In Tunbridge Wells, as everywhere, a roof lantern leak is almost always a failed seal, a lifted capping, blocked eaves drainage or a problem where the kerb meets the flat roof — not a failed lantern. Send photos and we'll tell you what we think has failed.
What you might be seeing
- Brown staining or bubbling paint on the plasterboard lining around the lantern
- Water running down the inside face of the glass
- Damp patches on the ceiling a short distance from the lantern
Common causes we find
Blocked eaves drainage
Most lanterns collect water in a channel inside the eaves beam and let it out through weep slots. Leaves, moss and grit block the slots and the channel overflows indoors.
The kerb or roof junction
If the flat roof membrane isn't dressed high enough up the kerb, or the kerb has no fall, water sits against the joint and finds its way in under the lantern.
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.
Tunbridge Wells is around 14 miles from Maidstone, and both are within our Kent coverage.
If you're just outside Tunbridge Wells, we also cover Tonbridge (4 miles), Crowborough (7 miles), Sevenoaks (10 miles).
What should you expect to pay in Tunbridge Wells?
Most roof lantern leak repairs jobs come in between £195 and £595 ex VAT (£234–£714 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 England?
Straightforward repairs — resealing, gaskets, cappings, eaves and like-for-like parts — don't normally need building regulations approval in England. Replacing the whole lantern or enlarging the opening is different and falls under the Building Regulations 2010; we confirm in writing which route applies before any replacement. 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.
Roof lantern leak repairs in Tunbridge Wells: questions
Do you need to visit to price roof lantern leak 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.
Which places near Tunbridge Wells do you cover?
As well as Tunbridge Wells, we cover nearby Tonbridge, Crowborough, Sevenoaks, East Grinstead and the rest of Kent.
Can you fix the leak in the rain?
We can make the lantern safe in wet weather, but sealants and tapes need a dry, clean surface to bond, so permanent repairs are done in a dry window.
Will you show me what was wrong?
Yes. We photograph the failed detail and the finished repair and send them to you with the invoice.
Other lantern repairs in Tunbridge Wells
- Glazing bar and capping repairs in Tunbridge Wells
- Eaves beam and gutter repairs in Tunbridge Wells
- Upstand and kerb repairs in Tunbridge Wells
- Misted glass unit replacement in Tunbridge Wells
- uPVC roof lantern repairs in Tunbridge Wells
- Orangery lantern repairs in Tunbridge Wells
Roof lantern leak repairs near Tunbridge Wells
More about roof lantern leak repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Tunbridge Wells