The costs of replacing a roof window - how to budget for your replacement project

The average replacement roof window cost varies according to the type of roof window that you need to replace and what upgrades you want with your new window. Here's what to consider when budgeting for your roof window replacement:

• The style of roof window, internal finish and glazing you want
• The size of the roof window and how many you want to install
• Whether scaffolding is required for the installation
• How you want the roof window to be controlled (manually, mains electricity or with solar power)

Find out more about roof window sizes

Before working out your costs, you need to work out what you want from your roof window replacement. This is a great time to consider if your existing roof windows allow enough daylight into your house or if you could benefit from an upgrade. You could also think about how you control your roof windows. If they are out-of-reach or you’d like to benefit from more home automation, now could be the perfect time to go for a solar roof window.

10 reasons to bring more daylight into your home

Replacing your roof windows is a relatively inexpensive and quick process. If you’re going for a like-for-like upgrade, your VELUX roof window replacement will cost around £550-£650 in labour costs, plus the price of your roof window. and be done in around four hours. If you decide to go for a larger roof window or multiple roof windows to bring more light and fresh air into your home, extra costs will be involved but it will all be done within a couple of days.

If you use VELUX Certified Installers, they will visit your property and advise you on the best roof window for your home and your needs, how much it will cost to install and what installation materials are required. VELUX Certified Installers are trusted, vetted installation partners, thoroughly trained in the VELUX product range.

How to budget for your home improvement

If you’re installing a slightly larger roof window or additional roof windows, you may need to do some minor redecorating around the installation sites. This may spur you to redecorate your whole room so that the whole space looks brighter and fresher. You will need to factor this into your budget. You will also need to consider:

It's recommended that the glazed area of a room’s windows is at least 20% of the room's floor area to ensure the room has adequate levels of natural light. Opting for a larger roof window or adding more roof windows to your space will help you to reach or exceed this target to flood your home with natural light. Roof windows provide up to twice as much light as a façade window of the same size.

If your roof window is hard to access, the replacement installation may require scaffolding and other specialist equipment, which will add to the cost. However, this is usually not the case and most replacement works can be safely carried out from the inside.

Investing in quality roof windows will pay off over time: VELUX roof windows are designed to last a generation. Our high-performance roof windows feature double-glazing as standard - reducing heat loss in cold spells and lowering your energy bills. When budgeting, weigh the upfront cost against the potential long-term savings.

Learn more about how to keep your renovation budget in check

Fitting a roof window is rarely a DIY-friendly task. Ensure to source quotes from several VELUX Certified Installers. Once you have a firm idea of costs, remember even the best-planned project can run into surprises, like hidden water damage. A sensible rule is to add 10-15% to your budget as a contingency fund.

Find VELUX Certified Installers in your area here