Guide prices in Folkestone
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.
Covering CT20 and neighbouring districts
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Dover, 7 miles from Folkestone, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in CT20, CT19 and CT18. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Ashford, around 13 miles out, is treated the same way.
What we do on the day
- Fall built into the kerb where the rooflight needs one
- Kerb sized from the maker's drawing, internal and external dimensions both checked
- Diagonals measured so the kerb is square before anything sits on it
- 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.
- 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.
From arrival to clean-up
On the day, the fitters check the opening and the roof deck around it, then cut and fix treated timber to the maker's kerb size, square and level, with any fall the rooflight needs built in. Insulation goes on the faces that need it, and the roof membrane is turned up and dressed so the kerb is weathertight before anyone leaves. Most upstand jobs take half a day to a day.
Planning and building rules in England
Two sets of rules matter in England. Planning: a rooflight on a house is normally permitted development if it projects no more than 0.15 m and stays below the highest part of the roof, but flats, listed buildings and Article 4 areas need checking. Building regulations: new openings need approval for the structure and energy performance, and a replacement is a controlled fitting. We are not registered with a competent person scheme, so we notify replacements to building control with a building notice and put the council's fee on the quote.
What to send for a quick quote
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 CT20 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Folkestone
Does a rooflight need building regulations approval?
A new opening usually needs building regulations approval. A replacement is a controlled fitting: it must be self-certified by an installer registered with a competent person scheme or notified to building control. We are not registered with a scheme, so replacements we fit are notified to building control with a building notice, and the council's fee is shown on your quote.
Can you remove and dispose of the old rooflight?
Yes. Taking out the old unit is part of any replacement job, and it leaves with the rest of the waste unless you ask to keep it. Old domes, glass and frames go through proper waste routes. If removal turns up a rotten kerb or damaged decking, we show you what we have found and agree the repair with you before going any further.
Do you cover Folkestone?
Yes. Fitters travel to addresses in Folkestone and the surrounding districts, including CT20. 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.
Get in touch with the details of your Folkestone property and we will explain what the job involves and what it costs.
