What the job costs in Edinburgh
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 warrant fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Where our fitters travel
Covering Edinburgh means covering the people who live and work there, not a single postcode. We take on domestic and commercial jobs in EH2, EH3 and EH1, and are happy to quote further out in Musselburgh and Bonnyrigg. If your address sits between towns, tell us and we will confirm whether it falls in our normal area or needs travel set out separately on the quote.
What we do on the day
- Roof membrane turned up, bonded and finished at the kerb top
- Height set above the finished roof to the maker's stated minimum
- Kerb sized from the maker's drawing, internal and external dimensions both checked
- 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.
- Roof covering compatibility — We check what the roof is covered in before choosing how the membrane meets the kerb.
What happens on the day
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.
Regulations for Edinburgh properties
In Scotland a new rooflight needs a building warrant before work starts. A like-for-like replacement including the frame is exempt from a warrant but must meet current standards, so the glazing has to reach 1.6 W/m²K or better. For planning, rooflights on houses outside conservation areas can often go ahead under permitted development, but it is worth confirming with the planning authority.
Help us quote accurately
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 EH2 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Edinburgh
Does a rooflight need a building warrant?
In Scotland a new rooflight needs a building warrant from the council before work starts. Replacing a rooflight complete with its frame doesn't need a warrant, but the new unit must meet the building standards in full, including 1.6 W/m²K. We confirm which applies to your job before you commit.
Do you cover Edinburgh?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in Edinburgh and the surrounding districts, including EH2. 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.
Do I need planning permission for a rooflight in Edinburgh?
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 Scotland. 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.
Tell us your postcode, EH2 or close by, and what you want fitted. We will reply with the next steps and a quote.
