Roof lanterns for Kensington: the essentials
Roof lanterns in Kensington means hipped glass lanterns that lift the ceiling of orangeries and extensions. We cover the W8 district and the rest of Greater London, with a survey before any price is fixed.
Many London roofs are reached only through the house or over neighbouring property, so lifting heavy glass is planned at survey rather than on the day. In Kensington, as anywhere, roof lanterns are the usual choice for orangeries, kitchen-diners and single-storey extensions.
Kensington is around 5 km from central London, and we survey and fit throughout that part of Greater London, including the W8 district.
Specification options
- Aluminium or uPVC systems
- Opening vents with electric control
- Rectangular, square or bespoke sizes
- LED lighting in the plaster box
- Internal and external colours
- Can include opening vents
- Light from every angle across the day
What to check first
- Larger lanterns may need a steel or timber ring beam
- Some designs project above the roof enough to affect planning on certain houses
Do you need permission in Kensington?
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. 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.
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. 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 Kensington
The ranges below are typical for straightforward jobs; your fixed price follows a survey of your roof.
| Option | Guide price inc VAT | Ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Large or bespoke aluminium lantern | £5,995 – £10,795 | £4,995 – £8,995 |
| Mid-size aluminium lantern (2 × 3 m) Typical | £3,955 – £5,995 | £3,295 – £4,995 |
| Small lantern (1 × 2 m) | £2,995 – £3,955 | £2,495 – £3,295 |
How the job runs
- Get in touch. Use the form, WhatsApp or the guide-price tool with your Kensington 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.
- Fitting and handover. We install, clean down and leave product and warranty documents.
Nearby towns
Related work in Kensington
Common questions
Roof lantern or flat rooflight?
A lantern adds height and sky from all sides; a flat rooflight is lower-profile and cleaner from outside. Our guide compares them in detail.
Can a lantern go on an existing extension?
Yes, if the flat roof structure can be opened up and trimmed. We check joists and the roof build-up at survey.
Do they leak?
Modern lanterns are sealed systems. Leaks usually trace back to the kerb or roof membrane detail, which we form and check ourselves.
Is the survey in Kensington free?
Yes for new installations. Repair visits are charged, and we tell you the price before we book.
Can you work alongside my builder in Kensington?
Yes. On new extensions we fit once the opening and upstand are ready and coordinate dates with your builder.
