What do roof lanterns in Swanley involve?
For Swanley 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.
Across the South East, single-storey kitchen extensions on 1930s semis and post-war detached houses are where most flat rooflights and lanterns go. Typical uses for roof lanterns include orangeries, kitchen-diners and single-storey extensions.
We work across Kent, including Swanley, and in neighbouring towns such as Bexley and Orpington. Access, parking and how the glass reaches the roof are all checked at the survey.
Options we can specify in Swanley
- Aluminium or uPVC systems
- Solar-control or self-cleaning glass
- LED lighting in the plaster box
- Internal and external colours
- Opening vents with electric control
- Classic look that suits period and modern homes
- Adds visual height to a single-storey room
What to check first
- Needs a strong, level kerb or upstand
- Some designs project above the roof enough to affect planning on certain houses
Planning and building rules for Swanley
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. 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.
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. 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.
Guide prices for Swanley
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
- Tell us what you have. Send the BR8 postcode, a rough size and a couple of photos.
- Survey. We measure the opening, check the roof build-up and agree the options.
- Written price. You receive a fixed price listing the unit, the work and the lead time.
- Fit and make good. We fit, seal, test and finish the reveal, then hand over the paperwork.
Nearby towns
More we do in Swanley
Common questions
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.
Aluminium or uPVC?
Aluminium gives slimmer bars and a longer life; uPVC costs less. We fit both.
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.
Do you fit roof lanterns in Swanley?
Yes. We survey and fit roof lanterns in Swanley and across Kent. Send your postcode and we will offer a survey date when we reply.
Will I need planning permission in Swanley?
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.
