We carry out glazing bar and capping repairs in Christchurch and across the BH23 area. Each glazing bar on a roof lantern has a top capping that clamps the glass onto gaskets.
What you might be seeing
- A capping visibly higher than its neighbours
- Gasket rubber poking out, cracked or missing
- End caps missing at the bottom of a bar
Common causes we find
Gasket shrinkage
Rubber gaskets shrink back from the ends over time, leaving a gap at the ridge or eaves.
Fixings working loose
Screws and clips that hold the capping relax with thermal movement, so the clamp on the glass weakens.
Covering Christchurch and nearby
Even in drier areas, one heavy downpour with blocked eaves is enough to overflow a lantern indoors. Clearing the eaves channel is the simplest prevention there is.
Coastal wind drives rain hard against lanterns, so cappings and ridge seals on the seaward face take the most punishment.
Christchurch is around 4 miles from Bournemouth, and both are within our Dorset coverage.
We also cover nearby Bournemouth (4 miles), New Milton (5 miles), Poole (9 miles).
How much should it cost?
Most glazing bar and capping repairs jobs come in between £165 and £395 ex VAT (£198–£474 including VAT), per lantern. Towers or scaffold, where needed, are priced into the quote. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing before any work starts.
Do you need permission in England?
Straightforward repairs — resealing, gaskets, cappings, eaves and like-for-like parts — don't normally need building regulations approval in England. Replacing the whole lantern or enlarging the opening is different and falls under the Building Regulations 2010; we confirm in writing which route applies before any replacement. Listed buildings need listed building consent from the local council for alterations, and conservation areas can have extra controls; like-for-like repairs are treated differently from changes, so check with the council's conservation officer first.
How does it work?
- Send photosWhatsApp or upload a few photos and tell us when it leaks.
- Guide priceWe reply with a guide price and whether a visit is needed.
- Fixed price in writingYou approve the price and the date before anything starts.
- Repair and testWe fix what's failed, water-test where it matters, and send photos.
Glazing bar and capping repairs in Christchurch: questions
Do you need to visit to price glazing bar and capping repairs?
Not always. Clear photos are often enough for a guide price. Where the cause isn't obvious, a visit to inspect and water-test is charged from £145 ex VAT, confirmed before we come.
Can you repair a lantern someone else installed in Christchurch?
Yes. We repair lanterns whoever fitted them. If yours is still under the installer's warranty, contact them first so you don't affect it.
How much do capping and gasket repairs cost?
Usually £165–£395 ex VAT per lantern depending on how many bars are affected, confirmed in writing before work starts.
Can a capping just be clipped back on?
Sometimes, if nothing underneath has failed. We check the gaskets first, because clipping a capping over a perished gasket doesn't stop the leak.
Other lantern repairs in Christchurch
- Roof lantern resealing in Christchurch
- Eaves beam and gutter repairs in Christchurch
- Upstand and kerb repairs in Christchurch
- Flat roof junction and flashing repairs in Christchurch
- uPVC roof lantern repairs in Christchurch
- Orangery lantern repairs in Christchurch
Glazing bar and capping repairs near Christchurch
More about glazing bar and capping repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Christchurch