In Belfast, as everywhere, the ridge is where the hip bars and glazing bars meet at the top of a lantern, usually under a moulded or pressed end cap. Send photos and we'll tell you what we think has failed.

Is it time for ridge and hip repairs?
- A cracked or faded ridge end cap
- Sealant around the ridge cap split or missing
- Staining along the hip bars inside
Common causes we find
UV-damaged end caps
Plastic ridge end caps become brittle and crack, especially on south-facing lanterns.
Movement at the junction
Several bars meet at one point and each moves slightly with temperature; the seals at the ridge take the strain.
Roof lanterns in Belfast
Western and upland parts of the UK get more rain and more wind-driven rain than the east, and that's what finds weak cappings and blocked eaves first. Lanterns here benefit from a check of the bars on the most exposed face and a clear eaves channel before winter.
Coastal wind drives rain hard against lanterns, so cappings and ridge seals on the seaward face take the most punishment.
We also cover nearby Newtownabbey (4 miles), Holywood (5 miles), Lisburn (7 miles).
Guide prices for ridge and hip repairs in Belfast
Most ridge and hip repairs jobs come in between £195 and £445 ex VAT (£234–£534 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 Northern Ireland?
Straightforward repairs — resealing, gaskets, cappings, eaves and like-for-like parts — don't normally need building regulations approval in Northern Ireland. Replacing the whole lantern or enlarging the opening is different and falls under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012; we confirm in writing which route applies before any replacement. Listed buildings in Northern Ireland need listed building consent from the council for alterations; check with the council's planning service 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.
Ridge and hip repairs in Belfast: questions
Do you need to visit to price ridge and hip 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 Belfast?
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.
What does a ridge repair cost?
Usually £195–£445 ex VAT for a standard lantern, confirmed in writing before work starts.
Can you replace just the ridge cap?
Yes, if a compatible cap is available and the seals underneath are sound.
Other lantern repairs in Belfast
- Glazing bar and capping repairs in Belfast
- Upstand and kerb repairs in Belfast
- Slipped glass panel repairs in Belfast
- Condensation diagnosis and fixes in Belfast
- Timber roof lantern repairs in Belfast
- Commercial roof lantern repairs in Belfast
Ridge and hip repairs near Belfast
More about ridge and hip repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Belfast