How Much Does a Conservation Rooflight Cost? Prices and Budgeting
What a conservation rooflight actually costs once the unit, the opener, the flashings, the fitting and the consent are added up. Prices are taken from manufacturers’ and stockists’ published figures in October 2026 and will change; treat them as a guide for budgeting, not a quotation.
In summary
In October 2026, a standard-size steel conservation rooflight costs roughly £540 to £980 plus VAT for the unit alone, and from around £1,000 plus VAT with a flashing kit and hand winder. Electric opening, escape units, linked units and bespoke sizes cost more. On top of the unit, budget for the roofer, the leadwork, internal making good and, on a listed building, the consent drawings. Original cast iron rooflights from salvage yards start at around £100 each, but usually need restoration.
On this page
What the unit costs
Clement publishes an indicative size and price list for its steel conservation rooflight, with separate slate and tile versions. The figures below are its published prices, excluding VAT and delivery, as shown in October 2026 (Clement size and price guide).
| Size | Overall size (mm) | Slate version | Tile version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clement 0 | 590 × 752 | £543 | £564 |
| Clement 1 | 668 × 870 | £582 | £607 |
| Clement 2 | 668 × 1021 | £654 | £679 |
| Clement 3 | 818 × 1169 | £713 | £740 |
| Clement 4 | 972 × 1169 | £791 | £823 |
| Clement 6 | 818 × 1804 | £888 | £929 |
| Clement 5 | 1124 × 1501 | £931 | £975 |
| Side-hung escape | 960 × 1270 | £832 | £861 |
Prices are excluding VAT and delivery, exclude the winder, and are described by the maker as indicative. Final prices depend on volume, extras and location.
The Rooflight Co. sells through stockists. In October 2026 one builders’ merchant listed The Original Conservation Rooflight with an on-the-rafter flashing kit and hand winder from £994.68, with a pole winder and opening pole from £1,229.35, and electrically operated from £1,980.30 (Sterlingbuild). Those are starting prices for the smallest size, and the stockist shows them alongside higher VAT-inclusive figures.
The two lists are not like for like: one is for the rooflight alone, the other includes the flashing kit and an opener. Compare complete packages when you get quotes.
Openers and accessories
- Hand winders in brass or chrome for rooflights within reach: Clement lists them at £30 to £38 plus VAT depending on finish and length.
- Pole winders and cranks for high-level rooflights: Clement lists pole winders at £25 to £37, and cranks at £48 (1m) or £69 (3m telescopic), all plus VAT.
- Electric actuators with rain sensors add substantially to the cost: on the stockist prices above, the electric version of the smallest Rooflight Co. unit starts at about £985 more than the hand-winder version, before the electrician. See fixed or opening rooflights.
- Blinds add cost and are easiest to order with the rooflight.
Replacement winders and openers for existing rooflights are also available from our rooflight and window openers range.
What else to budget for
The rooflight itself is only part of the installed cost. Allow for:
- Fitting. A roofer to strip the covering, trim the opening, fit the frame and relay the slates or tiles around it.
- Leadwork. Soakers, apron and head flashing, either from a kit or formed on site. Pantile and stone roofs take more time.
- Carpentry. Trimmers where rafters are cut, and the internal light well.
- Making good. Plaster, decoration and any insulation to the light well.
- Access. Scaffold or a tower, which is why combining rooflights with other roof works saves money. See planning one scaffold.
- Consent. Drawings, a heritage statement and the application. There is no fee for listed building consent in England, but professional fees apply.
- Delivery. Usually charged on top of the list price.
Labour rates vary widely by region, access and roof covering, so get at least two quotes from roofers who have fitted conservation rooflights before.
What pushes the price up
- Bespoke sizes to fit an existing opening or rafter bay.
- Linked units set side by side with linking bars.
- Escape rooflights where they are needed for fire escape.
- Electric opening, especially with rain sensors and controls.
- Special glazing, such as laminated inner panes, solar control or acoustic glass.
