Each glazing bar on a roof lantern has a top capping that clamps the glass onto gaskets. We carry out glazing bar and capping repairs across Edinburgh and the Lothians, with a guide price from your photos and a fixed price in writing before any work starts.
Signs you need glazing bar and capping repairs
- Gasket rubber poking out, cracked or missing
- Water running down one glazing bar inside
- End caps missing at the bottom of a bar
What usually causes it?
Gasket shrinkage
Rubber gaskets shrink back from the ends over time, leaving a gap at the ridge or eaves.
Damage
Ladders, window cleaning or someone stepping on a lantern can bend a capping or unclip it.
Roof lanterns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Freeze-thaw cycles open up tired sealant and gaskets faster than mild weather does. A spring check after a hard winter catches most problems before they leak.
In built-up areas, access is often the hardest part of the job — through the house, over a neighbour's roof, or with parking restrictions. We plan access in advance and price any tower or scaffold into the quote.
What should you expect to pay for glazing bar and capping repairs in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Typical range: £165–£395 ex VAT, which is £198–£474 with 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 Scotland?
In Scotland, like-for-like repairs to a roof lantern don't usually involve building control. A full replacement or a bigger opening is controlled under the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, so we set out the route in writing first. Listed buildings in Scotland need listed building consent from the planning authority for alterations, with Historic Environment Scotland guidance; check before changing a lantern on a listed property.
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 Edinburgh and the Lothians: questions
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.
Which towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians do you cover?
All of Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh, Bathgate, Dalkeith, Haddington. Rural and remote addresses are covered by arrangement.
How do I get a price for glazing bar and capping repairs in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Send a few photos of the lantern and the problem with your postcode, by WhatsApp or the form. We reply with a guide price and confirm the fixed price in writing before any work starts.
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More about glazing bar and capping repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Edinburgh and the Lothians