What the job costs in St Albans
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?
Jobs across AL1, AL2 and AL4 are part of our normal cover for St Albans. We are not an office on the high street. Our fitting teams come out to the property from wherever they are working that week. Neighbouring places such as Harpenden and Hatfield are covered on the same terms, so a house on the edge of town is no harder to book than one in the centre.
What we do on the day
- Upstand checked, adapted or rebuilt to the vent maker's drawing
- Existing vent, actuator and upstand surveyed with the specialist
- Controls, detection and wiring handled by the smoke-control specialist
- Controls and backup power — We confirm the controls, detection and backup power are being dealt with by a specialist.
- Certified as a system — We only fit smoke vents that are certified to BS EN 12101-2.
How a fitting day runs
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.
Regulations for St Albans properties
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.
Getting a price from photos
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 AL1 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in St Albans
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.
Do you cover St Albans?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in St Albans and the surrounding districts, including AL1. 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.
Ask for a quote for your St Albans roof. Survey dates are offered based on fitter availability once you are happy with the price.
