Skip to content
BPindex — The Largest Building Products Directory in the UK

Rooflights

A brighter balance

Building Products Index Ltd Roof system, Roofing, Rooflights, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

View the Filon entry on BPindex

Visit the Filon website

Making room for photovoltaic panels and daylight

By: Mark Wilcox, Managing Director.

It’s clear that a commercial roof can put sunlight to work in two ways. Photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity, while rooflights bring natural light into the building, reducing the need for electric lighting. Planning for both helps a roof deliver more value, through the energy it generates and the environment it creates inside.

For large-span industrial and commercial buildings, the benefits of rooflights go beyond lower lighting energy consumption. Daylight also supports the people working below, giving building owners and occupiers good reason to look beyond how much electricity a roof can produce.

The changing light throughout the day connects occupants with the outside world and supports a healthy 24-hour body clock. Daylight has also been shown to improve alertness and concentration, both welcome additions to the working day.

Spaces well-lit with daylight are associated with better staff retention and reduced absenteeism. Sufficient exposure to daylight is also believed to support long-term health and wellbeing. There are property benefits too: good daylighting has been shown to increase asset value and space utilisation.

Some of these benefits are easier to measure than others, but all deserve consideration when deciding how to use the roof.

For non-residential industrial and commercial buildings, effective daylight provision typically requires rooflights across 10–20% of the roof area. This is a useful starting point when planning rooflights alongside PV panels. The right balance will depend on how the space below is used, the positioning of rooflights and the other equipment the roof needs to accommodate.

There is plenty to fit in, which makes early planning essential. In large-span buildings, daylighting performance is directly related to the proportion of roof allocated to rooflights. Their position matters too. Leaving daylight provision until other rooftop requirements have been settled limits the options available.

For architects, specifiers and roofing contractors, planning rooflights and PV together helps make the most of the available space. It allows the needs of the building and its occupants to shape the roof design from the start.

A successful roof earns its keep in several ways: generating electricity, reducing lighting demand and creating a better working environment. Giving PV panels and rooflights their place in the design helps deliver all three.

At Filon, our specialist rooflighting expertise can help you make daylight part of a balanced, high-performance roof design. Reach out to our team at sales@filon.co.uk, or explore our range on NBS Source.

Roof Lanterns: Getting the Builder’s Kerb Detail Right

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the National Domelight Company entry on BPindex

Visit the Rooflights and Skylights website

The Detail Beneath the Daylight

A roof lantern can transform an interior, bringing daylight into the heart of a building and creating a greater sense of height and space. However, its success depends on something far less visible: the accuracy of the builder’s kerb beneath it.

These three installation stages illustrate why the roof opening, builder’s kerb, waterproofing and lantern should be designed as one coordinated detail.

1. Forming the opening and kerb

The structural opening establishes the internal daylight aperture, while the builder’s kerb provides the support for the roof lantern. These should not be treated as the same measurement.

The lantern may be manufactured to suit the finished external dimensions of the kerb rather than the clear opening below. Its width, height and construction should therefore be agreed with the lantern supplier before work begins.

Accuracy is critical. A kerb can have the correct length and width but still be out of square, so both diagonals should be checked. The top surface must also be level and sufficiently wide to support the lantern frame and accommodate the required fixings.

Be aware that the required kerb width varies according to the lantern system and the roof’s thermal requirements, typically ranging from around 75mm to 150mm. A wider kerb can accommodate more insulation and help achieve the required U-value, but it also reduces the clear opening and available daylight. The final width must therefore balance thermal performance, structural support and daylight.

A typical kerb upstand is at least 150mm above the finished roof surface, subject to the requirements of the selected lantern and roofing system. This must allow for the complete roof build-up, including insulation and waterproofing, rather than being measured from the structural deck.

2. Weatherproofing the upstand

The second stage shows the flat roof and kerb covered with roofing felt. The waterproofing must be dressed securely around the upstand without compromising the level fixing surface.

