Roofing

Roof windows

Fitting or replacing a roof window and making the surround watertight.

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Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

No licence required

Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer

Irelandwww.cru.ieChecked 14/10/2026

Roof windows: what the job involves

Fitting a new roof window in a pitched roof, or replacing an old one in the same opening, with its flashing kit and the lining inside. Commonly asked for by the brand name Velux, and often part of an attic conversion.

Also asked for as: velux · velux window · skylight · roof light · velux replacement

How the job is usually done

Check the rafters, the roof covering and the room below, and choose the size and position between or across rafters.
Check whether the position needs planning permission (a front roof plane, a protected structure or a conservation area).
Strip the slates or tiles around the opening and cut and trim the rafters, with new trimmers sized for the load.
Fit the frame, the underfelt collar and the flashing kit for the covering, then re-slate or re-tile around it.
Fit the sash and check it opens, closes and seals.
Line the reveal inside with insulated plasterboard, splay it to let in more light, and finish ready for decoration.

Roof windows: what is included

Usually included

The roof window and its matching flashing kit
Cutting and trimming the opening
Making the roof watertight around it
Basic lining of the reveal inside

Usually not included — agree it separately

Plastering and painting inside, unless agreed
Blinds, electric opening and rain sensors (and the electrician they need)
Insulating or converting the attic around it
Planning permission, where it is needed

Materials and who supplies them

Roof window and flashing kit for the covering — supplied by the installer or bought by the customer to the installer’s spec
Timber trimmers, insulation collar and underfelt collar
Plasterboard and beads for the lining

How long it takes

Half a day to a day per window from outside; a new opening, structural trimming or internal finishing adds time.

When to book

Any dry day works; new openings are best done in settled weather because the roof is open for a few hours.

Roof windows: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

Since 27 July 2026, up to two roof lights on the front roof plane are exempted development if each is no more than 100 cm long and 90 cm wide. The general limits on exemptions still apply, so a protected structure or a house in an Architectural Conservation Area may still need permission.
Applies to: the homeowner
Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 7) Regulations 2026, S.I. 344 of 2026, Class 1C · sdcc.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
A replacement roof window should have a U-value no worse than 1.4 W/m²K. If it is the escape window for a room in the attic, it needs a clear opening of at least 0.33 m² (at least 450 mm each way), its bottom between 600 mm and 1,100 mm above the floor, and no more than 1.7 m from the eaves along the slope.
Applies to: the installer and the homeowner
Building Regulations — Technical Guidance Document L (Dwellings) 2019, 2.1.1.2; Technical Guidance Document B Volume 2, 1.3.7 · gov.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Roof work must be planned so nobody can fall from the edge or through the roof: scaffolding or edge protection, roof ladders, and covers or nets over fragile sheets and roof lights. The HSA code of practice sets out what that means in practice.
Applies to: the roofer, as employer or self-employed contractor
Health and Safety Authority — Code of Practice for Safety in Roofwork; Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Part 4 (work at height) · hsa.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

Grants

SEAI windows and doors grant
Up to €4,000 for new windows (€4,000 detached, €3,000 semi-detached or end of terrace, €1,800 mid-terrace, €1,500 apartment) as a complete window upgrade; new windows must reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better.
Who qualifies: Homes built and occupied before 2011 that already have good attic and wall insulation (or will before the windows), using an SEAI-registered contractor, with grant approval before work starts and a post-works BER. Check with SEAI whether roof windows count in your upgrade.
seai.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

What roof windows costs, and why

What jobs on Talqero came to

Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.

What affects the price

A new opening, or a like-for-like replacement in the old one
Size and type: centre-pivot, top-hung, conservation style, electric or solar
The roof covering and the flashing kit it needs
Height of the roof and access for the installer
Internal finishing and plastering of the reveal
VAT: building work on a home is charged at the reduced 13.5% rate by a VAT-registered roofer, unless materials are more than two-thirds of the price (Revenue’s two-thirds rule)
VAT: building work on a home is charged at the reduced rate of 13.5% by a VAT-registered business — unless the materials come to more than two-thirds of the price, when Revenue’s two-thirds rule applies the goods rate to the whole job. Ask whether a quote includes VAT.

Paperwork to ask for at the end

The manufacturer’s product guarantee for the window and flashing
The installer’s written workmanship guarantee
The window’s U-value and model number, for a BER

Safety

The opening is a fall hazard into the room below and onto the roof outside: keep the room clear while it is open.
An escape roof window must open without a key; do not fit a lockable handle on one.
Electric roof windows need a registered electrician for the new circuit or spur.

Roof windows: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

Will the window meet escape requirements if this is a bedroom?
Is the internal lining and finishing included?
Which flashing kit and model are you pricing?
Is VAT included?

What you can do yourself

Fitting a roof window is not a DIY job; cleaning the glass and the vent filter from inside is.

What to put in your task

Is this a new roof window or replacing an old one?
How many roof windows?
What is the room under it?
Which side of the roof is it on?
How should it open?

Photos that help

The roof slope from outside where the window will go
Inside: the ceiling or attic where it will go, showing rafters if visible
The existing window and its make label (usually on the frame when opened), if replacing

Roofing

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Questions about roof windows

Does roof windows need a licence in Ireland?

No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.

Do I need planning permission for a roof window?

Roof lights at the rear are generally treated as not affecting the street and are usually exempt. Since 27 July 2026, up to two on the front roof plane are also exempt within a size limit. Protected structures and conservation areas are different, so ask the council there.

Why is my roof window leaking?

Most leaks are from a flashing that was wrong for the covering, a blocked gutter at the top of the flashing, or condensation running off cold glass rather than rain. A roofer can tell which by looking at the flashing and the timing of the drips.

Can a roof window be the fire escape from an attic room?

Yes, if it meets the building regulations’ guidance: a big enough clear opening, the right height above the floor, close enough to the eaves, and ground below where a ladder can stand. A standard small roof light usually does not qualify, so size it for this from the start.

Often booked with roof windows

Roofers