Sun tunnels & tubular skylights in the Scottish Borders: the essentials
Our sun tunnels & tubular skylights service in the Scottish Borders covers light pipes that bring daylight to halls and bathrooms with no window. We survey every job before fixing the price.
Scottish weather is hard on roofs, so we specify rooflights and roof windows with exposure in mind and fit upstands with generous heights. Stone villas, cottages and conservation areas across Scotland often call for conservation rooflights in slate roofs.
Towns in the Scottish Borders
Options we can specify
- Integrated electric light
- Insulated tube sections
- Rigid (brighter) or flexible tubes
- Ventilation adaptor
- Diffusers in several sizes
- Small ceiling opening, quick fit
- Works on pitched and flat roofs
Planning and building rules in Scotland
Scottish householder permitted development (Class 2B, other external alterations) can cover a rooflight that projects no more than 1 metre from the roof, but the right does not apply in conservation areas. Flats and tenements are outside householder permitted development, so check with the planning authority first.
Scotland's Technical Handbook (section 6) asks for windows, doors and rooflights in an extension to average 1.4–1.6 W/m²K, with no single unit worse than 3.3 W/m²K. Replacing a rooflight, frame included, does not need a building warrant, but the work must still meet the building standards.
What do sun tunnels & tubular skylights cost in the Scottish Borders?
The ranges below are typical for straightforward jobs; your fixed price follows a survey of your roof.
| 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
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.
Can it go through a flat roof?
Yes, with a flat-roof flashing and upstand.
Will I need planning permission in the Scottish Borders?
In Scotland most rooflights on houses fall under Class 2B permitted development; in a conservation area, or on a listed building, consent is needed.
