How we approach ridge & pitched glass roofs in Christchurch
Ridge & pitched glass roofs in Christchurch means dual-pitch glazed roofs for side returns, links and long extensions. We cover the BH23 district and the rest of Dorset, with a survey before any price is fixed.
Many South West towns mix Georgian and Victorian terraces with modern estates, so the right product differs street by street. In Christchurch, as anywhere, ridge & pitched glass roofs are the usual choice for terraced-house side returns that would otherwise be dark.
Jobs in Christchurch are planned around access: whether the roof can be reached from the garden, whether a hoist or crane is needed, and where we can park. We check this when we measure.
Specification options
- Opening vents and electric actuators
- Fixed or retractable shading
- Aluminium systems in standard and RAL colours
- Integrated gutters and box gutters
- Solar-control, self-cleaning or tinted glass
- Solar-control glass for south-facing slopes
- Works with exposed brick and period detail
What to check first
- Large glass roofs affect the energy calculation for the extension
- Junctions with existing walls need lead or flashing detail
Planning, building control and Christchurch
Most rooflights on English houses do not need planning permission, provided they keep within 150 mm of the roof surface and below the ridge line. 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.
Building Regulations Approved Document L sets a limiting U-value of 2.2 W/m²K for new or replacement rooflights in existing homes, measured in the horizontal plane; roof windows need 1.4 W/m²K or a Band B energy rating. 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.
Read the planning permission guide before you commit to a design.
Guide prices for Christchurch
Prices below are shown including and excluding VAT. In Christchurch, as elsewhere, making good inside and access equipment are the main variables.
| Option | Guide price inc VAT | Ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Long run with vents and solar glass | £9,595 – £15,595 | £7,995 – £12,995 |
| Typical side return (about 2 × 5 m) Typical | £5,995 – £9,595 | £4,995 – £7,995 |
| Short ridge rooflight | £4,795 – £5,995 | £3,995 – £4,995 |
From enquiry to finished job
- Get in touch. Use the form, WhatsApp or the guide-price tool with your Christchurch address.
- Survey. We measure the opening, check the roof build-up and agree the options.
- Agree the quote. You approve the specification and price before anything is ordered.
- Fit and make good. We fit, seal, test and finish the reveal, then hand over the paperwork.
Neighbouring towns
More we do in Christchurch
Common questions
Can it have opening vents?
Yes, top-hung vents with electric actuators are common, often with a rain sensor.
Is a glass roof too hot for a kitchen?
Without care, it can be. Solar-control glass, an opening vent at the top and a blind make a south-facing glass roof comfortable.
Can it be partly solid?
Yes — part-glazed, part-insulated roofs balance light and heat.
Do I need to be at home for the survey in Christchurch?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
Will I need planning permission in Christchurch?
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.
