Roof lanterns in Shirley: what is involved?
Roof lanterns in Shirley means hipped glass lanterns that lift the ceiling of orangeries and extensions. We cover the B90 district and the rest of the West Midlands, with a survey before any price is fixed.
Many Midlands semis have had a single-storey rear extension added, and a larger flat rooflight or lantern is often the change that makes it feel finished. Typical uses for roof lanterns include orangeries, kitchen-diners and single-storey extensions.
From Shirley to Solihull, Birmingham and Smethwick, the same survey-first process applies: measure, specify, fix the price, then fit.
Options we can specify in Shirley
- Internal and external colours
- Solar-control or self-cleaning glass
- Rectangular, square or bespoke sizes
- LED lighting in the plaster box
- Aluminium or uPVC systems
- Classic look that suits period and modern homes
- Light from every angle across the day
Things we check at survey
- Plaster-box depth affects how the lantern looks from below
- Larger lanterns may need a steel or timber ring beam
Planning, building control and Shirley
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. 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 Shirley
These are typical supply-and-fit ranges. For an address in Shirley, scaffold, a hoist for heavy glass, or a new structural opening can move the figure, which is why we survey first.
| 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 |
From enquiry to finished job
- Get in touch. Use the form, WhatsApp or the guide-price tool with your Shirley address.
- 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
Related work in Shirley
Questions about roof lanterns in Shirley
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.
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 I need to be at home for the survey in Shirley?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
How do I book a survey in Shirley?
Send your postcode and, if you can, a photo of the roof and the room. We offer a survey date when we reply.