Felt or membrane can also affect the finished external dimensions of the kerb. These should be checked before the lantern is ordered or manufactured.

 

3. Installing the lantern

When the opening, external kerb dimensions, height, squareness and waterproofing have been properly coordinated, the lantern can sit evenly and achieve the clean, symmetrical appearance intended by the architect.

The lantern may provide the daylight and architectural impact, but the detail beneath it determines how successfully that vision is realised.

Are you confident that the roof opening, kerb and waterproofing have all been designed to work together?

Whatever the scale or complexity of your rooflight requirement, Rooflights & Skylights can provide the practical advice and technical guidance needed to help you specify the right solution for your project.

Looking for high-performance flat glass rooflights on a budget?

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the National Domelight Company on BPindex

Visit the National Domelight Company website

The Whitesales em.glaze Economy series from Rooflights & Skylights delivers exceptional quality and performance at a price that keeps your project costs in check. These economical flat glass rooflights combine excellent thermal and weather performance with enhanced safety, thanks to the laminated inner pane.

Build Options:

Top Only – Ideal for installation on builders’ timber kerb

Fixed Units: Comes with a thermally broken 150mm vertical uPVC upstand.

Manual Opening Units: Perfect for refurbishment projects where electrical access is limited. Operates via a winding spindle and opens up to 200mm. Available with a uPVC em.curb, including trickle ventilation options.

Electric Opening Units: Features a visible motor unit mounted on a 150mm vertical uPVC upstand for a fast and watertight installation. Controlled via the Standard Comfort Control Kit, which includes a control panel, remote control, and rain sensor.

 

em.glaze Economy at a Glance:

  • Versatile options: Available in top only, fixed, manual and electric opening models
  • 11 stock sizes: Ideal for most standard rooflight projects.
  • Low U-values of 1.3W/m2K: Ensures excellent insulation and energy saving.
  • Glass-to-Edge Design: Offers unobstructed views for enhanced aesthetics.
  • Airtight: BS6375-1:2015 and BS EN 12207 Class 4 300 Pa
  • Wind loads: BS 6375-1:2015 and BS EN 12210 Class A3
  • Pre-glazed at the Factory: For easy, hassle-free installation
  • 84mm Black Frit Panel: Provides a sleek, high-end look.
  • Compatibility: Suitable for builders’ timber and uPVC upstands.
  • Thermal Break: Delivers excellent sound insulation and thermal performance.
  • Durable Aluminium Frame: RAL 7016 anthracite grey as standard, or can be powder coated to any RAL colour.
  • Recommended Install pitch (upstand): 5 – 15 degrees for optimal performance

All build options come with a 10-Year warranty, and 1-Year on all electrical components.

Elevate your next project with the high-performance Whitesales em.glaze Economy series – the ideal blend of quality and affordability for today’s market!

Click for more info: https://www.rooflights-skylights.co.uk/brands/whitesales/

Specifying a Glass Skylight: Free Essential Guide

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights, Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the National Domelight Company entry on BPindex

Visit the Rooflights and Skylights website

Unlock the brilliance of natural light using our glass skylight selection guide from Rooflights & Skylights – the  essential companion for specifiers striving to illuminate spaces with precision and elegance. Explore the unique technical features and benefits of brands such as Astroglaze, Brett Martin, Coxdome, Lunaglaze, Starglaze, and Thermalight.

Glass is often preferred for skylights visible from outside or intended to serve as an ambient focal point in indoor spaces. It provides a sleek, stylish, and durable finish, offering a variety glazing and frame colour options, and more. Glass skylights are highly effective for bringing natural light into a property. They are available in both standard sizes and custom-made options, allowing control over the amount of sky visible indoors. In short, the right skylight will flood your interior with natural daylight, enhancing the overall ambiance.

Versatility

Versatility is at the core of our Rooflights & Skylights range, offering a diverse array of functionalities tailored to meet any project’s requirements. These include fixed units, ventilated units, access hatches, smoke vents and units designed for walking on. As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of fixed and flat glass rooflights, it is important to note that these can be supplied with or without an upstand to suit your exact requirements.

