Rooflight upstands & kerbs in Dorset: the essentials
Across Dorset, our rooflight upstands & kerbs work covers insulated kerbs built and waterproofed to suit your rooflight. Survey first, fixed price second, fitting third.
Barn and chapel conversions in the South West often need bespoke or shaped rooflights to suit the original structure. Stone cottages, slate roofs and conservation areas are common in the South West, and conservation-profile rooflights keep the roofline quiet.
Towns in Dorset
Specification options in Dorset
- Proprietary insulated kerbs
- Upstands to suit single-ply, felt, GRP or liquid roofs
- Raised upstands for deep green or ballasted roofs
- Timber upstands with insulation
- Internal plaster-box linings
- Fixings and falls agreed with the rooflight maker
- Correct height above the finished roof
Planning and building rules in England
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.
Under Approved Document L, a rooflight added to an English home must achieve at least 2.2 W/m²K (horizontal plane), and a roof window 1.4 W/m²K or Window Energy Rating Band B. Replacing a rooflight or roof window can be self-certified by an installer registered with an authorised competent person scheme; otherwise building control approval is needed.
Guide prices
These are typical supply-and-fit ranges. For an address in Dorset, 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 raised upstand | £715 – £1,195 | £595 – £995 |
| Standard insulated upstand Typical | £475 – £715 | £395 – £595 |
| Small upstand on new roof | £355 – £475 | £295 – £395 |
How the job runs
- Tell us about the roof. Send the postcode, rough sizes and a photo or two through the form, WhatsApp or the guide-price tool.
- Free survey. For new installations a surveyor measures the opening, checks the roof build-up and talks through glass and options.
- Fixed written quote. You get the product, the work and the price in writing. Nothing is ordered or paid for until you agree.
- Fitting and handover. We fit, seal and make good, then hand over product data, warranties and any certificate paperwork.
Upstands & kerbs in nearby areas
Common questions
Can an old upstand be reused?
If it is sound, square, insulated and the right size. Often it is cheaper to rebuild than adapt.
How high should a rooflight upstand be?
High enough to meet the rooflight manufacturer's minimum above the finished roof surface — commonly 150 mm. On roofs with deep finishes, such as green roofs, it needs to be taller.
Does every rooflight need an upstand?
Flat and dome rooflights do. Pitched roof windows use flashing kits instead.
Why is my rooflight cold around the edge?
Usually an uninsulated upstand. Insulating the kerb and lining the reveal fixes most cold spots.
Do I need to be at home for the survey in Dorset?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
