A new fabrication led model is giving the industry greater control over lead times, stockholding and margins - without investing in machinery.
Roof in a Box has announced an innovative and highly affordable way for installers and builders to manufacture high-quality aluminium roof lanterns in-house with minimal tooling and training.
Designed specifically for trade professionals, the Roof in a Box system delivers lantern kits from just £295 +VAT for a single kit, with attractive volume pricing on larger orders — making it one of the most cost-effective options on the market.
Traditionally, roof lanterns have either been bought-in as fully finished products or required access to expensive fabrication facilities, tying up both capital and time. Roof in a Box radically upends that model, supplying fully engineered kit packs that include everything needed to fabricate lanterns up to 2.9 m × 1.65 m.
Trade customers receive pre-organised, colour-coded boxes and free fabrication software, provided as part of the system. The software guides installers step-by-step through the fabrication process, generating precise cutting sheets, full aluminium cut lengths and all the necessary details for placing the glass order. Kits are despatched next working day, ensuring fast turnaround for busy installers and builders.
“The aim is simple,” comments Managing Director, Paul Rickman.
“We empower installers to become their own fabricators — with no specialist machinery, no stock, and a clear, repeatable process.”
“This is a genuinely new way of supplying lanterns that saves money and maximises margin. Fabrication takes approximately 20 minutes, and the only tool required is a standard circular saw. Roof in a Box kits break the manufacturing process into straightforward, repeatable steps: prepare plastics and clips, cut aluminium eaves and rafters to size, and finish with glazing trims and capping. This system dramatically reduces lead times, simplifies logistics, and gives trade customers full control over their supply chain, while delivering a finished product that’s quick to install on site.”
The company’s tiered pricing model is designed with trade flexibility in mind. Installers can purchase multiple roof kits upfront at a discounted rate, safe in the knowledge that the compact packaging won’t take up excessive storage space and that each kit can be fabricated to the exact size required allowing installers and builders to plan ahead without committing to finished stock. This combination of affordable pricing, storage efficiency, and on-demand manufacturing ensures customers can boost margins while offering premium, trade-ready lanterns whenever they’re needed.
