Ealing · Greater London
Glass Roofs in Ealing
Is an old glazed roof in Ealing leaking or single glazed? We can survey it and quote for a modern, laminated and coated replacement.
- W3
- W5
- W7
- W13
- Guide from £1,095 per m²
Ealing: frameless rooflight
A new glass roof or walk-on panel is building work that normally needs building regulations approval through building control, covering structure, energy performance and, close to a boundary, fire performance. Planning permission may also be needed depending on the extension and the property, so check with the council.
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.
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.
Fixed frameless rooflights sit on a flat roof upstand with the glass edge overhanging the kerb, so from inside you see only sky and plaster. The upstand must be level, insulated and weathered into the roof covering, and the roof needs a fall so water drains off the glass.
What's included
- Site survey and structural assessment of supports
- Glass specification with laminated make-up and coatings
- Lifting, positioning and fixing of every glass unit
- Weather sealing of joints, edges and upstands
Working in Ealing
- Postcodes covered
- W3, W5, W7, W13 and the surrounding area, including Acton, Greenford and Chiswick
- Coast
- Ealing is well inland, around 47 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Ealing the midwinter sun reaches about 15° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.6 hours of daylight, rising to about 62° and 16.4 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 Ealing
| 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
If the glass sits in a fire-resisting door or screen, such as a flat entrance door or a commercial corridor screen, it must be replaced with fire-rated glazing tested as part of that system. Ordinary toughened glass is not a substitute.
Choosing your glass roofs
Glass floor panel
Laminated glass floor sections that let light through to a basement or lower floor, supported on a level, engineered frame.
Solar-control coatings
Coatings or fritted patterns that reduce heat gain and glare under overhead glass on sunny elevations.
Sliding access rooflight
A glazed hatch that slides or hinges open for access to a roof terrace, with weather seals and secure locking.
Glass Roofs in Ealing: questions
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.
Will a glass roof make my kitchen too hot?
A glass roof can make a room warm on sunny days, because overhead glass receives sun for much of the day. Solar-control coatings, fritted patterns, internal blinds and ventilation from opening windows or rooflights help keep temperatures comfortable. The glass is specified at design stage to suit the orientation and how the room is used.
Does a glass roof need building regulations approval?
Yes. A new glass roof, frameless rooflight or walk-on panel is building work that normally needs approval through building control, covering structure, energy performance and fire performance near a boundary. Highly glazed extensions often need energy calculations to show compliance. The rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we explain the route for your project.
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.
Do you cover Ealing for glass roofs?
Yes. We can quote for glass roofs across Ealing and the surrounding Greater London area, including postcode districts W3, W5, W7 and W13, and nearby Acton, Greenford and Chiswick. 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 Ealing
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.