What the job costs in Cardiff
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?
Cardiff and the districts around it, CF10, CF11 and CF24, all sit inside our working area. So does the ground between Cardiff and Penarth (3 miles), and on towards Caerphilly (7 miles). When a fitting team is booked, their travel is already in the quoted price, so it does not turn up as a surprise line on the final bill.
On the day, we cover
- Upstand checked, adapted or rebuilt to the vent maker's drawing
- New vent fitted, sealed and weathered into the roof
- Controls, detection and wiring handled by the smoke-control specialist
- Fire rules near escape routes — We check the roof around the vent for fire rules that affect it.
- Certified as a system — We only fit smoke vents that are certified to BS EN 12101-2.
How a fitting day runs
On the day, you need to be in at the start and at the end. In between, the fitters get on with it. They will want the room below cleared where possible, a parking spot if you have one, and somewhere to set the unit down safely. After checking the opening and the upstand or flashing, they fix a smoke vent rooflight, seal it and finish the inside. Packaging and any old unit leave with them unless the quote says otherwise.
Planning, building control and Cardiff
Replacing a smoke vent in Wales means matching the certified performance and free area of the system, with the controls connected and commissioned by a specialist. We confirm with you whether building control needs to be involved.
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, CF10 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Cardiff
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.
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.
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.
Send a few photos and your CF10 postcode, and we will put together a written quote for the job.