The clearest views

For the clearest views of the great outdoors, Rooflights & Skylights glazing comes standard with a Clear finish. Additionally, we offer alternative task-specific finishes such as diffused glazing, solar control glass, low emissivity glass, and Ritec easy clean coatings.

Minimise heat loss, prevent condensation

As standard, all units supplied by Rooflights & Skylights are double-glazed to enhance heat insulation and conserve energy. Additionally, on selected units, there is an option to upgrade the specification to triple glazing for increased insulation and improved energy efficiency.

For expert help in selecting the right glass skylight for your project, download our new Glass brochure today!

 

Safety First: Accidental damage needn’t be a glass-shattering experience!

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the National Domelight Company entry on BPindex

Visit the Rooflights and Skylights website

Roof Lanterns with a standard shatterproof laminated inner pane – the safest choice for overhead glazing from Rooflights & Skylights.

This roof lantern is unique as it’s the only one with a laminated inner pane as standard. This essential safety feature prevents glass from falling into the building in case of accidents, like a falling object hitting the roof lantern. In contrast, other glass rooflights typically offer toughened glass inner panes.

Recognised as one of the safest on the market, this slim and elegant glass roof lantern, designed and manufactured by Brett Martin, makes an architectural statement – it demands attention!

The 4-panel frame design features clean sight lines and neat junctions, maximising the clear area for natural light to flood into the living area or workspace below. Additionally, two extra glazing bars enhance the classic appeal of the 6-panel design!

As standard, the external aluminium framework is supplied powder coated in Anthracite Grey RAL 7016, and the internal framework is White RAL 9010 (other colours are available on request).

Designed for quick and hassle-free installation, it requires minimal silicone sealant, needing only a final seal between the roof and the rooflight.

  • An extremely energy efficient unit, with a thermally broken frame and Low-E double glazing
  • Solar Control Self Cleaning Glazing supplied as standard.
  • Available in 9 standard sizes
  • FREE Speedy Nationwide delivery within 3-5 days for standard sizes from order placement
  • 10 year warranty available

For more information, click here

 

Your specification partner in daylight solutions for interiors

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the National Domelight Company on BPindex

Visit the National Domelight Company website

Visit the Rooflights & Skylights website

With the unrelenting trend for domestic extensions and customers seeking to make maximum use of available space within their homes, Rooflights & Skylights provide you, the architect, with the ideal solution.

As well as delivering natural light to areas of a living space that might otherwise be difficult to illuminate naturally, well considered rooflights or skylights provide opportunity to free up wall space and overcome planning hurdles in ways that traditional windows can’t resolve.

And with the multitude of styles and functionality available, it’s easier than ever to provide you with the perfect solution to meet your customers’ needs in terms of aesthetics, intensity of illumination, thermal performance and ventilation.

However, there’s still plenty to consider. So, Scott Couldrey, Managing Director, Rooflights & Skylights, discusses the options…

Glass or polycarbonate

For many customers, the choice of rooflight styles available on the market can be intimidating, so we always suggest the first choice to make is between a glass or polycarbonate rooflight.

Pro Tip!.. If the rooflight can be seen from the outside of the property, then choose Glass!

There’s no denying that glass rooflights are a more aesthetically pleasing solution – particularly in domestic settings where it might form an architectural centrepiece within the interior, or impose a visual impact on the exterior of the property.

However, polycarbonate rooflights come into their own where functionality and budget trump aesthetics – with a wide range of shapes and sizes as well as different coatings and ventilation options available.

Function and style 

Allowing huge amounts of daylight to flood into an interior space and providing a clean, minimalist, yet stunning design feature, it’s easy to see why roof lanterns and pyramid skylights are such a popular solution when it comes to making a statement.

Pro Tip!.. Looking for a discrete means of introducing light into a single storey extension where the roof acts as a balcony or terrace…choose a Walk-on skylight!

