Roof bars installation in Exeter
Professional roof bars installation services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-85
Typical Duration
45-60 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Roof bars installed professionally and securely. Positioned correctly, proper torque applied, ready for your roof box or bike carrier.
Professional Roof Bar Installation
Roof bars seem simple until you're wrestling with instructions in a car park. Get them fitted properly - right spacing, correct alignment, proper torque. Then actually enjoy your holiday instead of worrying about whistling noises at 70mph.
💡 Pro tip: Test roof bars empty first before loading expensive bikes or boxes on them. Drive around, hit some bumps, check nothing's shifted. Better to find problems before you've got £2000 of bikes up there.
Why Installation Quality Matters
Bad roof bar fitting ruins your journey:
| ✅ Pro Installation | ❌ DIY Gone Wrong |
|---|---|
| Silent, secure, no movement | Whistles like a kettle at speed |
| Bars level and aligned | Wonky, looks terrible |
| Correct torque, safe loading | Too loose or damaged from overtightening |
| Ready to use immediately | Spend holiday adjusting them |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| System check | Verify correct bars for your vehicle |
| Professional fit | Positioned, aligned, and torqued correctly |
| Function test | Check security before you drive off |
📦 You're Left With
- Properly installed roof bars
- Secure and silent
- Ready for immediate loading
- Removal instructions if needed
Pricing Guide
| System Type | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard clamp bars | 45 mins | £60 |
| Flush rail system | 1 hr | £85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Complex systems may take longer.
Perfect When You Need...
✅ Extra luggage space - holidays, camping trips
✅ Bike transport - carry multiple bikes safely
✅ Roof box fitting - bars installed ready for box
✅ Professional job - don't trust DIY with expensive kit
Why Choose Us for Roof bars installation in Exeter?
Professional installation
Manufacturer torque specs followed
Aligned and secure
Ready for immediate use
What to Expect
Step 1: Verify Compatibility
I'll check you've got the right bars for your car model and all necessary parts for your specific mounting points.
Step 2: Install & Align
Bars positioned at correct spacing, aligned square to vehicle, rubber pads in place to protect paint.
Step 3: Torque & Test
All fixings tightened to spec - firm enough for safety, not so tight they damage threads. Push-test before you leave.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to install your own roof bars? Here's the proper way:
🔧 What you'll need
- Roof bar system (correct for your car)
- Tools supplied with bars
- Soft cloths to protect paint
- Tape measure
- Your vehicle handbook
📐 Installation steps
- Lay out all parts, check against instructions
- Identify your car's roof mounting system type
- Fit mounting feet to bars (if separate)
- Position bars as wide apart as mounting allows
- Check they're square (measure diagonals)
- Hand-tighten all fixings before final torque
- Torque to spec or firm-tight if no spec given
📐 Spacing check
- Measure from front bar to front of car
- Measure from rear bar to rear of car
- Both measurements should match
- Bars should be parallel to each other
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Bars too close together (wastes capacity)
- Not parallel (causes whistling)
- Missing protective pads (scratches roof)
- Overtightening plastic fittings (cracks them)
- Wrong adapter plates for car model
💡 Pro trick: Before final tightening, slide a piece of paper under each mounting point. When you torque down, the paper should be gripped but you can still slide it out with force. That's about right - secure but not crushing.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🚗 Load limits matter: Your car has a maximum roof load (check handbook) - usually 50-75kg total including bar weight. Modern roof bars can physically carry more, but that doesn't mean your car can. Stay within limits.
Fuel costs: Empty roof bars add about 5-10% to motorway fuel consumption from wind resistance. With a loaded box it's more like 15-20%. Remove when not needed - saves money and quieter driving.
Theft prevention: Some roof bar systems use locking bolts. If yours don't, consider them - roof bars aren't cheap and they walk off cars. Keep the keys separate from car keys though.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does roof bar installation take?
Usually 45 minutes to an hour depending on your car's mounting system. Simple clamp-on systems are quicker, flush rail systems take longer. I'll work out the timing once I see your specific setup.
What if I've lost the fitting instructions?
Most manufacturers have PDFs online for their fitting kits - I can usually find them. Or I've fitted enough systems to work it out from the parts. As long as you've got all the bits, we're fine.
Will bars damage my car's roof?
Not if fitted properly with the supplied rubber pads and correct torque. The mounting points are designed for this. Overtightening or missing the protective pads can mark paint - that's why proper fitting matters.
Can you fit a roof box at the same time?
Once the bars are on, yes - fitting a box is usually straightforward. Just adds 15-20 minutes. Make sure the box is compatible with your bar spacing though.
How do I know if bars are fitted tight enough?
Push them hard - they shouldn't move at all. But you don't want them gorilla-tight either, that damages fittings. Manufacturer specs give exact torque if they're safety-critical. I'll get it right.
Roof bars installation Also Available In:
Get a Free Quote in Exeter
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your roof bars installation job in Exeter.
01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
Why Trust Us
Need Roof bars installation in Exeter?
Get a free quote for your roof bars installation job in Exeter today.