How to CHoose tHe BestRoofligHt foR YouR PRojeCt

15 Things You Need to Consider Before Buying

www.Roof-MAKeR.Co.uK

ARe You tHiNKiNg of HAViNg A RoofligHt iNstAlleD iN

YouR HoMe?

If you are, we are here with 15 things to consider before you make your choice. Having already thought thought-through

these key points will ultimately make the shopping process much easier and ensure you get a rooflight that is perfect for your

individual project.

Here are the top 15 things you need to know.

First and foremost, you need to ask yourself what exactly

it is you want your new rooflight to do i.e. what do you

want to achieve by having it installed? Then you can start

considering what options are available to you.

Maybe you’ve got an existing rooflight that has seen better

days and you want to replace it with a higher spec, more

modern alternative. Perhaps you want to do away with an

old conservatory roof and have something slightly different

by fitting a rooflight instead.

whatever your reasons for wanting a rooflight installed, the

primary benefit you’re going to realise is more natural light,

which not only makes your living space brighter, but can also

help reduce your energy costs too.

the type of room or living space where you want to install

the rooflight also matters. for example, the size, shape and

style of a rooflight in a conservatory, where lots of light is the

primary goal, would differ from what you might choose to

fit in a bedroom. that’s why the specific application always

needs to be considered first.

finally, will you want your new rooflight to open? No

problem, you just need to take that into account when you’re

considering your rooflight options.

1 . f iRst, wHY Do You wANt A RoofligHt ?

where are you going to have the rooflight installed? will it

be located on a flat or pitched roof? the good news is that

both options are available to you, which means you can

achieve the look you want without having to make any major

modifications.

flat rooflights can be installed with as little as a five degree

pitch. this ensures that rain water will run off instead of

pooling. if your roof doesn’t already have a five-degree pitch,

one can be achieved using a small timber frame, called an

upstand.

Roof lanterns allow more light into the property as there is

more glass area to draw in light. lanterns also add a sense

of height, which can lift the area, something that cannot be

achieved with flat rooflights. the pitched glass usually makes

Roof lanterns lower maintenance as dirt and debris cannot

settle down on them as easily.

when it comes to pitched rooflights, look for ones that are

designed to provide a frameless view from the inside. they

provide up to 49% more natural light compared to traditional

rooflights. it’s also worth checking if they have built-in

flashing aprons as these ensure maximum water dispersion.

Bigger is better, right? Not necessarily, especially with

rooflights. the size of your rooflight will ultimately depend

on where you want to install it and what you want to achieve.

Most reputable rooflight suppliers offer a choice of standard

sizes that provide a good solution for most building projects.

if you want to achieve a unique look or perhaps have an

awkward space to accommodate, ordering direct from a

manufacturer is an option. Manufacturers offer standard

sizes, as well as the opportunity to build bespoke rooflights

designed according to your exact specifications. ordering a

bespoke rooflight shouldn’t mean a big difference in price

but does provide more alternatives.

Be aware that some manufacturers work to the overall size

of the rooflight which includes the surround frame, resulting

in far less visible light than a product that works to internal

dimensions. this can mean you get up to 25% extra light for

your money.

Modular rooflight solutions can be up to 1.2 metres wide and

span to whatever length you require. these versatile systems

allow you to create a larger design by effectively joining

small glass panels together to create an expanse of glass.

the minimal steel supports used means the flow of light isn’t

compromised and delivers a captivating design.

with the choice of standard, bespoke and modular rooflights,

you can rest assured there’s a solution available to turn your

ideas into reality.

Before you make your mind up, make sure your supplier

takes the time to explain everything you need to know about

their product and exactly how it will provide the result you

are looking for.

2 . Do You wANt it to Be P itCHeD oR flAt ?

3. wHAt s ize Do You wANt YouR RoofligHt to Be?

Modular rooflights

All rooflights are square or rectangle, right? wrong. in fact,

there are a number of different shapes and styles available.

while it’s true the majority of rooflights you see are square

or rectangle, round ones are becoming increasingly popular

too. it really depends on where you are looking to install the

rooflight and what you want to achieve.

in addition to round, there are also pyramid shaped rooflights

that add both style and functionality. the extra glass attracts

sunlight from all angles throughout the day, making

illuminating a dark corner much easier. Pyramid rooflights

can also slide open to offer ventilation as well extra light.

Are you looking to illuminate a basement or cellar? walk-

on rooflights enable you to do just that, both internally and

externally, without losing valuable floor space.

walk-on rooflights are extremely durable and allow you

to showcase hidden architectural or archaeological

underground features and introduce extra light to rooms

that are below ground level. they can be installed indoors or

outdoors and by adding an anti-slip surface also means you

won’t compromise pedestrian safety.

looking for something slightly more special? Consider a

walk-on rooflight with underfloor lighting for a seriously

dramatic effect. such features often become great talking

points due to their fascinating nature.

