Pale loft room with a beam across the ceiling and roof windows on both slopes

VELUX Windows in Derby

A roof window placed to light the spot you use.

We fit and replace VELUX roof windows across Derby, starting from the spot in the room you want lit, not from the roof.

Book a free survey

Free survey
Fixed written quote
10-year workmanship guarantee

Where a VELUX window lands its light

Loft bedroom with a roof window above a bed and an armchair in the corner — Over the bed head in a loft bedroom, with a blind for summer evenings.

Small loft bedroom with a pine bed and a roof window above it — Above a pine bed in a small loft bedroom, with sky overhead.

Rough plastered loft wall under a roof window with the sky beyond — In a rough plastered loft wall, the sky showing beyond the roof window.

Ten years on our workmanship. In writing.

Surveyed before we price
A fixed written quote that does not change on the day
Building Control notification handled

How the guarantee works

Grey-framed roof window in a slate roof with neat flashing over brick

The full guide

VELUX windows, from the bed up

A VELUX window is a roof window, usually opening, set into the slope so daylight and air reach a room in the roof. This guide follows one from the spot you want lit to the flashing on the slope above it, then covers the rules, the choices and what moves the cost.

Loft bedroom
Opening styles
Glazing and air
Frame and flashing
Rules and rooms
Cost and cover

Callout 1

Choosing a VELUX window from the room

From survey to sealed roof

Survey the room
We stand where you want the light, mark the spot and note the ceiling shape, the roof pitch and the rafter positions.
Fixed written quote
You receive the unit, flashing kit, finishing and Building Control handling in one fixed quote, in writing.
Open the roof
Tiles or slates are lifted, the rafters are trimmed to the new frame, and the roof is covered against the weather.
Fit and flash
The window is fixed to the rafters, then the flashing kit is dressed over the roofing so water runs clear.
Finish inside
The light well is lined, plastered or boarded, the blind fittings are added, and the opening is checked.
Handover
You see the window operate, and the 10-year workmanship guarantee is confirmed to you in writing.

If you are searching for velux windows Derby homeowners can rely on, start with a simpler question. Where in the room do you want to stand and feel the daylight? A VELUX window is a roof window, and most roof windows open, so they also give you fresh air. Some people say skylight, some say rooflight, and the trade says roof window. They are all talking about the same opening in the slope of the roof.

We start at the floor, not the roof. The spot is the bed, the desk, the top of the stair or the basin, and the window is placed so its light falls there. A window that suits the roof but misses the spot gives you a bright patch on the wrong wall. That is why we survey first, at no charge, and name a price only afterwards. We look at the room, mark the spot, and then read the roof above it.

Why choose a VELUX window at all

VELUX is the best-known manufacturer of roof windows in the UK, and its range is wide. There are fixed units, centre-pivot units, top-hung units, electric and solar-powered opening models, and a long list of blinds, shutters and flashing kits made to fit each frame. Because the range is standard and the sizes follow a code, a replacement window is easy to match to an old one, and an extra window can sit neatly beside one already in the roof. You can read how the codes work in our guide, VELUX Size Codes Explained.

Standard does not mean one size fits all. The range is wide enough that many rooms can be matched from it, and where a room needs something different we order the product that suits the opening, whether that means a larger unit, a pair side by side, or a different opening style. If a bespoke or made to measure unit is the better answer for an unusual roof, we say so at the survey rather than forcing a standard window into a space it does not suit.

What we fit, and who for

We fit and replace VELUX windows in homes across Derby and about 30 road miles around the city. That covers loft bedrooms, loft conversions, landings, kitchens in the roof space, bathrooms with a sloping ceiling and small commercial rooms. Homes come first in our work, and small commercial rooms are welcome as well. Where a different product would serve you better, such as a flat roof lantern or a sun tunnel for a space with no direct roof above it, we tell you plainly and show you the other options.

The rest of this guide follows the window from the room outwards. It covers the installation process, the choice between opening types, the glass and ventilation, the frame and flashing, the rules you need to know about, and what moves the cost. If you would rather talk to someone first, book a free survey or send a message on WhatsApp.

