Exeter · Devon
Glass Roofs in Exeter
Homeowners and architects in Exeter can get a written glass roof quote that fixes the price for the glass, coatings, supports and installation shown.
- EX1
- EX2
- EX3
- EX4
- Guide from £1,095 per m²
Frameless rooflight for homes and businesses in Exeter
Glass floors and walk-on rooflights bring daylight into basements, lower floors and rooms beneath terraces. Each panel sits on a continuous, level support with gaskets or setting blocks so the glass never touches metal or masonry directly, and the structure below is checked by an engineer.
Overhead glass collects heat in summer. Solar-control coatings, low-E coatings and fritted patterns reduce heat and glare under south and west-facing roofs, while opening rooflights or vents elsewhere help warm air escape. Self-cleaning outer coatings reduce how often the glass needs washing.
The price of a glass roof or walk-on panel depends on glass size and make-up, the number of laminated layers, coatings, support beams or framing, structural design, lifting equipment and access. Bespoke shapes and very large panels cost more. See the guide prices for typical ranges.
Glass roofs are heavy and the units are large, so installation often needs cranes, glass lifting robots or vacuum lifters, and sometimes road or pavement access arrangements. Access is planned at survey, because it can influence the maximum panel size and the installation day.
Included as standard
- Coordination with engineers or builders where required
- Site survey and structural assessment of supports
- Weather sealing of joints, edges and upstands
- Lifting, positioning and fixing of every glass unit
About Exeter for this job
- Postcodes covered
- EX1, EX2, EX3, EX4 and the surrounding area, including Exmouth, Tiverton and Newton Abbot
- Coast
- Exeter is about 6 km from the coast or a tidal estuary, so salt air and wind-driven rain are worth planning for. Glass roofs near the coast collect salt film that self-cleaning coatings may not fully remove, so occasional rinsing helps. Exposed sites face higher wind uplift, which affects glass thickness and fixings, and any metal supports need coatings or grades suited to salt air.
- Daylight and sun
- In Exeter the midwinter sun reaches about 16° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.7 hours of daylight, rising to about 63° and 16.3 hours in midsummer. Overhead glass admits far more daylight than vertical glazing, especially in summer when the sun is high. South-facing glass roofs usually need solar-control coatings or fritting, while north-facing roofs can use clearer low-E glass to maximise winter light.
- Access and setting
- City glass roofs often need cranes or lifting robots, so road or pavement licences, parking suspensions and access over neighbouring property may be needed. Side returns usually sit on a boundary, so fire performance and neighbour matters should be checked early.
- Rules in England
- Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Guide prices in Exeter
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Frameless glass roof, per m² | £1,095 – £1,795 |
| Walk-on glass panel, per m² | £1,495 – £2,395 |
Get a guide price for your size
Approved Document L sets the minimum energy performance for replacement windows and doors in existing homes in England: a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K, or Window Energy Rating band B for windows; doors can instead meet a Door Set Energy Rating (band B, or band C for doors more than 60% glazed); rooflights need 2.2 W/m²K.
Choosing your glass roofs
Side-return glass roof
Large glass units spanning from the house wall to the boundary, supported on glass beams or slim steel, for extended kitchens.
Walk-on rooflight
A multi-layer laminated glass panel set into a roof terrace or flat roof, with an anti-slip surface for foot traffic.
Glass floor panel
Laminated glass floor sections that let light through to a basement or lower floor, supported on a level, engineered frame.
Glass Roofs in Exeter: questions
Do I need planning permission for a glass roof extension?
It depends on the extension and the property. Some single-storey extensions on houses fall under permitted development, while others need planning permission. Flats, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas or under Article 4 directions have additional controls. Check with your council or an architect early, before the glass is ordered.
How do you stop a glass roof leaking?
A glass roof stays watertight through a fall that lets water run off, weather seals and structural silicone joints between panes, well-detailed flashings at walls and upstands, and clear gutters or outlets. Most leaks start at flashings or blocked drainage rather than the glass. Annual checks of joints and outlets prevent most problems.
What is the difference between a glass roof and a roof lantern?
A glass roof replaces most or all of a roof with large structural glass units on minimal supports, giving a near frameless view of the sky. A roof lantern is a framed, pitched glazed structure that sits on an upstand within a solid flat roof. Glass roofs suit side returns and link extensions; lanterns suit openings in flat roofs.
Is a glass roof safe if the glass breaks?
A properly specified glass roof is designed so that a broken pane stays in place. The inner pane is laminated, so fragments remain bonded to the interlayer instead of falling into the room. The glass thickness, supports and edge details are designed for the expected loads, including snow, wind and maintenance access.
Do you cover Exeter for glass roofs?
Yes. We can quote for glass roofs across Exeter and the surrounding Devon area, including postcode districts EX1, EX2, EX3 and EX4, and nearby Exmouth, Tiverton and Newton Abbot. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Exeter
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.