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 from Tunbridge Wells (TN1) and we'll tell you which it is — with the price agreed in writing before any work.

What you might be seeing
- Drips near the centre or top of the lantern
- A cracked or faded ridge end cap
- Staining along the hip bars inside
Why it happens
UV-damaged end caps
Plastic ridge end caps become brittle and crack, especially on south-facing lanterns.
Poor original sealing
Ridge details are fiddly. If the original sealing was rushed, it's often the first place to leak.
Covering Tunbridge Wells and nearby
Drier, sunnier parts of the UK are kinder to seals than the wet west, but strong sun ages sealant, gaskets and plastic end caps, and south- or west-facing lanterns can make rooms very warm. Solar control glass and an opening vent help.
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 Tunbridge Wells as part of Kent, about 14 miles from Maidstone.
We also cover nearby Tonbridge (4 miles), Crowborough (7 miles), Sevenoaks (10 miles).
Guide prices for ridge and hip repairs in Tunbridge Wells
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 Tunbridge Wells: 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 Tunbridge Wells?
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 Tunbridge Wells
- Misted glass unit replacement in Tunbridge Wells
- Cracked lantern glass replacement in Tunbridge Wells
- Timber roof lantern repairs in Tunbridge Wells
- Opening vent and actuator repairs in Tunbridge Wells
- Cleaning and maintenance in Tunbridge Wells
- Orangery lantern repairs in Tunbridge Wells
Ridge and hip repairs near Tunbridge Wells
More about ridge and hip repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Tunbridge Wells