What are rooflight upstands & kerbs?
Our rooflight upstands & kerbs service in Durham covers insulated kerbs built and waterproofed to suit your rooflight. We survey every job before fixing the price.
Stone villages inland in the North East can have conservation areas where low-profile rooflights are preferred. Older flat-roofed extensions in the North East are often due a new roof covering — the right time to upgrade the rooflight too.
Towns in Durham
Options we can specify
- Upstands to suit single-ply, felt, GRP or liquid roofs
- Timber upstands with insulation
- Raised upstands for deep green or ballasted roofs
- Upstand repairs and rebuilds
- Internal plaster-box linings
- Matched to your roof covering
- Correct height above the finished roof
Planning and building rules in England
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. 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.
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. 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.
Rooflight upstands & kerbs prices in Durham
Guide prices for rooflight upstands & kerbs in Durham 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 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
Why is my rooflight cold around the edge?
Usually an uninsulated upstand. Insulating the kerb and lining the reveal fixes most cold spots.
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.
What roof coverings do you work with?
Single-ply, EPDM, felt, GRP and liquid-applied systems — or we coordinate with your roofer.
Does every rooflight need an upstand?
Flat and dome rooflights do. Pitched roof windows use flashing kits instead.
Do I need to be at home for the survey in Durham?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
