Anthracite Grey

How a Roof Lantern Brought Light and Life to a Historic Home Extension

Building Products Index Ltd September 22, 2025 Rooflights Leave a Comment

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When a growing family needed more space—and more light—they turned to Rooflights & Skylights for expert advice. The result? A stunning 6-panel roof lantern that transformed a deep extension into a bright, welcoming living space.

Project: Set in the heart of a quiet Northamptonshire village, this charming semi-detached home has a unique past. Originally built in 1820 as a schoolhouse, the property carries a rich sense of character and history. When Jason and his partner purchased it in 2018, they saw the potential to create something really special. With its distinctive L-shaped footprint and three-bedroom layout, the home offered both space and charm – but as their family plans grew, so did their need for more room. That’s when the idea for a modern extension began to take shape.

Brief: With their first child on the way, Jason and his partner knew they needed more space to grow as a family. Their vision was to add a single-storey extension to the home, creating a larger, more comfortable living area where they could relax and spend time together. The extension would sit off the back of the property with a flat roof design – ideal for blending with the existing structure. However, because the new space was quite deep, they quickly realised that relying on standard vertical windows might not bring in enough natural light, especially towards the middle of the room. That’s when they started exploring rooflight options to brighten up the space.

Solution: To bring natural light into the new extension and create a standout architectural feature, Jason reached out to Scott Couldrey at Rooflights & Skylights for advice on the best product for the space. Given the depth of the extension and the property’s traditional character, the rooflight wouldn’t just serve a functional role – it would become a visible feature from all areas of the garden, so style was just as important as performance.

Working closely with his builder, Jason specified the need for a rooflight to fit an overall kerb of 3000mm x 2000mm. After reviewing options that balanced style, performance, availability, and budget, Scott recommended a 6-panel roof lantern from Brett Martin as the ideal solution.

The roof lantern is built with a sleek aluminium frame, finished in RAL 9010 White internally and RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey externally – ensuring a clean look inside while blending beautifully with the exterior of the home. It features six self-cleaning, double-glazed panels with a blue tint, helping to soften natural light and reduce glare in the living space.

While Brett Martin also offers a 4-panel version in the same size, the 6-panel design was chosen for two key reasons: the smaller glass panels made handling and installation easier for the builder, and the multi-panel layout gave the lantern a more ornate, decorative appearance – enhancing its visual impact from both inside and out.

Ease of delivery was also a consideration. The property sits at the end of a narrow village lane that had previously caused issues for larger commercial vehicles. Taking this into account, Scott arranged for the lantern to be delivered on a suitably sized truck, ensuring smooth access and a stress-free delivery to site.

Conclusion

“Buying a rooflight or lantern is not an everyday purchase, and it’s certainly not one you can afford to get wrong,” said Jason. “However, I felt supported at every step. Scott’s detailed questioning about the project and what I was aiming to achieve reassured me about purchasing a roof lantern from Rooflights & Skylights. This became even more clear when issues about access to the property were highlighted and the lengths he went to ensure the chosen roof lantern was shipped on a suitable vehicle. I can’t recommend Rooflights & Skylights highly enough.”

For Jason and his family, the roof lantern hasn’t just transformed the extension with natural light – it’s added a stylish architectural focal point to the home, delivered with care, expertise, and a truly personal approach.

Click for more info: https://www.rooflights-skylights.co.uk/products/brett-martin-classic-6-panel-roof-lantern

Discover the Beacon™ Modular Building

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2025 Modular Buildings Leave a Comment

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Glasdon UK Limited are experts in the design, manufacture, delivery, and installation of modular building systems. Customers agree that our Beacon Modular Building is their first choice when it comes to superior accommodation for security, transport, offices, and other specialised applications.

The Beacon is a high-quality preassembled building system and offers all the firmly anchored mainstay features that make our building & housing products our customers’ go-to building system for a range of diverse needs and requirements. Suitable for 24/7 working environments, such as gatehouses, receptions, toll booths, vehicle checkpoints, staff offices, security and control centres, and much more.

It comes in 17 size configurations and two standard colours, natural anodised aluminium and anthracite grey. Assembled from a combination of thermally broken aluminium alloy extrusions, composite floor and wall panels, fixed glazing, and proprietary aluminium framed window and door systems, the Beacon’s framework is further complemented by an aluminium fascia system that has been designed together with a SIP (Structurally Insulated Panel) roof system, to achieve improved thermal performance.

The Beacon also features an external steel finish that is weather-resistant and pre-finished. This helps insulate the composite wall panels. All windows and doors are double-glazed as standard, and an insulated composite floor panel on a preservative-treated timber plinth with a vapour barrier further adds to the Beacon’s thermally efficient design.

Its excellent levels of insulation allow for minimal heat loss in colder weather, and less heat gain during warmer seasons.

Our Beacon remains competitively priced and highly adaptable, offering up to 16 wall panel configurations including blank walls and glazed doors, as well as bespoke internal layouts thanks to a variety of interior options, from electrics all the way to sanitaryware. Further options, such as anti-sun solar control glass, air conditioning packages (HVAC), exterior lighting, canopies and non-standard finishes (available at an extra cost) add to the Beacon’s customisability.