- Special finishes, such as colours other than the standard black.
- Difficult roofs: pantile, stone slate and metal roofs need more labour.
VAT on rooflights in listed buildings and conversions
Alterations to listed buildings no longer qualify for zero-rating: the relief for approved alterations was withdrawn in 2012, so rooflights on a listed house are normally standard-rated. Some conversions of non-residential buildings into homes, such as many barn conversions, can qualify for a reduced rate on building work and materials supplied by a VAT-registered builder. The rules are detailed, so check with HMRC guidance or an accountant before relying on a lower rate.
How to compare quotes
- Compare the same size, measured the same way. Makers quote overall, internal rafter or clear viewable sizes. See ordering and sizes.
- Check what is included: flashing kit, winder, liner, delivery.
- Compare whole-unit U-values, not glass-only figures. See U-values and g-values explained.
- Ask about the frame material, the coating and the warranty.
- Confirm the lead time, which the maker gives at quotation.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting for the rooflight but not the leadwork, carpentry and making good.
- Comparing a unit-only price with a package price.
- Buying the cheapest unit and then failing consent because it does not meet the officer’s specification.
- Ordering before consent is granted, then having to change the size.
- Paying for scaffold twice by doing rooflights and gutters as separate jobs.
Where to go next
For consent, see the permissions guide. For choosing between products, see choosing a heritage rooflight. Or return to the Conservation Rooflight Guide.
Speak to the manufacturers directly
The Rooflight Co. — Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire. Makers of The Original Conservation Rooflight, the Conservation Egress side-hung escape unit and the Conservation Plateau for flat roofs. Tel 01993 833155 · hello@therooflightco.com · therooflightco.com · Index listing
Clement Windows Group — Haslemere, Surrey. Makers of the Clement Conservation Rooflight in separate slate and tile profiles, with a published size and price list and a showroom in Haslemere. Tel 01428 643 393 · info@clementwg.co.uk · clementwindows.co.uk · Index listing
Enquiries go straight to the manufacturer. Tuscan Foundry is not a rooflight supplier and receives no commission; we feature these two because their conservation ranges are made for exactly the buildings this guide covers.
Tuscan Foundry supplies cast iron gutters, downpipes and hopper heads to BS 460 for listed and traditional buildings, with an in-house linseed oil paint finish. Damp that is blamed on a rooflight is often a blocked or overflowing gutter soaking the wall below, so the same inspection should take in the rainwater goods. If the roof is scaffolded, it is the cheapest moment to repair or replace them; stock items dispatch promptly and bespoke castings take around 12–14 weeks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a conservation rooflight cost?
In October 2026, a standard steel conservation rooflight cost roughly £540 to £980 plus VAT for the unit alone, depending on size and roof type, and from around £1,000 plus VAT with a flashing kit and hand winder. Electric, escape and bespoke units cost more.
How much does it cost to fit a conservation rooflight?
It depends on the roof covering, access, region and how much carpentry is needed, and the fitting, leadwork and making good can add significantly to the price of the unit. Get at least two quotes from roofers who have fitted conservation rooflights before.
Why are conservation rooflights more expensive than standard roof windows?
They are made in steel to slim, flush profiles, often with a genuine glazing bar, and in smaller production runs than mass-market roof windows.
Is VAT charged on rooflights in a listed building?
Normally yes, at the standard rate. Zero-rating for approved alterations to listed buildings ended in 2012. Some conversions to residential use may qualify for a reduced rate; check HMRC guidance.
Is a bespoke conservation rooflight much more expensive?
Usually more than a standard size, but it can save on carpentry by fitting the existing rafter bay, and it can make consent easier. Ask the maker for a quote with your dimensions.
Are reclaimed cast iron rooflights cheaper?
To buy, often yes: salvage yards sell originals from around £100. Most need restoration, new glass and new leadwork, so the installed cost can be similar. See original cast iron rooflights.