Kirkwall 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 warrant fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Coverage by arrangement
Kirkwall is covered by arrangement. Tell us the address and we will confirm travel, dates and any ferry or accommodation costs before quoting. Many island and remote jobs can be priced from photos first, so nobody travels until the scope is clear.
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
- Kerb sized from the maker's drawing, internal and external dimensions both checked
- Roof covering compatibility — We check what the roof is covered in before choosing how the membrane meets the kerb.
- Energy limit for site-built kerbs — We insulate the kerb to what the building standards in Scotland expect; England and Wales set 0.35 W/m²K for site-built upstands.
How a fitting day runs
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.
Planning and building rules in Scotland
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.
What to send for a quick 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, KW15 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Kirkwall
Do I need planning permission for a rooflight in Kirkwall?
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.
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.
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.
Get in touch with the details of your Kirkwall property and we will explain what the job involves and what it costs.
