Guide prices in Essex
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.
Towns we list in Essex
Builders and roofers working in Essex can use us for the rooflight element of a job, wherever the site is in England. Homeowners can book us directly. In both cases the fitters come to the address, the work follows the maker's instructions, and a written quote fixes the price first. Fitting is carried out by vetted teams under S&K's direction.
- Upstands & kerbs in Basildon
- Upstands & kerbs in Billericay
- Upstands & kerbs in Braintree
- Upstands & kerbs in Brentwood
- Upstands & kerbs in Canvey Island
- Upstands & kerbs in Chelmsford
- Upstands & kerbs in Clacton-on-Sea
- Upstands & kerbs in Colchester
- Upstands & kerbs in Frinton-on-Sea
- Upstands & kerbs in Grays
- Upstands & kerbs in Hadleigh
- Upstands & kerbs in Harlow
- Upstands & kerbs in Harwich
- Upstands & kerbs in Maldon
- Upstands & kerbs in Pitsea
- Upstands & kerbs in Rayleigh
- Upstands & kerbs in Rochford
- Upstands & kerbs in Saffron Walden
- Upstands & kerbs in South Benfleet
- Upstands & kerbs in South Ockendon
- Upstands & kerbs in Southend-on-Sea
- Upstands & kerbs in Stanford-le-Hope
- Upstands & kerbs in Waltham Abbey
- Upstands & kerbs in Walton-on-the-Naze
- Upstands & kerbs in Wickford
- Upstands & kerbs in Witham
What the job includes
- Insulation fitted to the upstand faces to limit heat loss
- Roof membrane turned up, bonded and finished at the kerb top
- Height set above the finished roof to the maker's stated minimum
- Roof covering compatibility — We check what the roof is covered in before choosing how the membrane meets the kerb.
- Fall built in or level — We confirm whether your rooflight needs the kerb to provide a fall or should sit level.
Rules that apply in England
In England, a new rooflight opening generally needs building regulations approval because the roof structure is altered and the glazing must meet energy rules: 2.2 W/m²K for a rooflight in an existing home, or 1.4 W/m²K (or WER Band B) for a roof window. Planning is often not needed on a house: permitted development covers rooflights that stand no more than 0.15 m proud of the roof slope and sit below the highest part of the roof. Flats, listed buildings and areas with an Article 4 direction are different, so we check your address first.
Common questions in Essex
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 I need planning permission for a rooflight in Essex?
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 England. 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.

