Castlereagh guide prices
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.
Areas around Castlereagh we cover
Fitters travel to the job, so the address is what counts. In Castlereagh that means postcode districts BT6, BT5 and BT7, and the same teams can just as easily take on work in Belfast, about 2 miles away, or Newtownabbey at roughly 6 miles. Survey and fitting dates are offered according to fitter availability, and travel is built into the quote rather than added later.
What we do on the day
- Roof membrane turned up, bonded and finished at the kerb top
- Treated timber frame fixed down to the deck and joists
- Kerb sized from the maker's drawing, internal and external dimensions both checked
- Height above the finished roof — We set the upstand so it stands at least 150 mm above the finished roof, measured from the top of any ballast, paving or walkway.
- 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.
What happens on the day
Building an upstand starts with the rooflight's own drawing: its kerb size, height above the finished roof and fall. The team sets the timber out to those figures, checks the diagonals, insulates the outer faces and dresses the membrane up and over. If the rooflight is going on the same day, it is fitted next; if not, the kerb is protected until it does.
Planning, building control and Castlereagh
In Northern Ireland, the energy standard for a new or replacement rooflight or roof window in an existing home is WER Band C or a U-value of 1.6 W/m²K, under Technical Booklet F1. Cutting a new opening alters the roof structure, so a building control application is expected; confirm with the council's building control team. Planning permitted development covers many rooflights on houses if they stay below the ridge, project no more than 15 cm on a road-facing slope and sit at least 0.5 m from the ridge, eaves and verges.
Before you get in touch
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, BT6 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Castlereagh
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.
Do you need scaffolding to fit a rooflight?
Not always. Single-storey roofs can often be reached safely with ladders, a tower or edge protection. Higher roofs, steep pitches and large units usually need scaffold or a mobile platform, and heavy glass may need a crane. We assess access from your photos or at the survey, and any scaffold or lifting cost is shown as its own line on the written quote.
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.
Ask for a quote for your Castlereagh roof. Survey dates are offered based on fitter availability once you are happy with the price.
