Velux & Roof Windows: What's Involved, How Long, What It Costs
By Leonard Walton, owner & lead roofer3 min read
A roof window transforms a loft, a landing or a dark room — but the difference between one that's a joy and one that drips down the wall is all in how it's fitted. A Velux or roof window is set into the roof structure, then flashed and tiled in so it's completely watertight — and because that weatherproofing is roofing work, it's best done by roofers. Here's what's involved and what shapes the job.
What the job actually involves
- Forming the opening in the roof structure to the right size.
- Fitting the window securely and squarely into the roof.
- Flashing it in with the correct kit for your roof covering — the part that makes it watertight.
- Re-tiling around it so the covering integrates cleanly with the new window.
- Internal finishing to the level you want — from roofed-in and watertight, to a more finished result.
The window itself is the easy bit. The skill — and where cheap installs go wrong — is the flashing and tiling that seal it into the roof.
Why roofers, not general fitters
The weatherproofing around a roof window is exactly the kind of detailing we do every day on repairs and re-roofs: getting the flashing right, dressing it into the tiles, making sure water runs over the joint and not into it. A window fitted by someone who doesn't live in that detail is a window that can leak. Fitted by roofers, the seal into the roof is in the right hands.
How long it takes
A single, straightforward roof window is often a day's work. Several windows, tricky access, or more involved internal finishing take longer — but you'll get a clear timescale up front rather than an open-ended job. As with everything we do, the quote is fixed and in writing.
What shapes the cost
The main things that move the price are how many windows, the size and type, your roof covering (some flashings and tile details are more involved than others), access, and how much internal finishing you want. Because those vary so much house to house, we survey first and quote it properly — free and with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to fit a Velux window?
A straightforward single roof window is often a day's work. More involved jobs — several windows, or awkward access and internal finishing — take longer, and we'll give you a clear timescale with the quote.
Should a roofer or a joiner fit a roof window?
The weatherproofing around the window is roofing work — flashing, tiles and making it watertight. We fit them as roofers, so the seal into the roof is done by people who do that every day.
Do you make good the plaster inside?
The scope can be tailored to what you want — from a watertight, roofed-in window ready for your own decorator, through to a more finished job. Tell us what you need and we'll quote it that way.
Will a roof window leak?
Not when it's flashed and tiled in correctly with the right kit for your roof covering. Leaks around roof windows almost always come down to poor weatherproofing, which is exactly the part we specialise in.
Thinking about a roof window? We fit Velux and skylights — weatherproofed by roofers — across Hull, Beverley, Hessle and the East Riding, with the scope tailored to what you need. Free quotes. Call 07447 352091.