4. wHAt sHAPe Do You wANt YouR RoofligHt to Be?

5. Do You NeeD to Be ABle to wAlK oN it ?

Walk on rooflight

O-Lite round rooflight

whether you like it or not, certain building regulations

dictate that rooflights must sit low to your roof, which means

pyramid rooflights and roof lanterns can’t always be used.

fortunately, the extensive range of rooflights available today

means this doesn’t pose a problem.

flat rooflights have extremely slim aluminium profiles, which

allow them to be installed flush with minimal protrusion to

the existing roof.

where aesthetics are key, frameless designs with glass flush

to the edge are the order of the day.

Your chosen rooflight partner will be able to advise you on

what can be done to ensure you abide by building regulations

and any reputable supplier should be happy to do this.

As well as enabling your home to be flooded with beautiful

natural light, high-quality rooflights are also extremely

environmentally friendly. look for products that boast

market-leading thermal performance which eliminates heat

loss, allowing you to save on heating costs during the winter.

in addition rooflights allow more natural light to flood your

home, reducing the need to turn your lights on all year

round, making rooflights a win-win in terms of both heating

and electricity.

u-values measure a material’s effectiveness as an insulator.

the lower the u-value, the better the material is as an insulator.

Rooflights with market-leading thermal performance have

u-values as low as 0.6. As a comparison, some double-

glazed windows have u-values of 2.8.

is your rooflight going to just add extra natural light or do you

want to be able to open it and benefit from more ventilation

too?

opening rooflights can be installed on flat or pitched roofs,

and most open via a sliding mechanism or hinge. while many

traditional opening rooflights need to be manually operated,

modern ones feature chain actuated mechanisms which

are controlled by a wall-mounted rocker switch or remote

control.

there are also rooflights that open to a 90-degree angle,

allowing for unhindered roof access. in addition to enabling

roof access, these rooflights can be operated remotely from

up to 30 metres away – ideal if you will be using the access

point to carry out maintenance on your roof.

what’s really amazing, though, is that many modern rooflights

feature rain sensors, which close them automatically when

rain is detected. this means you never have to worry about

leaving a rooflight open upstairs and forgetting about it while

you are somewhere else in the event of rain.

6 . Does it NeeD to s it low to YouR Roof?

7. Do You wANt it to CoMPlY witH BeiNg eCo-fRieNDlY?

8. Do You wANt to Be ABle to oPeN it ?

Opening rooflights

ever imagined being able to create one of those breath-

taking rooms with ceilings that are made of glass? this is how

you can do it…

Remember we said that modular rooflight systems can be up

to 1.2 metres wide and as long as you want? this makes them

the perfect solution when you need something significantly

larger than the standard sizes offered by most rooflight

companies. with the right combination you can effectively

achieve whatever you want, something truly unique.

Modular rooflights can be designed in different configurations,

allowing you to benefit from something that’s suited to your

particular application.

if you’ve got an unusual space, are constrained by building

regulations or just want something really different, a modular

rooflight could be exactly what you’re looking for. with

almost total flexibility, you can solve most design and build

issues seamlessly.

You are more likely to choose double-glazed windows over

single-glazed ones because you know how much more

energy efficient they are, right? Does it not make sense,

therefore, that triple-glazed rooflights would provide better

insulation than their double-glazed counterparts?

if you are making a hole in your roof, removing insulation

and building materials to be replaced with a glass rooflight,

you need to be sure you aren’t going to be losing heat or

experiencing ‘cold spots.’

the bottom line is that triple-glazing with argon-filled cavities

provides unrivalled thermal performance, delivering u-values

as low as 0.6.

As well as looking for rooflights that are triple-glazed, you

should also ensure the frames are equally high performance.

otherwise you’ll lose heat through the frames, which totally

defeats the point of having triple-glazing in the first place.

9. Do You wANt to CReAte soMetHiNg uNique?

10. Do You wANt tRiPle glAze oR DouBle glAze?

TrIpLe seaLed gLass unIT

WITH WarM edge spacer bar

LOWer 6mm reFLex+ energy

TOugHened saFeTy HIgH-spec

LOW e Inner paneLs

pLaTInuM grade THerMaL

InsuLaTIOn HeLpIng TO acHeIeve

MaxIMuM THerMaL perFOrMance

WITH 0.6W/M2k

2 argOn FILLed cavITIes

triple glazed unit

As well as being triple-glazed, many rooflights can be

purchased with specialised glass. whether you require glass

that is designed to block out unwanted noise or glass that

can reduce the heat of the sun’s rays, you’ve got options

available.

while most rooflight glass blocks out the harmful uV rays

of the sun, special solar control glass can also be added (as

an optional extra) to further reduce solar heat. A material’s

ability to do this is measured by its g-value. the lower the

g-value, the less heat gets through.

