There’s nothing like having daylight entering your home through a flat roof lantern that will make your room feel airy and large. Whether it is just a burst of brightness into your room due to sunrise or the colourful glow of a sunset, you are sure to love the light that roof glazing lanterns bring in. While they do come in various designs and styles almost all types of flat roof lanterns can add value to your property by increasing the architectural presence and prestige looks. If you are also looking for flat roof lanterns but do not know what are flat roof lanterns or the benefits of roof lanterns then here is a detailed gist regarding the same.
What are Flat Roof Lanterns?
While you may be quite aware of the flat roof lights that fit into the construction of your roof, you might still want to know what are flat roof lanterns. When you talk about flat roof lanterns they are quite different from a flat roof light. They are more of an architectural feature than just a window. They are also made from various panes of glass that get joined together to create a box, pyramid, or elongated pyramid that rises above the roof.
These flat roof lanterns were also considered to be one of the popular features in Victorian times since these were quite commonly used to light up dark stairwells. These days you can also buy traditional designs that give more of an ornate feel. Roof lanterns could also be called a combination of skylight and a high-tech conservatory. The glass panes get good support from an object called a kerb which is used alongside glazing bars which makes them visible from underneath. These glazing bars are quite beautiful to view. While the traditional style has more glazing bars and connectors being attached to the roof, the contemporary ones minimise the glazing bars providing a sleeker look and maximising the light flow.
Benefits of Roof Lanterns
Aside from enjoying the absolutely beautiful view of the structure of the glass roof systems you can get a wonderful view of the sky be it night or day. If you think this is the only benefit you get for attaching roof lanterns then here are a few other benefits of roof lanterns that will convince you to get one for your home.
Enhanced natural light
Starting with one of the most obvious benefits of attaching a roof lantern is the increase in the natural light that fills your home. Sunlight is important not just for illuminating the entire room but also for functional purposes. Good sunlight could also mean there could be a lot of health benefits being attached. This can mean there could be a positive push in terms of the ability to focus and improve your overall mood.
Energy efficiency and sustainability
Adding natural light to a space with the help of roof lanterns will not just reduce the reliance on electricity for artificial light but the energy-efficient glazing will also help improve the home’s thermal efficiency. For example, when you use toughened glass for glass roof systems there is lower heat loss throughout the winter and the sealed glazing units also help keep the cold outside.
Aesthetic appeal
While both of the benefits mentioned above are more than enough to increase the value of your house. Apart from this you also get a wonderful piece of work right in the centre of your space. This could be any room right from the kitchen to the bedroom to even your living space. The beautiful roof glazing is sure to catch the eyes of almost everywhere while increasing the aesthetic appeal of the house.
Popular Flat Roof Lantern Designs
Each of the different styles of roof lanterns provides you with a varied number of benefits and costs. It also gives you a chance to accentuate your house and make contrasting changes based on your existing appliances. However, before you dive into the various types of flat roof designs you might want to check the location of where you want it to be installed.
The more complex the designs the longer it takes to install however the results are also that grand and wonderful. Simpler designs however focus on the light-shedding part and how the design will look in the room selected. Here are a few such popular flat roof lantern designs you might want to take a look at.
Octagonal Roof Lanterns
Having a multi-faceted and intricate design, the octagonal roof lantern is sure to provide a regal dome effect to your ceiling. The eight sides present provide light to enter through all ways. The design also offers excellent sky views. Due to the multi-pane design, these roof lanterns create a fairly low-angle incline. This helps keep the roof lanterns somewhat modest while also helping with the planning permission so that they are not far up into the sky.
Square Roof Lanterns
These square roof lanterns are square at the base and consist of a glazed pyramid structure that is simpler as compared to an octagonal roof lantern. The steeper angular profile tends to help with the self-cleaning design. Of course, the roof lanterns might require the structural incline and special glazing finishes to help with natural cleaning elements such as rain. The steeper the incline is the better the natural cleaning would be. Square designs hence provide a great blend of both function and form. Square roof lanterns just like the octagonal roof lanterns help highlight one section of the room. They both also help ambient light to enter the house.
Rectangular Roof Lanterns
The most common design could be considered to be the rectangular roof lanterns. These offer customizable lengths to suit almost all rooms right from living spaces to hallways. Not to mention, they also provide a simple yet effective contemporary and classy touch to the roof. With a similar incline to the square roof lanterns, these rectangular roof lanterns tend to provide a better path of light.
Customised designs for unique spaces
While most of the roof lanterns do come in preset designs, you can still choose to add customizations for a unique look. Modern designs also allow several forms of customization right from glass to frames to even the pattern involved. Many of the roof lanterns also offer ventilation panel attachments that homeowners can operate on their own.
