What do rooflight upstands & kerbs involve?
Across Northumberland, our rooflight upstands & kerbs work covers insulated kerbs built and waterproofed to suit your rooflight. Survey first, fixed price second, fitting third.
North East terraces and colliery-town housing often have rear offshoots where a rooflight brightens a narrow kitchen. Many North East homes have loft rooms that benefit from larger roof windows with blackout blinds.
Towns in Northumberland
Options we can specify
- Timber upstands with insulation
- Proprietary insulated kerbs
- Internal plaster-box linings
- Raised upstands for deep green or ballasted roofs
- Upstand repairs and rebuilds
- Correct height above the finished roof
- Insulated to avoid a cold bridge
Planning and building rules in England
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.
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.
Guide prices
Guide prices for rooflight upstands & kerbs in Northumberland 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
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.
Can an old upstand be reused?
If it is sound, square, insulated and the right size. Often it is cheaper to rebuild than adapt.
Why is my rooflight cold around the edge?
Usually an uninsulated upstand. Insulating the kerb and lining the reveal fixes most cold spots.
Can I build the upstand myself?
Your builder can, to our drawing. We check it before the rooflight is fitted, because the unit must sit square and level.
Do you offer rooflight upstands & kerbs across Northumberland?
Yes. We carry out rooflight upstands & kerbs across Northumberland, including Blyth, Cramlington, Ashington.
