What do sun tunnels & tubular skylights involve?
Sun tunnels & tubular skylights in Kent means light pipes that bring daylight to halls and bathrooms with no window. Every quote follows a survey of the roof and the room below.
Period cottages and conservation-area streets are common in the South East, so slim conservation rooflights are often the right choice. Orangery-style extensions with lanterns are popular across the South East, and solar-control glass makes a big difference on south-facing gardens.
Towns in Kent
Specification options in Kent
- Ventilation adaptor
- Pitched or flat-roof flashings
- Rigid (brighter) or flexible tubes
- Insulated tube sections
- Diffusers in several sizes
- Works on pitched and flat roofs
- Small ceiling opening, quick fit
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.
Sun tunnels & tubular skylights prices in Kent
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 rigid tunnel, long run | £1,675 – £2,275 | £1,395 – £1,895 |
| Standard rigid tunnel Typical | £1,315 – £1,795 | £1,095 – £1,495 |
| Compact flexible tunnel | £1,075 – £1,435 | £895 – £1,195 |
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.
Sun tunnels in nearby areas
Common questions
Do sun tunnels need planning permission?
Usually not on a house, provided the dome does not project too far and the property is not listed. Check if you live in a conservation area or a flat.
Can it work at night?
Some models include a light fitting in the diffuser.
Will it get condensation?
Insulating the tube where it passes through a cold loft prevents most condensation.
How much light does a sun tunnel give?
A good rigid tunnel on a bright day lights a hallway well. Output depends on tube diameter, length and the number of bends.
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.
