Roof lanterns for Surbiton: the essentials
For Surbiton homes and buildings we offer roof lanterns: hipped glass lanterns that lift the ceiling of orangeries and extensions. We measure first, specify to the opening and confirm any planning or building-control points before quoting.
London homes often run deep from front to back, so the middle of the ground floor is the darkest space — exactly where an overhead rooflight earns its keep. Roof lanterns suit orangeries, kitchen-diners and single-storey extensions.
We work across Greater London, including Surbiton, and in neighbouring towns such as New Malden and Kingston upon Thames. Access, parking and how the glass reaches the roof are all checked at the survey.
Options we can specify in Surbiton
- Solar-control or self-cleaning glass
- LED lighting in the plaster box
- Opening vents with electric control
- Internal and external colours
- Rectangular, square or bespoke sizes
- Adds visual height to a single-storey room
- Classic look that suits period and modern homes
What to check first
- Needs a strong, level kerb or upstand
- Plaster-box depth affects how the lantern looks from below
Consents for roof lanterns in Surbiton
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.
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 Surbiton
Guide prices for roof lanterns in Surbiton 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 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
- Send the details. Postcode, rough size and a photo of the roof and room.
- Measure and check. A surveyor visits Surbiton, measures and checks structure and access.
- Fixed quote. Product, work and price in writing — nothing is ordered until you agree.
- Fit and make good. We fit, seal, test and finish the reveal, then hand over the paperwork.
Nearby towns
Other services in Surbiton
Roof lanterns in Surbiton: questions
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 roof lanterns get hot?
They can in summer if clear glass is used on a south-facing roof. Solar-control glass and an opening vent make a big difference.
Aluminium or uPVC?
Aluminium gives slimmer bars and a longer life; uPVC costs less. We fit both.
Will I need planning permission in Surbiton?
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.
Is the survey in Surbiton free?
Yes for new installations. Repair visits are charged, and we tell you the price before we book.
