Timber roof lanterns are beautiful and repairable, but they need sound paint, sound beads and dry timber. Send photos from Horsham (RH12) and we'll tell you which it is — with the price agreed in writing before any work.
What you might be seeing
- Soft timber when pressed
- Dark staining or black lines along joints
- Leaks at bar joints
What usually causes it?
Water trapped by beads
Glazing beads and putty can trap water against the timber if their seals fail.
No maintenance
Timber needs redecorating on a cycle; skipped cycles turn small repairs into big ones.
Covering Horsham and nearby
Even in drier areas, one heavy downpour with blocked eaves is enough to overflow a lantern indoors. Clearing the eaves channel is the simplest prevention there is.
Coastal wind drives rain hard against lanterns, so cappings and ridge seals on the seaward face take the most punishment.
Horsham is around 25 miles from Chichester, and both are within our West Sussex coverage.
Neighbouring places we cover include Crawley (7 miles), Horley (11 miles), Haywards Heath (11 miles).
How much should it cost?
Guide price for timber roof lantern repairs: £395–£1,995 ex VAT (£474–£2,394 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.
Timber roof lantern repairs in Horsham: questions
Can you repair a lantern someone else installed in Horsham?
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.
Which places near Horsham do you cover?
As well as Horsham, we cover nearby Crawley, Horley, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and the rest of West Sussex.
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 Horsham
- Solar control and self-cleaning glass upgrades in Horsham
- Condensation diagnosis and fixes in Horsham
- Aluminium roof lantern repairs in Horsham
- Flat rooflight and skylight repairs in Horsham
- Leak investigation and inspection in Horsham
- Orangery lantern repairs in Horsham
Timber roof lantern repairs near Horsham
More about timber roof lantern repairs · All roof lantern repairs in Horsham