Skylight and rooflight guides
Longer reads for when you are weighing up a rooflight: what to choose, what the rules say and what to expect.
Start hereChoosing a Skylight for a Dark RoomWhy rooms go dark, where a rooflight should sit, which type suits which room, how big to go and which glazing holds up in winter.10 min readChoosing and planning
Roof lanterns
Roof Lantern Sizes and ProportionsSizing a roof lantern from the room and roof: the glazed area, the upstand, the shape of the lantern, the pitch, and the measurements the survey takes.9 min read
Aluminium or uPVC Roof LanternsAluminium and uPVC roof lantern frames compared on sightlines, strength, thermal performance, colour, upkeep and the kind of extension each suits.9 min read
Flat roof rooflights
Flat Rooflight Upstands and KerbsWhat an upstand or kerb does, the kerb types, insulation, weathering into the roof covering and what a survey checks before one is built.11 min read
Fixed or Opening Flat RooflightsHow fixed and opening flat rooflights compare on light, air, heat, safety, reach and upkeep, room by room.10 min read
Roof windows
Roof Windows for Loft ConversionsNumber, position and size of roof windows for a loft room, plus escape, Building Regulations and winter comfort.10 min read
Centre-Pivot or Top-Hung Roof WindowsHow centre-pivot and top-hung roof windows open, and which suits your sill height, view, cleaning and furniture.10 min read
VELUX windows
VELUX Size Codes ExplainedWhat the letters and digits in a code like MK04 mean, the common sizes, how a code relates to the hole in the roof and what changes when you resize.10 min read
VELUX Flashings for Tiles and SlatesWhat a flashing does, how tiles, profiled tiles and slates change the choice, where leaks start and what to look at when you replace a window.10 min read
Electric & opening rooflights
Electric or Manual Opening RooflightsHow to choose between a hand-operated and a motorised opening rooflight: reach, rooms, wiring, controls and what happens in a grey, damp winter.11 min read
Rain Sensors and Rooflight ControlsRain sensors, wall switches, handsets, timers and smart links for electric opening rooflights, with placement and everyday checks.9 min read
Energy efficient rooflights
Rooflight U-Values ExplainedWhat a U-value measures, the Part L limits for existing homes, what moves the figure and how to read one on a datasheet or quote.10 min read
Stopping Condensation on RooflightsWhere the water comes from, how to tell condensation from a leak or a blown unit, and the room, glass and fitting changes that stop it.10 min read
Misted rooflight replacement
Why Rooflights Mist UpHow a sealed unit fails, why flat roofs and warm kitchens make it likelier, and how to tell true misting from ordinary condensation.9 min read
Replacing a Rooflight on an Existing KerbWhat the kerb is, how we judge whether it can stay, how a new unit is matched to it and what the swap involves on a flat roof.9 min read
Walk-on rooflights
Walk-On Rooflight Glass ExplainedLaminated and toughened layers, interlayers, anti-slip finishes, insulating units and what each choice does for a floor of glass.11 min read
Walk-On Rooflights for Terraces and BasementsWhere a walk-on rooflight suits a terrace, patio or lightwell, how the build-up is laid, and the water, structure and escape points to settle first.10 min read
Conservation rooflights
Rooflights in Conservation Areas and Listed BuildingsHow planning treats a rooflight in a conservation area or a listed building, what councils check, and the order to do things in.10 min read
Conservation Rooflight Sizes and Glazing BarsHow to size a conservation rooflight to the roof, when a glazing bar helps, and how both affect the light under a grey sky.9 min read
Sun tunnels
Where Sun Tunnels Work BestThe rooms, roof types and positions where a sun tunnel earns its place, and the places where a different rooflight does the job better.10 min read
Rigid or Flexible Sun TunnelsHow rigid and flexible tubes differ, which loft layouts call for each, and what to ask about insulation, fixings and finish.9 min read
These guides take a topic from the beginning and follow it through. If your room is dim and you are not sure what to do about it, begin with choosing a skylight for a dark room. If your question is about permission, read planning permission for rooflights.
Our grey-day daylight page sets out the thinking behind how we plan an opening, and the cost page explains why we survey before we price.
For a short, direct answer to a single question, the answers section is quicker. And if you would rather talk about your own roof, ask for a free survey and we will look at it with you.