Roof Lanterns and Rooflights: How to Maximise Natural Light in Your Project

Roof Lanterns and Rooflights: How to Maximise Natural Light in Your Project

With summer drawing to a close and the nights growing longer now is the perfect time to consider the ways in which to make the most of the dwindling sunlight. Airy and light spaces have a positive effect on those living and working within them and roof lanterns and rooflights are the ideal way to create spacious environments. They transform a dark area by maximising natural light creating a feeling of height and space in an otherwise flat, low-ceiling room.

Roof lanterns and rooflights have historically been used as a source of natural light and as a strong visual feature both internally and externally. These glazing elements gained popularity during the Victorian era with the advent of sheet-metal shops. The Victorians utilised metal framed skylights to illuminate dark stairwells in terraced housing and roof lanterns to create eye-catching architectural features.

Historical uses of roof lanterns and rooflights continue to be practical in new build and refurbishment projects today. Advancements in glazing, construction and sealing techniques mean that the addition of a roof lantern or rooflight can also increase the energy efficiency of a building by reducing the need for electrical lighting and improving thermal performance.

Take a look at the roof lanterns and rooflights some of our Barbour Product Search clients have to offer:

Autumn inspiration from Westbury Windows & Joinery

Westbury Windows and Joinery Roof Lantern

As the nights draw in and the lights go on - thoughts turn to enjoying family life and entertaining indoors. Yet you can still enjoy the natural and mellow lights of autumn with a roof lantern in your kitchen or living area.

Westbury roof lanterns have clean lines and symmetry creating impact both internally and externally. Good proportion is essential to the look and feel of the room and you need to consider depth of shelf, beam dimension and hip shape to create a balanced design.

Small details make a big difference. Built onto a flat roof Westbury lanterns provide light and ventilation.

Click here for more information on Roof Lanterns from Westbury Windows & Joinery.

Space, light, style and quality with a Mumford & Wood roof lantern

Mumford and Wood Roof Lantern

Top-drawer timber window and door specialist Mumford & Wood has introduced a stunning Garden Room collection featuring bespoke orangeries, conservatories and glass houses that will complement and coordinate with your windows and doors and the chosen architectural style of your project.

Roof lanterns often form the focal point of a hardwood orangery and are usually positioned to define a particular area within a space such as over a kitchen island within a flat roof extension; to create a dining area within an open plan kitchen diner; to brighten a dark stairwell or landing, or to add natural light in a dark converted attic space. Wherever you choose, you can be sure that no other single design element in your build will be responsible for providing such a magical rush of free overhead light to transform your space.

Click here for more information on Roof Lanterns from Mumford & Wood.

Innovative rooflighting for a ground-breaking school

Roofglaze installed over sixty different rooflights of different sizes and specifications at The Village School in North West London. At a main junction of corridors a nine metre diameter polygonal glass pyramid skylight was installed to enhance light levels in this area. The skylight provides a strong visual feature both internally and externally.

Roofglaze roof lights for Village School Brent

A particularly innovative feature of the school is this rooftop play area which occupies a 1980m2 roof over one of the main buildings. Installed on this roof area are forty-two high specification flat glass ‘walk-on’ rooflights. Outer skins are 39.5mm clear toughened laminated glass with diffusing vision (white) and translucent slip-resistant ceramic coating, over a 14mm argon-filled cavity. Inner skins are 6mm toughened glass. The rooflights maximise natural light into the classrooms and corridors below whilst also obscuring vision between the two levels.

Chris Morgan, Operations Manager at Roofglaze commented “Our flat glass rooflights have played a particularly important role here, enabling the provision of natural daylight in areas where it would have otherwise been impractical. These rooflights are becoming increasingly popular in all kinds of city applications where space is at a premium and property values are high.”

For more information on Rooflights and Skylights from Roofglaze visit www.roofglaze.co.uk.

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Posted by
Lauren Easton - Editorial Account Manager

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