Project Brief

Walk on skylight Installation.

Butterfield of Skipton (BOS) was engaged by R N Wooler to assist with the handling and positioning of a large walk-on skylight at a high-end residential property.

The project involved a series of delicate lifting and maneuvering operations in tight and sensitive surroundings, including newly installed paving.

Scope of project

What we did…

• Collection & Transport:
  The 350kg toughened-glass skylight was collected from R N Wooler’s yard using our lorry-mounted crane and transported to site.
• Restricted Access & Initial Lift:
  On arrival, we reversed the lorry into a tight entrance and lifted the glass down to the front of the property.
  The skylight remained secured to its pallet throughout to prevent flexing or damage.
• Manual Movement Around the Property:
  The unit was then carefully moved from the front to the rear of the property using pallet trucks and skates, with several specific challenges:
• Width constraints meant the skylight had to be lifted and rotated end-on to fit along the path.
• The first part of the route consisted of rough, unfinished tarmac, followed by a step up which required careful lifting.
• The final approach was over a brand-new flagged patio, where BOS operatives ensured no damage or marking occurred to the surface.
• Custom Lifting Frame Fabrication:
  Once in position, BOS fabricated and installed a bespoke lifting frame designed to:
• Securely attach to glass suckers (as slinging was not an option).
• Roll along a top beam to allow smooth transfer of the skylight into final position.
• Fit tightly up to the external building wall due to limited working space.
• Installation Support & Dismantling:
  With the frame and suckers in place, the glass was installed by the Wooler team with millimetre-level precision.
  BOS then safely dismantled and removed the lifting frame, taking care not to drop or damage the newly installed skylight.

Project Results

Highlights…

• Complex handling of fragile, oversized glass through tight, sloped, and uneven terrain
• Careful navigation across high-spec finishes with zero surface damage
• On-site fabrication of lifting solution tailored to space and safety constraints
• Expert coordination between trades to complete the installation efficiently and safely.