How to choose the right flat rooflight for your home
You’ll need to consider the orientation of your roof windows and the direction of sunlight into the room when planning a flat rooflight installation; this could be in a loft conversion or flat roof extension, or you could be installing a rooflight into the existing roof. This will likely involve more maintenance as you’ll need to consider any structural concerns, such as supporting beams and electrics, but can be an option.
Depending on the direction of sunlight and how much natural light enters your home, the rooflight will benefit your room in different ways. Larger rooflights will give more light, but you’ll need to be careful of too much sunlight heating a room in the summer months if you get direct sunlight all day.
Flat rooflights in north-facing rooms will generally provide indirect sunlight all day. This means that a larger rooflight, flat roof lantern, or a run of rooflights could benefit the space to maximise natural light throughout the day.
East-facing rooms and homes will benefit from the morning light, where a rooflight would work brilliantly in a family space such as the kitchen. The household can benefit from the morning’s rays and avoid too much heat in the middle of the day.
South-facing rooms benefit from light all day, with bright midday sun in particular. Rooflights in south-facing homes are excellent for bringing in light and warmth, so you may wish to consider a smaller rooflight for such a space. Darker rooms with less access to natural light from other sources would benefit from a rooflight in a south-facing room.
West-facing rooms get the most light in the early evening. With long shadows into the evening, flat rooflights in west-facing rooms can help to maximise the amount of natural light as long as possible.
How do you want your flat rooflight to open?
Depending on the size and style of the rooflight, and your own personal preference, you may prefer a flat rooflight that opens. Opening flat roof windows allow more ventilation and fresh air into a property and can be a good idea for south-facing rooms that have bright sunlight at midday. Allowing a cool breeze to enter your home and improve airflow, opening flat rooflights can usually open in different ways.
Manually opening rooflight design will include a manual hand winder, as opposed to higher, inaccessible flat rooflights that may require a motorised opening mechanism, usually controlled by remote control or a switch. This feature offers complete flexibility and an impressive feature that’s incredibly easy to use, with no fuss or manual opening required.
Sizing options for your flat rooflight
Naturally, the larger the rooflight you install, the more natural light you’ll benefit from. But it is worth making sure that you have considered the positioning of the rooflight and the direction of the sunlight. Building regulations for skylights consider the amount of heat that can pass through or be lost through a door or window. This is measured as a U-Value, and the maximum U-Value allowed for a property is stipulated in Part L of the Building Regulations Approval Approved Documents. All of our rooflights offer U-Values in line with modern building regulations, that help to retain heat in the winter and keep the heat out in the summer.
Our range of flat rooflights and conservation rooflights for flat roofs come in a number of standard sizes. Our bespoke rooflight option offers scope for a one-off, unusual size or design, and our made-to-measure service means we can build a flat roof window with unusual measurements, should you require this.
Glazing options for your flat rooflight
Flat roof window glazing options include double glazing, triple ply laminate glass, as well as conservation style windows that are sensitive heritage requirements without compromising on thermal performance.
Our range of rooflights come as standard with high-performance glazing for maximum insulation and quality finish, with any extra features available upon request. With bespoke glazing options including clouded glass for privacy and BioClean glass for self-cleaning roof windows with minimal maintenance, you can ensure your rooflight design is suited to your room and your needs.
Operating accessories for your flat rooflight
There may be additional features and operating accessories that you may need for your rooflight, such as ironmongery, extension poles or concealed motors. Wall-mounted switches are provided for rooflights with a motorised blind feature.
Flashing kits for your flat rooflight
The kerb that the flat rooflight sits upon is made weatherproof using the roof material. Flat roof window flashing makes it possible to install windows on flat roofs while preventing water damage to the roof and property. The rooflight then sits on the weatherproofed kerb, which also features a silicone bead applied just before the rooflight is gently lowered into place. This silicone sealant helps prevent any leaks from entering the property, as even though the rooflight is designed to fit snugly in the frame, there will still be a joint between the fixtures.
Walk on flat rooflights: What you need to know
If you’re considering installing a walk-on rooflight, make sure you do your research to find a supplier that offers this option. Walk-on rooflights will need specially reinforced glass and additional protected coating to help withstand additional weight safely, while also being finished to a high quality for maximum sunlight all year round.