| One of the benefits of designing in a rooflight into a | | | | home. This constant weathering meant that in past |
| new property, or installing one in a home or business | | | | times, annual repainting was often required in a |
| premise renovation, is that you will be able to enjoy | | | | difficult to reach position, leading to more expense. |
| natural light. This will help save energy used for | | | | However, by using microporous paints and stains, |
| lighting and provide evenly distributed natural light that | | | | today's frames enjoy outstanding protection against |
| enhances the rooms below the rooflight. | | | | the elements even in harsh northern climates and |
| On a flat or low-pitched roof, the rooflight will | | | | coastal locations. |
| probably be a roof lantern with sidelights. The | | | | It's the introduction of modern construction methods |
| sidelights can be permanently fixed, or be opened to | | | | like these that have lead to a renaissance in the use |
| provide ventilation. This can be done either through a | | | | of rooflights in domestic and industrial architecture. |
| manually operated crank rod, or more easily with an | | | | What's more, old leaky and draughty rooflights can |
| electric motor that can be switched to open or close | | | | be replaced with a modern roof lantern that will need |
| on demand, automatically at set times, or when a | | | | little maintenance and provide a more comfortable |
| rain sensor activates it when it detects rain, mist or | | | | environment in the space below it. |
| dew. | | | | Moreover, designers and architects also have the |
| Pitched rooflights come in various shapes that include | | | | opportunity to specify anti-glare coatings or tints for |
| pyramid, domed, hexagon, octagon, or just plain | | | | the glazing, or even self-cleaning glass, although these |
| square. However, the most usual design is rectangular | | | | will add to the cost of the rooflight. |
| with a hipped or gable end. | | | | In a conservation area or on a listed building, there is |
| Historically, a single glazed rooflight could make the | | | | often a requirement to meet specified design |
| space below it uncomfortably cold in winter months | | | | features. These can usually be met, depending on the |
| and with inadequate sealing, cold winds and draughts | | | | age of the property, by including Georgian wire |
| would blow through providing unwanted winter | | | | sidelights, Victorian styled stained glass or other glass |
| ventilation. As a result, in some cases, the rooflight | | | | treatments as appropriate. It only takes a little |
| was reduced in size, or removed completely and | | | | ingenuity to achieve this and planning officials will |
| boarded over, as the lack of weather proofing and | | | | generally be pleased as there is little compromise in |
| the difficulty of maintenance made them uneconomic | | | | the period design. Once again, modern construction |
| and expensive to maintain. | | | | will mean that the roof lantern will be longer lasting |
| However, modern sealing and double glazing provide | | | | and require less maintenance than what it replaced. |
| much greater thermal efficiency and reduced heating | | | | So if you are planning to install a rooflight there are |
| costs. The use of durable hardwood timber for the | | | | no longer a great number of negative reasons that |
| frames and modern paints to paint them, has also | | | | should put you off. Instead you can look forward to |
| makes the rooflight more owner friendly. Because of | | | | enjoying more natural interior light and a design |
| its position, the rooflight is exposed to more rain, | | | | feature that will be the envy of friends and visitors. |
| frost and sunlight than any other painted part of the | | | | |