How a VELUX installation works

The order matters more than the speed. The steps below are the same whether you are adding one window or replacing an existing one, although a straight swap is shorter than a new opening. For a straightforward single rooflight, the roof stage is usually a day or two, with the interior finishing after the weather seal is done.

Before any work starts you will have a fixed written quote that holds on the day. That includes the unit, the flashing kit, the labour and the finishing. Building Control paperwork, where the job calls for it, is ours to deal with, and the fitting meets today's Building Regulations.

Two points are worth holding on to from the start. First, the opening is cut once, so the measurements are checked twice, once at the survey and once before the roof is touched. Second, the weather seal is made before the plasterboard is, so the loft is never left open to rain overnight if it can be avoided. Each step below shows what happens and why it sits where it does.

The window is chosen from the floor, then checked against the roof, never the other way round.

Callout 2

How the window opens and why it matters

Once the spot is chosen, the next question is how the window opens. VELUX windows come in a few operating styles, and the choice changes what you see, how far you can reach, and how much headroom you gain. The two you will meet most often are centre-pivot and top-hung. Fixed units that do not open at all are also available for places where you want light but not ventilation.

Centre-pivot windows

A centre-pivot window turns on a pivot point near the middle of the sash. The handle sits at the top, so you reach up and tilt the lower edge outwards. This style suits many ordinary pitched roofs. It also lets you rotate the sash right round for cleaning the outside pane from indoors, useful when the roof is out of arm's reach.

Because the upper half swings into the room, a centre-pivot window needs clear space in front of it at head height. Over a bed or a desk set tight to the wall, that can matter, and we check it at the survey. The handle at the top is also higher than it looks in a showroom photograph. On a steep slope with a low sill it can be a stretch, so the position of the window up the slope is part of the decision.

Top-hung windows

A top-hung window is hinged at the top and opens outwards from the bottom, a bit like an awning. The handle is at the bottom, which is easier for most people to reach. When the sash is raised, it gives you more headroom and a clearer view out, because the glass lifts away from your head instead of swinging down towards it.

Top-hung windows suit a loft room where the sloped ceiling is low and you want to stand close to the glass. They also suit a stair landing where you want a view down the garden. The trade-off is in the cleaning. The outside pane is harder to reach, so the cleaning position of the window up the roof should be checked at the survey.

Electric and solar-powered opening

Some VELUX models open and close at the touch of a remote or a wall switch, and some are solar-powered, so no mains cable is needed. These suit windows that are hard to reach, such as a high landing or a roof window above a stairwell. Rain sensors, where fitted, close the window on their own when it starts to rain. We cover this in more depth on our page about electric opening rooflights.

The wiring for a mains-powered unit must be planned before the plaster goes on. Solar-powered units skip the cable, which makes them a tidy choice in an existing room that is already decorated.

Fixed units and where they help

A fixed window does not open, so it costs less to build into the frame and has fewer parts to wear. It suits a stairwell, a dressing area or a bathroom with a separate extractor, where you want daylight and nothing else. Two fixed windows stacked above a pivoting one can also bring light high up the slope while keeping the opening sash within reach.

Matching what is already there

If you already have VELUX windows in the roof and want another to match, bring any details you have on the old frame. A data plate on the frame, visible when the sash is open, often gives the model, and we can read the size code from it. If you are replacing an old window, our guide Replacing an Old VELUX Window explains what to check first.

Matching the opening style across a row of windows also looks better from the street. Mixed styles on one roof slope can look uneven, so on a visible elevation we suggest keeping them consistent. Inside, a matched row gives the room an even rhythm of light, which reads as designed rather than added later.

Pivoting or hinged at the top

Centre-pivot

Handle at the top of the sash
Sash turns through the middle
Outer pane cleaned from inside
Needs clear space at head height

Top-hung

Handle at the bottom of the sash
Sash lifts out from the base
More headroom and a clearer view
Outer pane harder to reach

Callout 3

Glass, ventilation and blinds

The glass is where a roof window earns its keep over the years. Heat leaves a loft room through the roof, and a window in the slope is the weakest part of that roof. The glazing, the frame seals and the way the unit is fitted all decide whether the room stays comfortable in winter and avoids overheating in summer.

