved where the system changes.
Details that speed up your quote
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, WA14 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Altrincham
Do you cover Altrincham?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in Altrincham and the surrounding districts, including WA14. 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.
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.
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.
Send a few photos and your WA14 postcode, and we will put together a written quote for the job.