Access hatches are a cost-effective method of allowing occasional access to a rooftop for the purpose of inspection or maintenance, while providing an invaluable source of natural light into an interior.

Our range of AOV smoke vents can serve the dual purpose of allowing natural light into a building, while adhering to fire safety and ventilation regulations – particularly relevant in buildings of multiple occupancy.

Thermal performance

With energy efficiency a growing concern among customers, thermal performance comes under tight scrutiny. As well as different styles and sizes having an impact on the thermal performance of a rooflight or skylight, the range of glazing options and their associated U-value ratings, also determine how much the glass reduces heat loss.

Pro Tip!.. Argon-filled glazing units act as a more efficient thermal buffer than air-filled units and can help your customer save money in reduced energy bills long-term.

Expert support with product specification

With years of experience, working on hundreds of extension projects, Rooflights & Skylights can help you specify the best solution – taking into account budget, aesthetics, functionality, building regulations and planning requirements.

Bespoke rooflight and skylight design

In non-standard spaces or unusual sites, building regulations and planning restrictions can turn up some unusual challenges and our expertise comes into its own…we’re here to help!

And, if our team can’t find a standard product fit for your project then our bespoke support service will ensure a solution is designed and manufactured to your custom-build specifications.

Contact us today for expert support with your next project.

Custom-made glass rooflights at off-the-shelf prices!

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the National Domelight Company Entry on BPindex

Visit the Rooflights & Skylights Website

When it comes to bespoke projects – whether custom build or the renovation of a protected building, it’s rare that high specification and ‘budget-friendly’ go hand-in-hand.

However, with their own R&S range of custom-made flat glass rooflights, Rooflights & Skylights achieves just that. Combining quality – backed by attractive guarantees on all components – with a selection of glazing options to suit your customers’ needs, Rooflights & Skylights provide an affordable solution for all of those one-of-a-kind projects.

The Rooflights & Skylights (R&S) range

Ideally suited to flat roof constructions, the R&S range offer a variety of stylish hinged and fixed glass solutions to allow customers maximum enjoyment of their space.

These include:

– Glass rooflight top only

– Glass rooflight with PVC kerb

– Glass manual hinged rooflight to fit builder’s kerb

– Glass manual hinged rooflight with PVC Kerb

– Glass electric opening rooflight to fit builder’s kerb

– Glass electric opening rooflight with PVC kerb

The sky’s the limit when it comes to glazing options…

Whether they’re seeking protection from the effects of the sun or privacy from surrounding vantage points, there’s a glazing option to meet your customer’s requirements.

Clear – allowing natural light to flood in and fill the space.

Solar Control – reduces solar gain, while maintaining optimum light transmission.

Grey Glass – a decorative option used to reduce light transmission.

Satin Glass – a white laminate layer allows light through while offering high concealment of the room below.

Stippolyte Textured Glass – increased privacy is achieved with a level 4 medium / high obscuration.

Clear, Solar Control and Grey Glass options are also available with ‘easy clean’ coating – reducing the accumulation of dirt and debris on the rooflight and making it easier to clean.

Top spec and easy to install

Rooflights come with a fully sealed laminated double glazed unit as standard. The thermally broken construction ensures no cold bridging and a reduction in condensation. The aluminium frame of each rooflight is supplied with a powder-coated finish in Anthracite (RAL 7016).

Technical support and regulatory advice

The technical team at Rooflights & Skylights are on hand to help determine the right product for your project as well as advising on industry policy and regulation – saving you time and budget.

Quality: Guaranteed

 While all rooflight units are made to a high specification by a leading manufacturer, for added peace of mind customers can enjoy a number of guarantees, which include:

10 years on the unit

5 years on the double glazed unit

1 year on electrical components, where applicable.

