News

Helping you to choose the right rooflight for your project

Are you are thinking about a new rooflight or skylight for your home? There are a number of things to consider when choosing the right rooflight. Including location, specification, type of rooflight and function. Here are some tips and advice helping you to choose the right rooflight for your project.

Rooflight location – where will the rooflight be installed?

A rooflight is an excellent way to increase the natural light in a home The positioning of the rooflight will have an impact on the amount of natural light which can fill the home. Think about when you need the most amount of light in a particular room. East facing windows will ensure there is plenty of light in the room during the mornings, whereas West facing windows will give you greater light later in the day. On a practical note there maybe be structural considerations to factor into the positioning of the rooflight, such as beams or electrics.

Rooflight size

The overall size of the rooflight will obviously have an impact on the level of light which is able to fill the room. The bigger the rooflight the more light. However consider balancing the size of your rooflight with other practicalities as well as the overall feel of the space.

Also think about the style of your property and interior. For modern homes or homes with a contemporary style, larger areas of glazing can work well. For period properties or listed buildings then it is advisable to use conservation rooflights, keeping to smaller sizes.

Many rooflights will come in stocked sizes for speedy turnaround times. Bespoke sizes are also available for certain rooflights. As you would expect bespoke sizes do result in longer lead times, therefore this will need to be allowed for in your schedule.

Type of rooflight

There are a number of different rooflight types, which include:

• Flat Fixed Rooflights
• Opening Rooflights
• Modular Rooflights
• Walk-On Rooflights
• Access Rooflights
• Circular rooflights
• Pitched rooflights
• Lantern/pyramid rooflights

The shape and size of the rooflight will be dependent on the building and the purpose of the design. Pyramid rooflights are architecturally engineered to maximise the amount of light that’s allowed to enter the room helping to create a brighter, lighter room with an illusion of space.

A fixed rooflight, does not open, designed to bring natural light into your home. Reducing the need for artificial lighting.

If ventilation is required an opening rooflight will allow you to let more air into a room. Opening rooflights are ideal for warm rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms, where they can also help to remove steam and cooking smells. Available with either manual or electrical operation options. Electrical options can incorporate rain, temperature or wind sensors, closing the rooflight automatically based on the weather outside.

Modular rooflights allow you to combine a number of rooflight units together.

If your rooflight is going to be installed onto a roof terrace, than a walk-on rooflight will need to be installed. With glass significantly thicker than a standard rooflight to support the weight of people walking on or standing on the rooflight.

Rooflight glass specification

In order to ensure your safety, the glass specification should include an toughened outer pane and an laminated inner pane. Otherwise known as tempered, toughened glass is specially treated to be far more resistant to breakage than standard glass. Toughened glass is ideal for the outer pane of a rooflight as it greatly reduces the chances of breakages. If broken, it is designed to shatter into multiple tiny fragments instead of larger more hazardous shards. Laminated glass is commonly used for safety and security purposes, because rather than shattering on impact, it simply cracks, whilst still supporting itself, rather than falling which could be dangerous.

Do you want your windows to be energy saving, heat controlling or noise reducing (or all three)? If you are working with an east or north-facing room you are probably best going for energy saving glazing as this will keep the heat during winter months. For rooflights positioned either south or west, glazing that controls the temperature are a good choice as it will prevent a greenhouse effect and ensure the room can be used year round.

UV protection should be considered. Sun control glass will protect your home’s furnishings and occupants from harmful UV rays. Whilst self-cleaning glass will ensure your rooflights stay clean, allowing maximum daylight to fill the room.

Rooflight cost

The cost of your rooflight will be dependent on all of the different factors mentioned above: the type/style you choose, the size, whether it’s double or triple glazed, the glass specification such as noise or temperature control. If you would like an idea of the cost, or discuss your requirements further, give the team a call on 01392 444233 who will be happy to help. Or learn more about the various rooflights we have available here.