High Wycombe · Buckinghamshire
Roof Lanterns in High Wycombe
Homeowners in High Wycombe can get a written roof lantern quote that fixes the price for the size, shape, glass, colour and vents shown.
- HP11
- HP12
- HP13
- Guide from £1,095
High Wycombe: opening skylights
A roof lantern is assembled from an aluminium ridge, hip bars and glazing bars that hold sealed glass units on each pitch. It sits on an upstand built around the roof opening. The upstand should be level, weathered into the roof covering and insulated, because a poor upstand causes most leaks and cold spots.
Opening skylights and lantern vents can be manual or electrically operated, often with a rain sensor that closes them automatically when it starts to rain. Electric vents need a power supply planned before plastering, so the wiring route is agreed at survey when an opening option is chosen.
Old polycarbonate or single glazed roof lanterns can be replaced with double glazed aluminium lanterns on the existing upstand, if the upstand is sound, level and the right size. Upstands that are rotten, uninsulated or out of level should be rebuilt first, which the survey identifies.
The price of a roof lantern or skylight depends on the size and shape, glass specification, frame colour, opening vents or electric operation, and whether the upstand already exists or needs building. Access to the roof and lifting large units add labour. See the guide prices for typical ranges.
What's included
- Survey of the roof, opening, upstand and drainage
- Made-to-measure aluminium roof lantern or framed skylight
- Written guarantee terms and manufacturer documentation
- Sealed double glazed units with laminated inner pane options
About High Wycombe for this job
- Postcodes covered
- HP11, HP12, HP13 and the surrounding area, including Amersham, Maidenhead and Chesham
- Coast
- High Wycombe is well inland, around 80 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In High Wycombe 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 glazing receives far more light than a wall window of the same size, especially when the sun is high in summer. South-facing lanterns may need solar-control glass, while low winter sun and north-facing rooms benefit from clear, high light-transmission low-E glass.
- Access and setting
- Getting a large lantern onto a terraced flat roof may mean carrying it through the house or lifting it over neighbouring property, so access is planned at survey. Lanterns near a boundary raise fire performance questions, and conservation areas may restrict raised glazing.
- 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 High Wycombe
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Lantern 1500 × 1000 mm, fitted to a kerb | £1,395 – £1,795 |
| Lantern 2000 × 1000 mm | £1,695 – £2,095 |
| Lantern 3000 × 1500 mm | £2,795 – £3,695 |
| Flat glass rooflight 1000 × 1000 mm | £1,095 – £1,395 |
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 roof lanterns
Flat framed skylight
A low-profile framed rooflight on a flat roof upstand, fixed or opening, for bathrooms, landings and smaller rooms.
Opening vents
Manual or electric vents in the lantern or skylight, with optional rain sensors that close them automatically in wet weather.
Frame colours
Powder-coated aluminium in grey, black, white or other RAL colours, often dual colour to suit the roof and the room.
Roof Lanterns in High Wycombe: questions
What guarantee comes with a roof lantern?
Manufacturer guarantees apply to the frame, coating and sealed units, and the terms are confirmed in writing. The upstand and roof covering may be covered separately, depending on who builds them. Guarantee terms for the installation are set out in writing with your quote, so you know exactly what is covered before going ahead.
Do I need planning permission for a roof lantern?
Sometimes. In England, rooflights on a house are usually permitted development if they project no more than 150mm above the roof plane and are no higher than the highest part of the roof. Raised lanterns often exceed that, and flats, listed buildings and conservation areas have extra controls, so check with your council first.
Does fitting a roof lantern need building regulations approval?
A new roof lantern or skylight generally needs building regulations approval, because the roof structure is cut and must be supported, and the unit must meet energy standards. Fire performance also matters near a boundary. Replacing a lantern on an existing sound upstand is simpler, and we explain which route applies at survey.
How long does it take to fit a roof lantern?
Fitting a roof lantern on a prepared upstand usually takes a day or less for a typical size, longer for large or complex shapes. The lantern is made to order first, and the lead time depends on its size, shape and colour. Building or rebuilding an upstand is separate roofing work that comes before fitting.
Do you cover High Wycombe for roof lanterns?
Yes. We can quote for roof lanterns across High Wycombe and the surrounding Buckinghamshire area, including postcode districts HP11, HP12 and HP13, and nearby Amersham, Maidenhead and Chesham. 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 High Wycombe
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.