Double and triple glazing

Modern VELUX windows are sold with a range of glazing packages. Double glazing is the standard starting point. A third pane and a second gas-filled gap make triple glazing better at cutting heat loss and street noise, which helps in a loft bedroom that turns cold overnight. There are also glass types for sun control, for noise reduction, and for rain noise on a metal or slate roof. We talk through these at the survey, because the right glass depends on the direction the slope faces and what the room is for.

A south-facing slope over a desk is a different case from a north-facing slope over a landing. The first may need sun control glass or an external blind. The second may want the best insulation you can fit. Choosing the glass from the spot, rather than from the catalogue, avoids paying for features the room will never use.

Glass and air, choice by choice

Glazing: double as standard, triple for cold rooms
Sun control: coated glass or an external blind
Noise: laminated glass for rain on the roof
Fresh air: opening sash plus a vent in the frame
Blinds: sized from the same code as the window

What the regulations require of the glass

For homes that already exist, Table 4.2 of Approved Document L (Part L 2021) sets the targets. A roof window, which is what a VELUX is, has to meet the ordinary window figure of 1.4 W/m²K. A band B result on the Window Energy Rating scale also satisfies it. For a rooflight in the strict sense, lanterns included, 2.2 W/m²K is allowed. We pick a unit that clears the roof window figure and tell you the number it achieves. Figures and glass options are covered further on the energy efficient rooflights page.

Ventilation and fresh air

A window that opens gives you purge ventilation, the quick airing that clears a hot or damp room. Many VELUX windows also have a built-in vent in the top of the frame that gives a small trickle of fresh air while the sash is shut. That helps with condensation in a bathroom or a bedroom, where moisture from breathing and washing collects on cold surfaces.

Warm air rises, so a window high in the slope pulls hot air out of the room, especially if there is a low opening to draw cooler air in. Where a loft room overheats in summer, an opening roof window paired with an external blind is a practical answer. If you have a stuffy loft room, this matters more than the exact brand on the frame.

Blinds, shutters and awnings

Blinds are part of the glass decision, not an afterthought. A blackout blind lets a bedroom sleep through summer evenings, a pleated blind softens the light over a desk, and an external awning blind keeps the heat out before it reaches the glass. Each kind fits a specific frame size, so the blind range is chosen from the same size code as the window. If you are fitting electric windows, matching electric blinds can run on the same control, which keeps the wall free of switches.

It is easier to add blind brackets while the room is open than to retrofit later. If you think you may want a blind, tell us at the survey and the fittings can go in as the light well is finished.

Finally, remember that condensation on a roof window is a sign of damp air meeting a cold surface. It is rarely a fault with the unit. Good ventilation, a well-sealed light well and the right glazing together keep it in check. If water appears where it should not, read the leak answer.

Choosing glass from the slope's direction avoids paying for features the room will never use.

Callout 4

Flashing, frames and the work nobody sees

Nobody sees the frame and flashing once they are done, which is why they decide whether the window stays dry. Flashing means the metal and rubber parts that join the window to the roof covering. If it is wrong, water finds a way in at the corners, and the stain on the ceiling appears months later. Leaks traced to a roof window usually come from the flashing or the roof work around it rather than from the glass.

Flashing kits made for the roof covering

VELUX flashing kits come in versions for different roof coverings, such as plain tiles, interlocking tiles, slates and flat profile coverings. The kit is chosen by the size code of the window and by the covering it sits in. A kit made for one covering does not seal properly on another, so the roof is checked at the survey before the order is placed.

Around Derby you meet older clay tiles and slate on terraces near the centre, and concrete interlocking tiles on many suburban semis and newer estates. Each needs its own kit and its own way of cutting in. The right choice comes from looking at your roof, not from a standard list.

Same-size swap or a new opening

There are two quite different jobs under the title velux window installation. A same-size swap takes out an old unit and fits a new one in the same opening. The rafters stay where they are and the plastered light well often stays too. This is the shorter job. A new opening is a different matter. The rafters must be cut and trimmed with doubled timber around the new frame, the roof is opened, and the internal lining is made from scratch.