View the whole range and order today from as little as £399

Maximise daylight with unlimited length Mardome Glass Link Rooflights from NDC

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the National Domelight Company entry on BPindex

Visit the National Domelight Company website

Retouched Glass Link SlottedSupplied by NDC, the Mardome Glass Link Rooflight system provides a continuous sleek and minimalist rooflight of unlimited length thanks to its simple modular design, maximising natural daylight.

The premium, factory-assembled modules simply interlock together and are designed to fit directly into an existing or new upstand.

Specification & size

Retouched Glass Link ModularMardome Glass Link is flexible and simple to specify for both new-build and refurbishment projects, with a maximum span width of 3.8m but unlimited length. Large modules can be glazed with multiple panes, minimising the number of modules to fit. Smaller rooflights comprise of a single monopane module.

Effortless fitting

There’s no need for on-site sealant application, perimeter insulation or flashing; these modules simply lap-seal together and side-fix into a preprepared weathered upstand for quick and simple installation.

Minimalist styling

Retouched Glass Link OpenA clean, contemporary look that delivers maximum daylight thanks to large glass modules with wide spans between glazing bars. Glass fits flush in the framework, with both opening and fixed modules sitting level. Concealed actuators mean all modules appear identical for a sleek, elegant and minimalist aesthetic.

Mardome Glass Link features:

  • Size: Maximum span width of 3.8m, unlimited length
  • Pitch: 2-35o (span), 0-15o (length)
  • Glazing: 6mm toughened outer, argon filled cavity, 9.5mm laminated inner (11.5mm on very large panes), special options available. CWCT TN-92 tested (for class 2 roofs)
  • Thermal performance: Standard centre pane U-value of 1.1 W/m2K
  • Framework: Fully thermally broken aluminium frame. Dual colour powder coated as standard (RAL 7016 anthracite grey external, RAL 9010 pure white internal), with optional special powder coating to any RAL colour
  • Opening: Any module can open – manual and powered options available
  • Security: ‘Secure by Design’ accreditation on all fixed modules as standard

 Think a Mardome Glass Link Modular solution is for you?

 NDC’s technical team can provide the right solution for your project and advise on industry policy and regulations, so you get it right first time and on budget.

Open 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday; get in contact with our technical team:

Call: 01276 451555

Email: info@nationaldomes.com

Visit www.nationaldomes.com

More Options to see the sky as Eurocell launch Skypod Plus

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the Eurocell entry on BPindex

Visit the Eurocell website

1_LRIn the latest addition to its Skypod range, the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U glazing and roofing systems has launched the Eurocell Skypod Plus.

The three designs in the new premium roof lantern range offer a choice of grey, white and black outer frames – the last of which was released in 2019 as the Eurocell Skypod Black Edition.

All feature the same aluminium ridge, rafters and top caps that provide exceptional weather performance, rigidity and all-important UV stability to reduce colour fade over time.

For fabricators and installers, Skypod Plus represents yet another option to take to style conscious homeowners looking for a way to bring natural light into flat roof extensions. It also provides a way to meet growing demand in commercial settings such as sports clubs, restaurants and schools, where grey and black frames in particular are enjoying a huge surge in popularity for the way they blend in with single ply roof coverings

Skyport External 07_LRSkypod Plus is available in square, two-bar and three-bar configurations, all with a 20 degree pitch, and five self-cleaning glass colour options. Customers can choose between sourcing in bar length or kit forms. And as an additional feature, grey and black Skypods can be ordered with a choice of a smooth matt black or a smooth gloss grey internal and external finish to create a truly architectural touch.

Eurocell maintains the new  aluminium Skypod Plus offers outstanding value for money against other options on the market and provides a real ‘wow’ factor, to any home.

Eurocell_Skypod_Acute_Internal_3_LRMeanwhile, installers will welcome the opportunity it brings to supply products that are proving extremely attractive to homeowners and which are straightforward to install.  Advanced features, such as thermally broken ridge and ring beams to prevent condensation, practically eliminate call backs, making each installation more profitable and hassle-free. And as you would expect, Skypod Plus carries the standard 10-year guarantee to cover defects in materials or manufacture offered on all Eurocell products.

