BUILDING ENVELOPE


Seeing the light of day


Choosing the most suitable rooflight for your build can be anything but straightforward, with a variety of important aspects to consider including shape, size, and the materials it’s made from. Paul Trace from Stella Rooflight offers some practical advice to self-builders


T


he first thing to consider is the type of materials that are available for the rooflight frame. There are many


different types of rooflight on the market catering from the modern contemporary style through to a more traditional look and feel.


Steel is the obvious choice for period


properties and barn conversions, but they are now also being more frequently used in sleek new contemporary houses due to their appearance, low profile and ability to let in more natural daylight. Timber is a long-time favourite on homes of any style, but getting onto the roof to maintain the timber can be an awkward task. PVCu is also an option and is often the cheapest, but it will not provide the slim frames that metal is capable of, nor the natural look of wood.


The important thing is to select a


rooflight that matches the look and feel that you are trying to achieve with your home, as it should blend in with your roof and the materials used throughout the rest of the house.


may/june 2022


GLAZING OPTIONS


Once you have chosen the most appropriate material for your rooflight, you then need to consider the glazing options. Aside from thermal performance you need to decide if you need toughened glass, for additional safety and protection against falling objects. Self-cleaning glass is another option and can be the ideal choice for situations where cleaning will be costly or difficult. You also have the option for double or triple glazing. This is probably fairly obvious, but you should always opt for triple glazing if budget allows as this will have a significant impact on the thermal performance of the rooflight. It is also possible to have solar control glazing, which incorporates invisible layers of special materials on the glass that has the dual effect of allowing sunlight in, while repelling solar heat.


ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE Consideration must be given to thermal performance and improving carbon and


The important thing is to select a rooflight that matches the look and feel that you are trying to achieve with your home


energy reduction in buildings. Part L of the Building Regulations is one of the tools used by the Government to achieve these objectives. These regulations are set to change this month, as the UK Government continues its drive towards greater thermal efficiency in housebuilding.


www.sbhonline.co.uk 61


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