Electric opening rooflights for Crawley: the essentials
For Crawley homes and buildings we offer electric opening rooflights: hinged rooflights that open on an electric actuator for fresh air. We measure first, specify to the opening and confirm any planning or building-control points before quoting.
Across the South East, single-storey kitchen extensions on 1930s semis and post-war detached houses are where most flat rooflights and lanterns go. Think of electric opening rooflights for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms that need fresh air as well as light.
Crawley is the main town we list in West Sussex; we also cover nearby Horley and Horsham.
What you can choose
- Rain and wind sensor
- Smart-home or app control (manufacturer dependent)
- Integral blind
- Electric actuator with wall switch or remote
- Double or triple glazing
- Daylight and purge ventilation from one unit
- Clears cooking steam and summer heat at ceiling level
Before you order: points to check
- Lid opening height is limited by the actuator stroke, typically a few hundred millimetres
- Opening area may count toward purge ventilation for the room
Planning and building rules for Crawley
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. A rooflight on a side-facing slope must be obscure-glazed, and fixed shut unless the opening part is more than 1.7 m above the floor.
For English homes the energy rules ask for rooflights of 2.2 W/m²K or better and roof windows of 1.4 W/m²K (or WER Band B); most modern double glazed units meet both. The Future Homes and Buildings Standards, published in March 2026, apply from 24 March 2027 and keep the 2.2 W/m²K limit for rooflights.
Read the planning permission guide before you commit to a design.
Electric opening rooflights prices in Crawley
Guide prices for electric opening rooflights in Crawley are the same as anywhere we work — what changes the price is the job: access, structure, scaffold and finishing.
| Option | Guide price inc VAT | Ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Large with rain sensor and blind | £4,195 – £5,995 | £3,495 – £4,995 |
| Mid-size electric with rain sensor Typical | £2,995 – £4,195 | £2,495 – £3,495 |
| Small manual or electric opening unit | £2,395 – £3,115 | £1,995 – £2,595 |
From enquiry to finished job
- Tell us what you have. Send the RH11 postcode, a rough size and a couple of photos.
- Survey. We measure the opening, check the roof build-up and agree the options.
- Fixed quote. Product, work and price in writing — nothing is ordered until you agree.
- Installation day. Usually one day into a prepared opening, longer for new openings.
Neighbouring towns
More we do in Crawley
Questions about electric opening rooflights in Crawley
Does it need an electrician?
The rooflight wiring needs a suitable supply. We can arrange it, or your own electrician can provide the spur and we connect the unit.
Is it secure when open?
An opening rooflight is a vent, not an access hatch, so the gap is small. For security, close it when the house is empty — a rain sensor does not lock the unit.
What happens if it rains while it is open?
With a rain sensor fitted, the actuator closes the lid automatically when the sensor detects water. Without one, the lid stays where you left it, which is why we recommend the sensor on any unit over a kitchen or bedroom.
Will I need planning permission in Crawley?
English householder permitted development (Class C) normally covers rooflights that stand no more than 0.15 m proud of the roof plane and stay below the highest part of the roof.
Do I need to be at home for the survey in Crawley?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