The popularity of lantern roofs in both the domestic and commercial markets has soared over the last few years. That trend shows no signs of slowing down, helped no doubt by the continuous innovation of products like Skypod. By responding to demand for even more premium solutions with Skypod Plus, Eurocell continues to open up new opportunities for their trade customers.

For more information about the Skypod Plus range, visit www.eurocell.co.uk/skypodplus or call the Eurocell Customer Care Team on 0800 988 3049.

NDC turns customer’s distress to delight with bespoke Stardome polycarbonate rooflights

Building Products Index Ltd Rooflights Leave a Comment

View the National Domelight Company entry on BPindex

Visit the National Domelight Company website

The Distress…

Having recently purchased a three-bedroom, three-storey terraced house, Laura of Wokingham was dismayed when she discovered the property’s two existing rooflights leaked during the first downpour. With both rooflights being well beyond repair and no desire to make structural changes to the existing roof openings, replacement units of the same size were sought.

The property’s two existing rooflights were located on a flat roof, with one sitting above the bathroom and the other over the second/third-floor stairwell. With the rooflight replacements being an unplanned purchase, alternative rooflights of the same size were requested to avoid more costly structural changes. However, upon closer inspection it became clear that the existing rooflights were not stock sizes and bespoke units would be required.

The Delight…

IMG-20200721-MasterWith a wealth of experience in delivering both standard size and bespoke solutions for residential and commercial properties, NDC was able to provide advice and recommendations over the phone. Due to the size and position of the rooflights in the centre of the flat roof of the three-storey home, NDC’s Sales Exec, Jessica, recommended bespoke polycarbonate rooflights as a cost-effective replacement solution.

The Stardome polycarbonate rooflight with thermally enhanced PVC adaptor kerb and manual hinged ventilation was selected, which is designed to give outstanding natural light transmission and be thermally efficient.

To maximise natural daylight into the property, the rooflight in the stairwell was specified with a clear finish. Meanwhile, to ensure privacy for Laura and her family, the rooflight over the bathroom was specified with a diffused finish, which also ensures an even dispersion of light throughout the room, even on a dull day.

IMG-20200722-WA0004Both units were made to order and were delivered to site when the roofing contractor was ready to install them on the same day.

Despite not planning the purchase, Laura is pleased with her new bespoke rooflights, and in particular the support and reassurance she received from Jessica and NDC when making this distress purchase:

“When I moved into my property, rooflights weren’t a consideration. Yet, when my roof leaked two weeks later due to the existing rooflights, they suddenly became my highest priority. Having a bespoke product made can be quite terrifying, especially when it wasn’t planned, but I soon felt reassured thanks to the support of Jessica at NDC. She was knowledgeable and completely calm about something that was absolutely terrifying to me. I’m delighted that I’m now an official owner of bespoke rooflights and love the finished products.”

IMG-20200722-WA0005“We stock a vast range of products in a wealth of sizes, but sometimes bespoke is the only option,” explains Jessica Smith, Sales Executive at NDC. “It can be daunting for a customer without prior experience of such a project, but I’m glad that we were able to produce the perfect product for Laura. We worked with her roofing contractor to deliver on a day that ensured the product was fitted straight away, and gave Laura the final finished result that she’s pleased with.”

For more information about Stardome polycarbonate rooflights, please click here

 

 

 

Actual Product Supplied:

Bespoke Stardome  UV protected polycarbonate dome with a MK2 vertical thermally enhanced PVC adaptor kerb, 120mm high to underside of flange complete with manual hinged ventilation including portable winding rod. This is designed to be installed on a flat roof with a pitch of no more than 17.5°.

Bathroom: 1 x Diffused Glazed Rooflight to suit an existing roof opening size of 830x1250mm and an overall kerb size of 930x1350mm.

 Stairwell: 1 x Clear Glazed Rooflight to suit an existing roof opening size of 830x1290mm and an overall kerb size of 930x1390mm.

1 2