What the job costs in Lerwick
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
Lerwick 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
- Height set above the finished roof to the maker's stated minimum
- Treated timber frame fixed down to the deck and joists
- Fall built in or level — We confirm whether your rooflight needs the kerb to provide a fall or should sit level.
- 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.
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.
Planning, building warrants and Lerwick
For Scottish homes: building warrant for new rooflight openings; no warrant for replacing a rooflight complete with its frame, provided it meets the standards, including 1.6 W/m²K; planning permission in conservation areas and listed building consent for listed properties. Outside those, permitted development usually covers house rooflights, but the planning authority has the final word, so we check before you commit.
Getting a price from photos
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, ZE1 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Lerwick
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 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.
Do I need planning permission for a rooflight in Lerwick?
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.
Questions before you commit? Send them over with your Lerwick postcode and we will answer them plainly, with a quote alongside.
