What are glass links & glass box roofs?
Glass links & glass box roofs in the Highlands and Islands means frameless glass links joining old and new buildings. Every quote follows a survey of the roof and the room below.
Many Scottish homes have dormers and attic rooms where an extra roof window adds light without a full dormer. Scottish weather is hard on roofs, so we specify rooflights and roof windows with exposure in mind and fit upstands with generous heights.
Towns in the Highlands and Islands
Specification options in the Highlands and Islands
- Concealed gutters and drainage
- Heated glass on some systems
- Frameless or slim-framed glass
- Structural glass beams and fins
- Solar-control and low-iron glass
- Keeps period walls on show
- Designed around the existing building
Planning and building rules in Scotland
Planning rules in Scotland differ: rooflights are treated as external alterations under Class 2B, with no permitted development in conservation areas. Listed buildings need listed building consent where the work affects their character.
Scotland's Technical Handbook (section 6) asks for windows, doors and rooflights in an extension to average 1.4–1.6 W/m²K, with no single unit worse than 3.3 W/m²K. Replacing a rooflight, frame included, does not need a building warrant, but the work must still meet the building standards.
Glass links & glass box roofs prices in the Highlands and Islands
The ranges below are typical for straightforward jobs; your fixed price follows a survey of your roof.
| 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.
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.
How long does a link take?
Design and manufacture are the long part. Fitting is often two to five days.
Who designs it?
Your architect, or we produce a survey-based design that the glass manufacturer engineers.
Will I need planning permission in the Highlands and Islands?
Scottish householder permitted development (Class 2B, other external alterations) can cover a rooflight that projects no more than 1 metre from the roof, but the right does not apply in conservation areas.
