In Broadstairs, 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.

Signs you need ridge and hip repairs
- Drips near the centre or top of the lantern
- Sealant around the ridge cap split or missing
- Staining along the hip bars inside
What usually causes it?
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.
About Broadstairs and the CT10 area
Sun and UV do more damage than rain on many lanterns here: brittle ridge caps, chalky finishes and hardened gaskets. They're cheap to replace before they let water in.
Near the coast, salt in the air is hard on aluminium finishes and fixings; washing the frame occasionally and touching in chips keeps corrosion away.
We cover Broadstairs as part of Kent, about 40 miles from Maidstone.
We also cover nearby Ramsgate (2 miles), Margate (3 miles), Deal (9 miles).
Guide prices for ridge and hip repairs in Broadstairs
Guide price for ridge and hip repairs: £195–£445 ex VAT (£234–£534 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 England?
Most lantern repairs in England need no approval at all. Where a job turns into a replacement, the Building Regulations 2010 apply and we confirm how the work will be signed off before we start. 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.
Ridge and hip repairs in Broadstairs: 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 Broadstairs?
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.
My ridge cap is a different colour from the frame — does that matter?
Faded or chalky caps are a sign of UV damage. Colour alone isn't a leak, but brittle caps crack, so we check them.
Other lantern repairs in Broadstairs
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- Leak investigation and inspection in Broadstairs
- Roof lantern replacement in Broadstairs
Ridge and hip repairs near Broadstairs
More about ridge and hip repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Broadstairs