ASK THE EXPERT Get your light right


With so many options available from so many suppliers, choosing the right rooight can be a bit of a minefield. Here aul Trace from Stella Rooights answers the key questions you will need to consider when seeking out the ideal rooight for your project, based on aesthetics and practicality


DO I NEED A PITCHED OR FLAT ROOFLIGHT? The design for a at rooight is different to that of a pitched rooight and a at version will require a kerbupstand section built onto your roof. If you have a sloping roof you can generally find rooights that can be installed between 1 and 0 degrees. It is always important to know the roof finish and mention the pitch of your roof when talking to rooight suppliers, to ensure you are quoted for the right product.


HOW BIG CAN MY ROOFLIGHT BE? Modern glaing technology allows some very big areas of glass to be achieved, but if you are working with an older or listed property then it is advisable to use conservation rooights and keep to smaller sies. More modern projects are better served by more contemporary skylight designs which have much larger areas of high specification glaing, without the more traditional glaing bars used in conservation roof windows. Just remember that the bigger the glass area the thicker and heavier the glass will be, so you may need to crane your rooight into position.


DO I WANT IT TO BE AN OPENING OR A FIXED DESIGN?


This will depend on whether you need the rooight for ventilation or just for light. Having fixed rooights quite often works out more cost effective because you can have larger pieces of glass without the overhead of the mechanisms. Some bespoke rooight manufacturers


can produce frames which combine both fixed and opening casements.


HOW WOULD I LIKE MY ROOFLIGHT TO OPEN?


This will depend on whether you need ventilation or access to the roof. If you have other sources of ventilation then it is probably advisable and more cost effective to have a fixed non-opening roof light. Smaller rooights tend to operate manually but if you opt for a large rooight most will be operated with electric actuation. There are a wide variety of actuators available but typically a rooight operates with a small cill mounted actuator to push the casement open. arger bespoke rooight designs can sometimes have concealed actuators to lift casements.


WHAT GLASS SHOULD I USE IN MY ROOF LIGHT? There is no one sie fits all’ option for rooights, so glass specification should be chosen to reect your most important requirement. There are lots of glass options available for example, double triple glaing, self-clean, solar control or toughened safety glass. Many standard off the shelf products do not offer such a high level specification as standard, so make sure you are comparing like for like when getting quotes.


It is important to check with your manufacturer that they comply with the latest Building Regulations expanded on further below and that the thermal performance U-value quoted is for the


There is no ‘one size fits all’ option for rooflights, so glass specification should be chosen to reflect your most important requirement


10 www.sbhonline.co.uk sep/oct 2023


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