When an old window is replaced, the frame size is checked against the standard codes. If the old window is a non-standard or discontinued size, a close match may leave small gaps that need new trimming. Sometimes it is cleaner to enlarge the opening slightly. We explain the choice and quote for it before work starts. To tell which job you have, read Replacing an Old VELUX Window.

Roof structure and the new opening

When you cut a new opening, the rafters carry the weight of the roof, so the trimming must be done carefully. We frame the opening with new timbers, fix them to the surrounding rafters and keep the original load path intact. A roof with a purlin or a truss needs more thought, and we look at that during the survey from the loft side where we can. If the roof structure is not what it appears from below, we tell you before a price is fixed.

Insulation and the vapour layer are fitted around the frame so there is no cold gap. A cold gap is where condensation starts, and it shows as a dark line around the edge of the light well. Getting this right takes time, and it is the part of the job people do not see.

Weatherproof, not just waterproof

A watertight window keeps rain out. A weatherproof one also copes with wind-driven rain, snow melt and the movement of a roof as it heats and cools. The difference is in the details, such as lapped flashing, a back gutter where the slope requires one, and correct fixing of the soakers. That is the work the 10-year workmanship guarantee, in writing, stands behind.

If you already have a window that leaks and you suspect the flashing, the leak answer is the place to start. Where a unit is beyond repair, replacing it with a new one and a fresh kit is cleaner than patching the old one.

Callout 5

The rules, and which rooms suit a roof window

Roof windows sit under rules that are easy to misread. This chapter picks out the ones that matter for a VELUX job and points to the rest. Where the work is notifiable, we deal with the Building Control side, and the fitting itself keeps to Part L and the other current rules.

Building Regulations and Building Control

A brand-new opening alters how the rafters carry the roof, so Building Regulations approval comes first. In Derby that means Derby City Council, or a registered building control approver, the title used since April 2024. A like-for-like roof window swap is a different case. Part L treats it as controlled fitting, and the new unit must reach the roof window U-value, and a competent person scheme can certify it. You do not chase any of this yourself, because notification is part of our job.

Planning permission

On a house, a rooflight is normally covered by Class C of permitted development, and that class comes with conditions worth reading first. We keep them in our planning guide. Flats and maisonettes sit outside the householder rights altogether. Listed buildings call for listed building consent on most alterations. Conservation areas can lose their permitted development through an Article 4 direction, which makes a call to the council worthwhile before you order. Our page on conservation rooflights covers the products made for those settings.

The Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site runs along the river through Derby, Milford, Belper and Cromford. If your home is in or near it, check with Derby City Council or the relevant council before you plan a window on a visible slope. General national guidance is on the Planning Portal.

Daylight, escape and loft rooms

England has no Building Regulations rule on how much daylight a house must receive, so the amount of glass is your call, guided by the room. Escape is another matter. Approved Document B allows a roof window to serve as the way out only where the storey is 4.5 m or less above the ground. That rules out a roof window as the escape route from a loft added to a two-storey house, which needs a protected stair. Bungalows and chalet bungalows can use roof windows for their roof rooms inside that height. The clear opening must measure at least 0.33 m² and 450 mm both ways.

Reading a size code

Take MK04. The first letter points to the width and the two digits to the height. That is enough to read a drawing or an old label, and it is the first thing we look for when matching a window. Our guide to VELUX size codes goes further.

Rooms in the roof

The table below shows the rooms a VELUX window serves, the spot we plan around, and the point that decides the choice. Use it as a starting list for your own roof.

Rooms in the roof and what suits them

Common loft rooms, the spot that matters, and the deciding point.
Room	The spot	Choose for
Loft bedroom	Bed head	Blackout and air
Loft study	Desk	Glare control
Landing	Top stair	Reachable handle
Bathroom	Basin	Humidity and privacy
Kitchen	Worktop	Light on the hob
Dressing room	Mirror	Even daylight

Callout 6

Cost, coverage and what you get

Everyone asks what a VELUX window costs, and it is a fair question. We do not give a figure in a web page because a quote needs the room, the roof and the finish in front of us. What we can do is show what moves the cost, so you can judge a quote when you receive it. The survey comes first and costs nothing, and the quote after it is fixed and in writing.

