Rooflights
Dormer windows are not usually
appropriate, so any new window
openings in the roof will likely need
to be rooflights, and in most instances
metal conservation-style rooflights
which sit flush with the line of the roof.
There are specialist rooflights that are
manufactured for the heritage property
market and conservation rooflights are
easily recognised by their low profile
which means they sit flush and remain
unobtrusive to the building’s original
architecture. Another characteristic
is their slender appearance as
conservation requirements stipulate
that a minimal amount of framework
should be visible, particularly if
rooflights are placed next to each other.
Another feature of a genuine
conservation rooflight is the glazing
mullion (glazing bar) which separates
the glazing into sections. This follows
the traditional conservation rooflight
design and not only provides a more
authentic look but offers increased
strength for the opening section. If your property is Listed you will need
to work closely with your local authority
before making changes to the building
fabric. An excellent resource to find out
more on this topic is the Listed Property
Owners Club, www.lpoc.co.uk.
There are a number of manufacturers
who claim to offer conservation roof
windows but have opted to remove the
traditional bar in favour of sticking
something to the double glazed unit.
Not only does this risk damaging self-
clean glazing or worse, having it fall off
after a few years, it also significantly
detracts from the original conservation
rooflight appearance. Maintenance of your rooflight is often
something that manufacturers will be
uncomfortable discussing with you, as
they are all too aware of the difficulty
in achieving this. However, the fact is
that, like most any other part of your
home, it will require a degree of care to
maximise its lifespan.
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Maintaining your rooflight
Proper maintenance is particularly
important if you are specifying a metal