We carry out timber roof lantern repairs in Edinburgh and across the EH1 area. Timber roof lanterns are beautiful and repairable, but they need sound paint, sound beads and dry timber.
Signs you need timber roof lantern repairs
- Dark staining or black lines along joints
- Putty or beads cracking and lifting
- Leaks at bar joints
Why it happens
Paint failure
Once the paint film breaks, water gets into the end grain and joints.
Water trapped by beads
Glazing beads and putty can trap water against the timber if their seals fail.
Covering Edinburgh and nearby
Snow and ice sitting at the eaves can block a lantern's drainage and push water back under the glass as it melts. If your lantern leaks after a thaw rather than after rain, tell us — it points to the eaves and kerb.
In built-up areas, access is often the hardest part of the job — through the house, over a neighbour's roof, or with parking restrictions. We plan access in advance and price any tower or scaffold into the quote.
Close by, we also cover Musselburgh (6 miles), Dalkeith (6 miles), Penicuik (8 miles).
How much should it cost?
Typical range: £395–£1,995 ex VAT, which is £474–£2,394 with 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 Scotland?
Most lantern repairs in Scotland need no approval at all. Where a job turns into a replacement, the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 apply and we confirm how the work will be signed off before we start. Listed buildings in Scotland need listed building consent from the planning authority for alterations, with Historic Environment Scotland guidance; check before changing a lantern on a listed property.
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.
Timber roof lantern repairs in Edinburgh: questions
Do you cover Edinburgh?
Yes. We cover Edinburgh, including the EH1 postcode area, as part of Edinburgh and the Lothians. 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.
Can you repair a lantern someone else installed in Edinburgh?
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.
Do you work on listed buildings?
Yes. Listed building consent may be needed for changes; like-for-like repair is generally treated differently from alteration, but check with your council's conservation officer before work.
How often does a timber lantern need painting?
It depends on exposure and paint system; many need redecorating every five to eight years.
Other lantern repairs in Edinburgh
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- Leak investigation and inspection in Edinburgh
- Urgent leak make-safe in Edinburgh
- Roof lantern replacement in Edinburgh
- Commercial roof lantern repairs in Edinburgh
Timber roof lantern repairs near Edinburgh
More about timber roof lantern repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Edinburgh