What are sliding rooflights?
Our sliding rooflights service in Durham covers box rooflights whose glass lid slides back for walk-out roof access. We survey every job before fixing the price.
North East terraces and colliery-town housing often have rear offshoots where a rooflight brightens a narrow kitchen. Stone villages inland in the North East can have conservation areas where low-profile rooflights are preferred.
Towns in Durham
Options we can specify
- Box (glazed sides) or flat sliding lid
- Rain sensor
- Double or triple glazing
- Integrated balustrade on some ranges
- Anthracite, black or RAL frames
- Full-width, walk-out access to a roof terrace
- Daylight down the stair when closed
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. 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. 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
Prices below are shown including and excluding VAT. In Durham, as elsewhere, making good inside and access equipment are the main variables.
| Option | Guide price inc VAT | Ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Large box slider with electric drive | £11,995 – £20,395 | £9,995 – £16,995 |
| Standard box slider Typical | £8,995 – £13,195 | £7,495 – £10,995 |
| Flat sliding lid | £7,195 – £9,595 | £5,995 – £7,995 |
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.
Sliding rooflights in nearby areas
Common questions
Can children open it?
Controls can be key-switched or placed out of reach. We will set the controls up to suit the household.
Does it need planning permission?
A box unit that projects above the roof plane can need planning permission, especially on the front of a house or in a conservation area. We check before you order.
Is it lockable?
Yes. Units lock from inside and the drive holds the lid closed.
Is a sliding rooflight better than an access hatch?
For daily use, usually yes — you walk out under open sky instead of climbing through a hinged hatch. A hatch costs less and suits occasional access.
Will I need planning permission in Durham?
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.
