We supply and fit skylight windows in Merton Park, from pitched roof windows to flat roof lights and lantern roofs. This page is for homeowners who want more daylight in a loft, kitchen, landing or extension. You will learn which skylight suits your roof, how we keep it watertight, what drives the cost and how to get a fixed quote.
Every skylight we fit is sized to your roof and backed by a 10-year guarantee. For the full range, see our main skylights page. To see all our services in the district, go back to our Merton Park glazing page.
Skylights in Merton Park homes
Many homes here are Edwardian houses of the John Innes estate, Victorian villas and interwar semis. Roof shape and pitch vary a lot across that housing, so we check each roof on the survey before we suggest a skylight.
- Planning: The John Innes Merton Park conservation area has Article 4 directions, so changes to windows and doors facing the street need planning permission. Original casement and leaded designs are expected to be kept.
Roof work needs safe access, so we plan ladders, towers or scaffold with you before the fitting date.
Types of skylight we fit
The right skylight depends on your roof and the room below. These are the main types we fit.
- Pitched roof windows sit in the slope of a tiled or slate roof. They suit loft rooms and top-floor landings. Centre-pivot windows turn so you can clean the outside from inside. Top-hung windows open wider and can serve as a fire escape.
- Flat roof lights sit on an upstand on a flat roof. Fixed units let in light. Opening units add fresh air, and some open with a remote or a rain sensor.
- Lantern roofs rise above a flat roof like a small glass roof. They suit kitchens and extensions and bring in light from every side.
- Walk-on roof lights are strong enough to stand on. They suit roof terraces and paths above a basement.
Choosing a skylight for your roof
Start with the pitch of the roof. Most roof windows work from about 15 to 90 degrees. Below that, you will need a flat roof light on an upstand. Next, look at the room. A loft bedroom needs a window that opens wide for a safe exit. A kitchen may need a vent to let out steam.
Think about which way the roof faces. A south-facing skylight brings in lots of sun, so solar control glass or a blind helps keep the room cool. A north-facing one gives soft, even light all day and suits a study or studio.
Frames come in timber, aluminium and uPVC. uPVC and aluminium need very little care. Timber needs a coat of varnish now and then on the inside.
In Merton Park, loft rooms and rear extensions are the most common places for a skylight. On a loft, two smaller roof windows often light a room more evenly than one large one. On a single-storey extension, a lantern or a long flat roof light over the kitchen works well. We sketch the layout with you on the survey, so you can see where the light will fall.
Glass and energy performance
Roof glazing loses more heat than a wall window because warm air rises. That makes the glass spec more important. Our standard skylight unit has a low-E coating, argon gas and a warm-edge spacer.
- Triple glazing suits loft bedrooms and cold rooms. It keeps more heat in and cuts rain noise.
- Laminated inner glass holds together if the glass breaks. It is needed overhead in most cases.
- Solar control glass reflects some of the sun's heat, so rooms stay cooler in summer.
- Self-cleaning outer glass breaks down dirt so rain can wash it off.
Building Regulations Part L sets a U-value limit for new roof windows and roof lights. The limit for a roof window is 1.6 W/m²K, and the glazing we fit meets it.
How we fit a skylight and keep it watertight
A skylight is only as good as its seal. We fit each one in a set order, so the roof stays dry and the room stays warm.
- We mark out the opening and check the rafters or joists.
- We cut the opening and add trimmers to carry the load around it.
- We fit the frame on a support collar or upstand.
- We lay an underlay collar to guide water away.
- We fit the flashing kit, matched to your tiles, slates or flat roof.
- We insulate around the frame to stop cold spots and condensation.
- We line and finish the inside, ready for decorating.
Most pitched roof windows take one day. Lanterns and larger roof lights can take two or three days, as the upstand and roof need work first.
Planning permission and Building Regulations
Most roof windows count as permitted development. They must not stick out more than 150 mm above the roof, and they must not be higher than the ridge. Windows on a side roof facing a neighbour may need obscure glass and a high sill.
You may need consent if your home is listed or sits in a conservation area. A skylight on the front roof is the most likely to need it. We check this on the survey.
New skylights do need Building Regulations approval, as we are cutting into the roof. We arrange this with Merton Council building control where needed, so the work is signed off and recorded.
What drives the cost
We do not list fixed prices here. The cost of a skylight depends on a few clear things:
- The size and type, as lanterns cost more than a single roof window.
- The glass spec, such as triple, solar control or self-cleaning glass.
- Whether the window opens, and if it is electric.
- The roof covering, as slate and clay tile take more time than concrete tile.
- Structural work, such as new trimmers or a new upstand.
- Access, such as scaffold on a tall or steep roof.
- Inside finishing, such as plastering and lining the shaft.
After a free survey, you get a written, fixed quote that lists each part of the job. The survey, quote and fitting steps are set out on our how we work page. Ask for your free quote and we will book a visit in Merton Park.
Care and upkeep
Skylights need little care, but a few simple checks help them last.
- Clean the glass two or three times a year. Use a long-handled brush on flat roof lights.
- Clear leaves from around the flashing so water can drain away.
- Wash or change the vent filter once a year.
- Check seals and blinds now and then, and call us if water marks appear.
We have fitted roof glazing for many years, here and across Merton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can skylights go on listed or older buildings?
Often, yes, but you will need listed building consent first. Conservation roof windows are made for this. They sit low in the roof, have slim dark frames and a central glazing bar, so they look like old cast iron roof lights. We can supply product details and drawings to support your application, and we check the local rules on the survey.
Do skylights affect home insurance?
A skylight fitted by a registered installer and signed off under Building Regulations should not cause problems. Keep the sign-off papers and the guarantee, as your insurer may ask for them. If a skylight leaks because it was badly fitted, a claim may be harder. That is why the flashing, underlay and sign-off matter so much.
Will a skylight make the room noisy when it rains?
Rain on glass makes more noise than rain on tiles. Laminated inner glass and triple glazing both cut that noise. A well-fitted frame with good insulation around it helps too. For a bedroom, we often suggest triple glazing or an acoustic unit. A fitted blind also softens the sound a little.
Can a skylight sit near solar panels?
Yes, with good planning. Skylights and solar panels both need space on the roof, and panels need clear access for fixings. We look at your roof layout on the survey and place the skylight so it does not clash with existing or planned panels. Tell us if you plan to add panels later.
How long does a skylight take to fit?
A single pitched roof window takes about one day, including the inside finish. A flat roof light takes one to two days. Lantern roofs can take two or three days because the upstand and roof deck need work first. We keep the roof covered at the end of each day, so your home stays dry.