What do sliding rooflights involve?
Across Kent, our sliding rooflights work covers box rooflights whose glass lid slides back for walk-out roof access. Survey first, fixed price second, fitting third.
Period cottages and conservation-area streets are common in the South East, so slim conservation rooflights are often the right choice. Many South East homes have been extended more than once, and an old dome over an earlier extension is often due for replacement.
Towns in Kent
What you can choose
- Integrated balustrade on some ranges
- Double or triple glazing
- Box (glazed sides) or flat sliding lid
- Electric drive with safety edge
- Anthracite, black or RAL frames
- Lockable from inside
- Replaces a dormer or stair enclosure on some roofs
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.
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. The Future Homes and Buildings Standards, published in March 2026, apply from 24 March 2027 and keep the 2.2 W/m²K limit for rooflights.
Guide prices
Prices below are shown including and excluding VAT. In Kent, 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
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.
Can children open it?
Controls can be key-switched or placed out of reach. We will set the controls up to suit the household.
What if it is raining?
Fitted with a rain sensor, an electric unit closes automatically. Most also have a manual override for power cuts.
How heavy is it?
Box sliders weigh hundreds of kilograms, so delivery may need a crane or lifting gear, and the structure must be checked.
Do I need to be at home for the survey in Kent?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