You’ve also got the option to make your rooflights extra

secure by choosing security glass. this tougher material

reduces the chances of your rooflight glass being accidentally

or deliberately damaged.

How about a tint? Most rooflight glass is also available with

a tint. Clear glass is the standard, but you can also choose

between a subtle blue tint, subtle bronze tint or a privacy tint.

A subtle blue tint removes the harsh glare often seen with

sunlight and helps to protect your furniture. if you have a

south-facing rooflight, a subtle bronze tint which darkens

with the heat of the sun will help keep you cooler on

particularly hot days and protect your furniture from fading.

A privacy tint does exactly as its name implies. You still get

natural, filtered light, but nothing can be seen through the

rooflight from either side. this type of tint is particularly

useful if you have buildings overlooking your property and

want to retain a degree of privacy. Despite the glass losing

its transparency, you only lose on average 10-15% of light in

comparison to a transparent glass.

finally, some rooflight glass is designed to reduce noise.

whether it’s external noise like a busy road, or more natural

sounds like rain. Noise reduction glass is a great option for

those who want to keep things quiet.

11 . Do You wANt oRDiNARY glAss, t iNteD oR solAR?

Have you heard of RAl colours? it’s a colour matching system

used across europe which defines colours for paint, coatings

and plastics. in a nutshell, RAl provides a quick and easy way

for people to immediately see and compare colours using a

standardised chart. it ensures that when you order something

like a rooflight, you know beforehand exactly what colour

you are getting because both you and the manufacturer are

working from the same colour chart.

while most rooflight manufacturers make their products

in a variety of standard colours, some will also allow you

to choose a RAl colour or combination of RAl colours for

an additional fee. this is perfect for when you have a very

specific use in mind or a situation that requires something a

little bit different.

while the primary purpose of a rooflight is to allow more

natural light to enter a room, there will obviously be occasions

when you want to cover them to reduce light flow and add

some privacy. this is where rooflight blinds come in.

Most reputable rooflight manufacturers should be able to

offer made-to-measure blackout blinds that perfectly cover

their rooflights, blocking out unwanted external light when

you are trying to sleep. if you want complete darkness, these

blackout blinds are exactly what you need.

they can be partially closed at a position of your choosing

if you just want to restrict the amount of light and come in

either manual or electric with a remote control. You can

close or open them without even getting up from your

favourite chair.

if you’re a DiY whizz, installing a rooflight might be a job

you’d consider taking on yourself. Maybe it’s something you

would do with the help of a local builder. or perhaps you’d

like the rooflight manufacturer to also fit it to afford total

peace of mind. the choice is yours.

the great thing about most modern rooflights is they can be

installed relatively easily. this means your shiny new rooflights

can be in and providing your home with more light in no time

at all. Most flat style rooflights are now manufactured in one

piece, with no assembly required, making installation child’s

play.

if you are wondering about how a larger Roof lantern design

might be delivered and how to get it up onto the roof, the

answer is that it will come flat packed in kit form. with full

assembly and glazing instructions, they can be manoeuvred

down narrow alleyways or through awkward access points

far easier.

And if like many people, you are not intending on installing

the rooflight/roof lantern yourself, some manufacturers

offer an installation service. so you can have your rooflight

assembled, glazed and fitted by the manufacturer’s own

dedicated team.

12 . wHAt ColouR Do You wANt YouR RoofligHt to Be?

13. Do You NeeD A Bl iND foR YouR RoofligHt ?

14. How will You get YouR RoofligHt iNstAlleD?

last but certainly not least, is finding out how much your new

rooflight is going to cost and knowing your payment options.

every good rooflight supplier should be able to provide

an accurate quotation. You can often select a rooflight

that’s perfect for your situation and get an accurate price

immediately online.

zero per cent finance is an option some companies provide.

the cost of building work can soon mount up, which is why

0% finance can be a huge helping hand. in most cases your

deposit can be as little as 10% of your order total.

As you can now appreciate, choosing a rooflight isn’t just a

case of deciding on a size and placing an order. so rather

than leaving this important decision to your builder, why not

get involved and ensure you get a rooflight that really ticks all

your boxes when it comes to your plans and ambitions.

the key is to find a reputable rooflight supplier who is also

willing to work with you every step of the way to ensure your

rooflight project is both seamless and successful.

Contact us today to discuss your needs and obtain a free

quotation without obligation – Our expert team are on-

hand to provide you with all the impartial advice you need

to choose the very best solution for your project.

15. wHAt PAYMeNt oPtioNs ARe AVAilABle?

AND f iNAllY. . .

0116 269 6297 | sales@roof-maker.co.uk

1 Pinfold Road, thurmaston, leicester le4 8As

gyfti

www.Roof-MAKeR.Co.uK

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