We carry out solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades in Braintree and across the CM7 area. If the room under your lantern overheats in summer or glares, the glass is usually the problem, not the frame.

Signs you need solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades
- Glare on screens or worktops
- Furniture or flooring fading under the lantern
- Clear, uncoated glass in an older lantern
Common causes we find
Orientation
South- and west-facing lanterns gain the most heat in the afternoon.
No ventilation
A lantern without opening vents traps warm air at ceiling level.
Covering Braintree and nearby
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.
Braintree is around 10 miles from Chelmsford, and both are within our Essex coverage.
If you're just outside Braintree, we also cover Witham (7 miles), Chelmsford (10 miles), Maldon (11 miles).
How much should it cost?
Typical range: £345–£895 ex VAT, which is £414–£1,074 with VAT, per glass unit. 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?
In England, like-for-like repairs to a roof lantern don't usually involve building control. A full replacement or a bigger opening is controlled under the Building Regulations 2010, so we set out the route in writing first. 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.
Solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades in Braintree: questions
How do I get a price for solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades in Braintree?
Send a few photos of the lantern and the problem, with your Braintree postcode. We'll reply with a guide price and tell you whether a visit is needed before we can fix the price.
Do you need to visit to price solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades?
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 add a film instead?
Films are cheaper but can affect the unit's warranty and may not suit sloped double glazing. We'd rather replace the unit properly.
Does self-cleaning glass mean no cleaning?
It reduces cleaning on the outer face but still needs rain and occasional rinsing, and the inside still needs cleaning.
Other lantern repairs in Braintree
- Roof lantern resealing in Braintree
- Ridge and hip repairs in Braintree
- Eaves beam and gutter repairs in Braintree
- Condensation diagnosis and fixes in Braintree
- Aluminium roof lantern repairs in Braintree
- uPVC roof lantern repairs in Braintree
Solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades near Braintree
More about solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades · All roof lantern repairs in Braintree