What changes the figure

The biggest influences are the size of the window, whether it is a swap or a new opening, the roof covering, the glazing package, any blinds or electric controls, and the interior finish. Access also counts. A single-storey rear roof is quicker than a three-storey front slope that needs scaffolding. The factors are set out below so you can compare quotes on the same terms.

Fitting several windows together

If you are planning more than one window, doing them in the same visit saves repeat setup, scaffold and making good. It also keeps the roof consistent, and it lets us plan the lights across the room as a set. Whether it pays off for your roof is covered in our note on doing several windows in one visit.

What changes a VELUX quote

Window sizeLarger units need longer trimmers, heavier glass and more hands on the roof.
Swap or new openingA new opening needs cut rafters, new lining and more finishing.
Roof coveringSlate, clay and interlocking tile each need their own flashing kit.
Glazing and extrasTriple glass, blinds and electric opening add to the unit.
Access and heightScaffold or a long carry up the roof adds time.

Cheaper alternatives

VELUX is not the only name on the market, and sometimes another brand or a plain fixed rooflight is a better match for the room and the budget. We describe those options honestly in Are There Cheaper Alternatives to VELUX? so that you can weigh them before deciding. A cheaper unit that fits poorly will cost more over time than a well-fitted one.

Loft conversions

If the windows are part of a loft conversion, the roof windows are one part of a bigger package, with a stair, insulation, electrics and fire safety to plan. Our page on roof windows covers the wider picture of choosing and placing them in a room in the roof.

Areas covered

We work in Derby and about 30 road miles around it, measured by road. That takes in the city, its suburbs and the towns and villages around it. If you are near the edge, ask on WhatsApp and we will say plainly whether we can reach you. Each town in the area has its own page, which you can find from the areas index.

Our guarantee, and why choose us

You get a free survey, a fixed written quote that holds on the day, Building Control handled where it is needed, and a 10-year workmanship guarantee, in writing. That is the reason to choose us, and none of it depends on how big the job is. Before you commit, book your free survey and we will stand in the room with you and find the spot first.

Before you book a VELUX window

What does a VELUX window cost to fit in Derby?

A fixed figure would be a guess, because the size, the roof covering, the glass and whether it is a swap or a new opening all change it. The free survey sets all of that out, and the quote that comes after it is fixed, in writing, so it holds on the day. Compare quotes on the same items, using the cost factors on this page.

Is planning permission needed to put in a VELUX window?

Often not, because a house rooflight normally sits within permitted development, though flats, conservation areas and listed buildings follow other routes. Read our planning guide for the conditions. In a conservation area, ask the council first, since an Article 4 direction can take the usual rights away.

Can you replace my old VELUX window with a new one?

Yes. Replacing an old VELUX window is part of the work. A same-size swap is the simplest form, and the code on the old frame tells us which kit and unit to order. If the old unit is an odd size, we explain the options before quoting. The step-by-step version is in Replacing an Old VELUX Window.

How long does fitting a VELUX window take?

For a straightforward single rooflight, the roof stage is usually a day or two. A new opening takes longer than a swap because the rafters are trimmed and the light well is lined. Several windows done together take longer overall, although they save time per window. The survey gives a clear programme for your job.

Will a VELUX window help with ventilation in a loft room?

Yes, a window that opens gives you quick airing, and many models have a small vent in the frame for a trickle of fresh air while shut. High windows draw warm air out of the room. For a hot loft in summer, pair an opening window with an external blind to reduce heat gain before it reaches the glass.

Can a roof window be used as a fire escape?

Only within limits. Approved Document B accepts a roof window as an escape route only on storeys 4.5 m or less above the ground, so a loft added to a two-storey house has to be served by a protected stair. Roof rooms in a bungalow can use one, provided the opening is 0.33 m² or more and 450 mm each way, and the other Approved Document B conditions are met.

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Where do you want the light? Tell us in the form: the worktop, the stair, the desk.

No obligation. We survey before we price.
We cover Derby and 30 miles around.