Materials and Construction
When we talk about the materials and construction, the type of frame you choose will dictate how well it fits into the existing structure. In fact, the first question you might want to ask when choosing the roof lanterns would be whether you would want to opt for a traditional or a contemporary look. For example, a slimline aluminium frame could provide a modern and sleek feel with low sightlines. This tends to maximise the light entering the room without having any thick glazing bars being an obstruction. On the other hand, you might find thicker glazing bars in the traditional style will give you more of an ornate or classic feel.
Apart from a basic aluminium frame you also get timber roof lanterns which are quite popular for conservatory projects due to their natural and classic feel. While they are more expensive than an aluminium frame they do add a great deal of design to your project and also give a natural look.
While you do look for frames while talking about materials, you also need to look for a great type of glazing for your roof lantern. Most of the options include either toughened glass or standard. Roof lanterns are mostly designed in such a way that they are well insulated, however choosing double glazing for your roof lantern should be a must. This helps increase thermal efficiency along with noise reduction. Going for a triple-glazed roof lantern will also allow proper sound insulation such that you might forget you’re living amidst a busy city.
Clear glass is also quite a popular choice where you get solar reflective costing to reflect the sun’s heat. This could be the perfect summer solution. Worried that the glass might be way too clear for you and your privacy is at risk, then you can opt for a privacy glass as well. This will also make it a great choice for your bathrooms or bedrooms where you get spectacular views along with the much-needed privacy.
Installation Tips for Flat Roof Lanterns
If you have now decided to get a flat roof lantern then you might also know that there are certain requirements that need to be followed before you actually get one installed. A few of the rules that need to be followed can be provided below:
- The roof lanterns should be at most 150 mm from the existing roof plane
- The roof lanterns cannot be even higher than the highest part of your roof
- In some situations, there are side-facing windows that need to be obscure glazed, especially if you have windows overlooking the adjoining boundaries.
Apart from the rules here are a few other installation tips that might help you get the best results out of the process:
- To install a roof lantern you usually need to alter the opening of the roof construction. This should be done so that the roof is able to carry the weight of the new lantern.
- The fire performance will need to be considered if the roof lantern is attached near a boundary.
- Any roof lantern that you get must adhere to the rules and regulations that are present. If the roof lanterns are being attached to an existing roof then there must be an inspection and must also be approved by building control.
Factors to consider
Roof lanterns just like any other structural object will require proper consideration to be made before they can be designed, manufactured, and installed on a property. Some of the key things that you might want to consider would include weight, size, rafter considerations, glass options, paint colours, vents, thermal U values, and more.
You might also want to check whether your roof lantern would be in an area where there would be direct sunlight all day long. If this is so then you might want to consider a self-cleaning glass or if it is in an area that is frequently overshadowed by other property structures then mold resistance or rot-proofing should also be considered.
Why Choose Finepoint Glass?
Now you might want to know why you should choose Finepoint Glass, well this is because we ensure that our clients get only the premium and market-leading products that actually last longer. We also ensure to build a standard and not a budget roof lantern to ensure that you will always have trust in the roof lantern attached overhead. If you are interested in learning more about roof lanterns you can also visit the Finepoint Glass to learn more about how we ensure the best customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
Flat roof lanterns no matter what type you go for, you get everything right from value to space to light for your house. They are as we say also a great showpiece feature without having the need to move around any element in your house. Not to mention there are a lot of modern roof lanterns that come in various styles and materials which offer versatility while also matching personal architectural preferences. Also with the added advantages of roof lanterns, it is no shock that almost everywhere you will find a house with roof lantern being attached.
FAQs
1. What is the cost range for installing a flat roof lantern?
A mid-sized roof lantern with aluminium framing could cost around 1,750 Euros to 2,150 Euros.
2. How do flat roof lanterns contribute to energy savings?
First of all flat roof lanterns allow natural light to enter the room hence lowering the dependency on electricity which also means lower reliance on artificial lighting.
3. Can flat roof lanterns be installed on any type of flat roof?
They can be installed mostly on all types of flat roofs however some are also often seen on pitched roofs.
4. What are the best materials for a flat roof lantern in terms of durability?
In terms of durability and longevity, the best materials used would be PVC roofing. It will also provide resistance in terms of chemical, fire, or temperature.
5. Are there any specific maintenance requirements for flat roof lanterns?
Here are a few ways in which you can maintain the flat roof lanterns for better longevity:
- Cleaning of downpipes and gutters for better drainage.
- Removing debris from the roof corners and edges.
- Checking the paint coating of metal parts
- Repairing any brittle mortar
- Inspecting the flat roof seams.