In Thurso, as everywhere, each glazing bar on a roof lantern has a top capping that clamps the glass onto gaskets. Send photos and we'll tell you what we think has failed.
Is it time for glazing bar and capping repairs?
- A capping visibly higher than its neighbours
- Water running down one glazing bar inside
- 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.
About Thurso and the KW14 area
Wind-driven rain is the real test of a roof lantern, and the wetter west sees plenty of it. Leaks that appear only in a storm from one direction usually point to the cappings or eaves on that face — a useful clue when you send us photos.
Coastal wind drives rain hard against lanterns, so cappings and ridge seals on the seaward face take the most punishment.
Neighbouring places we cover include Wick (19 miles), Kirkwall (34 miles).
How much should it cost?
Guide price for glazing bar and capping repairs: £165–£395 ex VAT (£198–£474 inc 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?
Straightforward repairs — resealing, gaskets, cappings, eaves and like-for-like parts — don't normally need building regulations approval in Scotland. Replacing the whole lantern or enlarging the opening is different and falls under the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004; we confirm in writing which route applies before any replacement. 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 Thurso: 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 Thurso?
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 Thurso
- Misted glass unit replacement in Thurso
- Cracked lantern glass replacement in Thurso
- Slipped glass panel repairs in Thurso
- Aluminium roof lantern repairs in Thurso
- Roof lantern respraying in Thurso
- Leak investigation and inspection in Thurso
Glazing bar and capping repairs near Thurso
More about glazing bar and capping repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Thurso