What the job costs in Ballymena
Timber upstand
Treated timber kerb built square and level to the maker's size
Insulated upstand
Kerb with insulation and the roof membrane turned up and dressed
Large or with trimming
Bigger kerbs or where joists need trimming first
Guide ranges for labour and materials, rooflight not included. 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.
Fitting across Ballymena and nearby
Fitters travel to the job, so the address is what counts. In Ballymena that means postcode districts BT42, BT43 and BT44, and the same teams can just as easily take on work in Antrim, about 10 miles away, or Larne at roughly 18 miles. Survey and fitting dates are offered according to fitter availability, and travel is built into the quote rather than added later.
Included in the work
- Insulation fitted to the upstand faces to limit heat loss
- Roof membrane turned up, bonded and finished at the kerb top
- Fall built into the kerb where the rooflight needs one
- Size tolerance on the kerb — We build kerbs to a tight tolerance because rooflight glass is made to order and cannot be trimmed on site.
- Energy limit for site-built kerbs — We insulate the kerb to what building control in Northern Ireland expects; England and Wales set 0.35 W/m²K for site-built upstands.
A typical installation day
On the day, the fitters check the opening and the roof deck around it, then cut and fix treated timber to the maker's kerb size, square and level, with any fall the rooflight needs built in. Insulation goes on the faces that need it, and the roof membrane is turned up and dressed so the kerb is weathertight before anyone leaves. Most upstand jobs take half a day to a day.
Planning and building rules in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has its own rules. Permitted development for rooflights on a house requires the unit to sit below the highest part of the roof, project no more than 15 cm where the slope faces a road, and stay at least half a metre from the ridge, eaves, party wall and verge. It doesn't apply in conservation areas or within the grounds of a listed building. For building control, structural roof alterations need an application, and rooflights must meet WER Band C or 1.6 W/m²K.
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, BT42 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Ballymena
Do you offer trade rates for builders and roofers?
We carry out subcontract fitting for builders, roofers, extension companies and commercial contractors. Pricing is per job or per schedule of units, agreed in writing before we start. We can work to your programme, fit on your upstand or build our own, and leave the opening ready for the next trade. Send drawings or a unit schedule and we will come back with a trade quote.
Do you make good inside after fitting?
Yes, where the quote includes it. Internal finishing usually means lining the reveal with plasterboard, taping or skimming, and fitting trim where it meets the ceiling. Some people prefer their own plasterer or decorator to finish off, which is fine. The written quote spells out exactly where our work stops, so nobody is left guessing about who does what once the unit is in.
What is included in the price?
The written quote lists it line by line. Typically that covers fitting labour, fixings, sealants, membrane or flashing materials, any upstand work, internal finishing if agreed, and taking away the waste. For supply and fit, the unit itself is included too. Scaffold, lifting gear and any third-party fees, where needed, are shown separately so you can see what each part of the job costs.
Send a few photos and your BT42 postcode, and we will put together a written quote for the job.

