What the job costs in Kensington
Up to 1 m²
Laminated walk-on unit with anti-slip finish, fitted level with the terrace
Up to 2 m²
Larger walk-on glazing
Large or bespoke
Big panes, structural calculations, lifting gear
Guide ranges for supply & fit. 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.
Is your address covered?
Distance is rarely the deciding factor. A roof in Bayswater, 1 mile from Kensington, gets the same survey, the same written quote and the same fitting process as one in W8, SW5 and SW7. What changes the price is the job itself: size of unit, roof type, access and lifting. Notting Hill, around 1 mile out, is treated the same way.
What we check on a supplied unit
Which works out better, buying your own or letting us supply? It depends on what you value. Buying your own gives you control of the product and what you pay for it. Letting us supply puts the whole job, unit and fitting, under one written quote. On a customer-supplied unit we still measure it against the opening, look at the upstand, and inspect the condition it arrived in. Warranty on the product sits with whoever sold it, while the fitting carries our own guarantee.
What we do on the day
- Protective film removed and the anti-slip surface left clean
- Unit bedded and fixed so it sits level with the finished surface
- Perimeter joints sealed and the waterproofing lapped as the maker shows
- Weight on delivery day — We plan the delivery and lift before booking any lifting gear or extra hands.
- Units tested to old standards — We check which standard the walk-on unit has been tested to.
How a fitting day runs
Arrive and agree the plan. Sheet the floor and furniture. Set up the ladder, tower or scaffold. Check the opening, the upstand or flashing, and the unit against the paperwork. Fix and pack a walk-on rooflight level. Seal it into the roof. Line the reveal or fit the ceiling trim. Clean the glass, clear the waste, and talk you through it. That is the shape of most fitting days, and for this type of job it usually takes one to two days.
Planning, building control and Kensington
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.
Before you get in touch
A fast quote needs five things: a photo of the roof from outside, one from the room below, rough sizes of the opening or the space, the roof covering (felt, single-ply, fibreglass, tiles, slate or metal), and a note on access. If you have already bought the unit, add the product link or spec sheet. And give us the postcode, W8 or a neighbouring district.
Common questions in Kensington
How long does fitting take?
Fitting a walk-on rooflight into an existing, correctly sized opening is often a day's work. New openings take longer, because joists or rafters need trimming, an upstand or flashing has to be built or fitted, and the inside needs finishing. Large units that need lifting gear, and days lost to rain, can stretch things further. Your written quote gives a realistic estimate for your roof.
Do I need planning permission for a rooflight in Kensington?
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.
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.
Ask for a quote for your Kensington roof. Survey dates are offered based on fitter availability once you are happy with the price.
