What are glass links & glass box roofs?
Glass links & glass box roofs in Durham means frameless glass links joining old and new buildings. Every quote follows a survey of the roof and the room below.
Coastal exposure along the North East means we look closely at frame finishes and seals. North East terraces and colliery-town housing often have rear offshoots where a rooflight brightens a narrow kitchen.
Towns in Durham
Specification options in Durham
- Heated glass on some systems
- Frameless or slim-framed glass
- Structural glass beams and fins
- Frameless sliding or pivot doors
- Solar-control and low-iron glass
- Can include frameless doors
- Designed around the existing building
Planning and building rules in England
In England a rooflight on a house is usually permitted development under Class C if it projects no more than 150 mm beyond the roof slope and sits no higher than the ridge. Listed buildings need listed building consent, flats have no householder permitted development rights, and an Article 4 direction can remove the rights in some conservation areas.
Under Approved Document L, a rooflight added to an English home must achieve at least 2.2 W/m²K (horizontal plane), and a roof window 1.4 W/m²K or Window Energy Rating Band B. In an extension, glazing including rooflights is normally limited to 25% of the new floor area plus any windows or doors the extension covers, unless a whole-house calculation shows otherwise.
Guide prices
These are typical supply-and-fit ranges. For an address in Durham, scaffold, a hoist for heavy glass, or a new structural opening can move the figure, which is why we survey first.
| Option | Guide price inc VAT | Ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Fully frameless link with glass beams | £20,395 – £35,995 | £16,995 – £29,995 |
| Glass roof and glazed sides Typical | £13,195 – £20,395 | £10,995 – £16,995 |
| Glass roof between existing walls | £9,595 – £13,195 | £7,995 – £10,995 |
How the job runs
- Tell us about the roof. Send the postcode, rough sizes and a photo or two through the form, WhatsApp or the guide-price tool.
- Free survey. For new installations a surveyor measures the opening, checks the roof build-up and talks through glass and options.
- Fixed written quote. You get the product, the work and the price in writing. Nothing is ordered or paid for until you agree.
- Fitting and handover. We fit, seal and make good, then hand over product data, warranties and any certificate paperwork.
Glass links in nearby areas
Common questions
How is the glass joined to the old wall?
Usually by a slim channel or flashing set into the masonry, sealed and weathered so the old wall can move without cracking the glass seal.
Can a glass link be warm enough to use all year?
With insulated glass units, solar control and good detailing, yes — though it will always be brighter and more exposed to temperature swings than a solid room.
How long does a link take?
Design and manufacture are the long part. Fitting is often two to five days.
Is structural glass safe?
Structural glass is laminated so it stays in place if a ply breaks. The manufacturer designs it for the loads involved.
Do I need to be at home for the survey in Durham?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
