Derry/Londonderry 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.
Where our fitters travel
Jobs across BT48, BT47 and BT49 are part of our normal cover for Derry/Londonderry. 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 Coleraine and Omagh 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
- Insulation fitted to the upstand faces to limit heat loss
- Diagonals measured so the kerb is square before anything sits on it
- Roof membrane turned up, bonded and finished at the kerb top
- 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.
Fitting your rooflight upstand, step by step
The fitters measure twice before cutting: the opening, the rooflight's kerb size and the finished roof level. The kerb is built, packed level or to the maker's fall, insulated and weathered into the roof covering. You are left with an upstand ready for the rooflight, and a note of the sizes it was built to.
Do you need permission in Derry/Londonderry?
For a home in Northern Ireland, check planning first: rooflights are excluded from permitted development in conservation areas and within the curtilage of listed buildings, and elsewhere must keep 0.5 m clear of the ridge, eaves and verges. Then building control: a new opening alters the roof structure, so expect a building control application and confirm with your council, and the glazing must achieve WER Band C or 1.6 W/m²K. We check both for your address before quoting.
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, BT48 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Derry/Londonderry
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.
Do I need planning permission for a rooflight in Derry/Londonderry?
Often not. Many rooflights fall under permitted development, provided they do not project beyond the national limit and meet the other conditions that apply in Northern Ireland. Conservation areas, listed buildings and some flats are different and may need consent. Because the rules depend on the property, we confirm what is likely to apply at your address and point you to the planning authority where an application is needed.
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.
Get in touch with the details of your Derry/Londonderry property and we will explain what the job involves and what it costs.

