Rooflights
Glazing options
Once you have chosen the most
appropriate material for your rooflight,
you then need to consider the glazing
options. Glazing can also be a tricky
subject when specifying a rooflight,
not least because there are so many
different types of glass and glazing
system available.
Aside from thermal performance you
need to decide if you need toughened
glass, for additional safety and
protection against falling objects.
Toughened glass does not mean that
it is suitable to walk on, so if you need
to stand on a rooflight it will require
specialist glazing.
Self cleaning glass is another option.
This technological breakthrough
was introduced to the UK in 2002
by Pilkington, and is effectively the
same as conventional glass, but with
a specially developed coating on the
outside, that once exposed to daylight,
reacts in two ways.
Firstly, it breaks down any organic
dirt deposits through a photocatalytic
process, and secondly, when it rains,
instead of forming droplets, the water
spreads evenly over the surface and
takes the dirt off with it. It is kinder to
the environment than ordinary glass
and it is 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.
Few rooflight companies will offer triple
glazing as standard, so be aware of this
when you are gathering and comparing
quotes.
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.
Allowing sunlight to pass through your
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rooflight while radiating and reflecting
away a large degree of the sun’s heat
means that your indoor space stays
bright and much cooler than would be
the case if normal glass were used. Solar
control glass is not necessarily coloured
or mirrored glass, although such
finishes can be applied for aesthetic
purposes if desired.
Conservation style
rooflights
If you have a Listed property or live
within a Conservation Area, you may be
restricted in the type of rooflight you
are allowed to install and the chances
are that you will need a traditional
or conservation style rooflight
that complies with strict building
regulations.
The legislation around conservation
rooflights state that new openings
should generally be kept to a minimum
and should be of a simple form that
respects the building’s character.