If the room under your lantern overheats in summer or glares, the glass is usually the problem, not the frame. Send photos from Chatham (ME4) and we'll tell you which it is — with the price agreed in writing before any work.

What you might be seeing
- Glare on screens or worktops
- Furniture or flooring fading under the lantern
- Clear, uncoated glass in an older lantern
Why it happens
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.
Roof lanterns in Chatham
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.
Coastal wind drives rain hard against lanterns, so cappings and ridge seals on the seaward face take the most punishment.
Chatham is around 8 miles from Maidstone, and both are within our Kent coverage.
We also cover nearby Gillingham (1 mile), Rochester (1 mile), Strood (2 miles).
What should you expect to pay in Chatham?
Guide price for solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades: £345–£895 ex VAT (£414–£1,074 inc 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 Chatham: questions
Do you cover Chatham?
Yes. We cover Chatham, including the ME4 postcode area, as part of Kent. Send photos by WhatsApp or the form for a free guide price, and we'll confirm the fixed price in writing before any work starts.
How do I get a price for solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades in Chatham?
Send a few photos of the lantern and the problem, with your Chatham postcode. We'll reply with a guide price and tell you whether a visit is needed before we can fix the price.
How much does it cost to upgrade lantern glass?
Usually £345–£895 ex VAT per unit depending on size and specification, confirmed in writing before work starts.
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 Chatham
- Roof lantern resealing in Chatham
- Eaves beam and gutter repairs in Chatham
- Condensation diagnosis and fixes in Chatham
- Timber roof lantern repairs in Chatham
- Opening vent and actuator repairs in Chatham
- Leak investigation and inspection in Chatham
Solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades near Chatham
More about solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades · All roof lantern repairs in Chatham