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.
Covering BL1 and neighbouring districts
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Farnworth, 3 miles from Bolton, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in BL1, BL3 and BL2. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Westhoughton, around 4 miles out, is treated the same way.
Included in the work
- Certified vent and actuator matched to the opening and controls
- Old vent removed with the stairwell kept protected below
- Existing vent, actuator and upstand surveyed with the specialist
- Fire rules near escape routes — We check the roof around the vent for fire rules that affect it.
- Upstand and weathering — We check the upstand suits the new vent and that the roof around it is sound.
Fitting your smoke vent rooflight, step by step
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.
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 BL1 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Bolton
Will my new smoke vent rooflight leak?
A correctly fitted unit should not. Leaks usually trace back to the detail around the frame: an upstand that is too low, a membrane or flashing that is not dressed properly, sealant applied to a damp surface, or water ponding against the kerb. We fit to the maker's instructions and check each of those points. The fitting carries a written workmanship guarantee, with its terms set out on your quote.
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.
Does commercial rooflight work need building control?
Usually. New openings, structural changes and smoke vents go through building control, and on buildings covered by fire safety law that means a full plans application rather than a building notice. We are not registered with a competent person scheme, so replacements we fit are notified to building control. We confirm the route and show any fee on the quote.
Ask for a quote for your Bolton roof. Survey dates are offered based on fitter availability once you are happy with the price.