For more information on our Beacon modular building, view our full listing.

Anthracite Grey Beacon™ Modular Building firmly anchored mainstay features Glasdon Modular Buildings natural anodised aluminium preassembled building system Structurally Insulated Panel roof system

ASPECT FLUSH FRENCH AND RESIDENTIAL DOORS

Building Products Index Ltd February 23, 2023 Doors, PVC-U, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

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Creating a seamless look has never been easier

The door design uses the slim, stylish profile and attractive chamfered glazing rebate of Eurocell’s Aspect bi-fold door system and perfectly complements its Logik S Flush and Modus windows.

The contemporary flush finish and super slim sightlines are only part of the story, though. With no bulky, floating dummy mullion, there’s a truly uninterrupted view to be enjoyed from inside the house.

Meanwhile, the view from outside is enhanced by the use of elegant butt hinges rather than the conspicuous exterior flag hinges dictated by a rebated door. This discreet, adjustable pencil hinge design preserves the smooth exterior lines of the frame and sash in keeping with today’s design trends. Plus, it offers the option of inward or outward opening to increase design flexibility where space is limited.

Anthracite Grey is a highly popular colour trend at the moment, and a through-grey profile is offered as standard; alongside the other 6 Aspect foil colours. This means none of the white PVC core is visible, even along the edges of the door frame. The result is a door with all the looks and style of an aluminium design, without the premium price.

Despite the growth in bi-fold door installations in recent years, the French door remains the most popular choice of ‘lifestyle door’ among homeowners.

Security:

The doors have been indicatively tested to BS6375 and PAS24 so comply with Part Q of the Building Regulations

Finishing touches:

There are two threshold options available– standard frame or Part M compliant low aluminium threshold
Doors can be double or triple glazed
Ovolo or chamfered bead available
10 year guarantee on window profile and 5 year guarantee on hardware

Colour options:

Like all Eurocell PVC-U products, the Flush French doors come with an exact colour-match guarantee. That means the colour is precisely matched to all Eurocell window, door and conservatory roof products, creating a coordinated, consistent look across any property.

Find out more at Aspect Flush Sash French Doors

Anthracite Grey Aspect bi-fold door system bi-fold door Eurocell French door PVC-U doors

NEW TREND-LED ANTHRACITE GREY GUTTERING AVAILABLE FROM WAVIN OSMA

Building Products Index Ltd September 28, 2021 Pipes, Plastic piping Leave a Comment

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The UK’s leading manufacturer of plastic pipe systems, Wavin, has updated its Osma DeepLine semi-elliptical guttering range, with a new, sleek ‘anthracite grey’ (RAL 7016) addition. The product matches the increasingly popular colour scheme being used for external windows and doors across the UK. The development of the new profiled gutter follows a substantial rise in demand for products from Wavin’s drainage brand, Osma.

Steve Skeldon, Above Ground Product Manager at Wavin said: “Grey external accents on homes and buildings have been growing in popularity and are now on-trend, in fact research suggests that anthracite grey is now the most popular shade of grey for new windows and doors in the UK. By colour-matching prominent yet peripheral features like guttering, buildings can really be brought to life. The neutral tones of the anthracite grey finish also mean this new design is incredibly versatile, and looks great when paired with both darker and lighter external colour schemes on modern and traditional architecture.”

Osma’s DeepLine semi-elliptical systems have been engineered to handle more rainwater than similar sized systems, all from a unique hydrodynamic outlet. The specialist seal technology also provides a completely secure, watertight fixture which allows flexibility for thermal expansion on hotter days.

DeepLine products are also easy to install as the ‘Flexiclip’ seal jointing mechanism makes it simple to connect gutter units to fittings with an expansion line and stopper, ensuring a reliable and efficient installation every time.

To further enhance the look of the guttering systems, Osma fittings have been engineered with concealed sockets to hide roughly cut downpipe ends, meaning DeepLine now offers the highest levels of practicality and reliability, while blending into existing design aesthetics.

To find out more about Osma’s new DeepLine range and its anthracite grey addition, visit the Wavin website at https://www.wavin.com/en-gb/catalog/rainwater-stormwater/roof-drainage/osma-deepline.

Anthracite Grey DeepLine products Drainage Pipes Flexiclip guttering Osma DeepLine semi-elliptical guttering range plastic pipes Wavin

The flush sash, with added panache. Eurocell adds stylish new French door design to its Aspect range.

Building Products Index Ltd May 27, 2020 Doors, PVC-U Leave a Comment

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Eurocell, the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U building products in the UK, is giving installers an even more stylish option to offer customers with a new, flush sash French door.

The new door design uses the stylish profile, attractive chamfered glazing rebate and patented gasket cover trim of Eurocell’s Aspect bi-fold door system, and offers a perfect complement to the seamless look of its Logik S Flush windows.

The new door will be available double or triple glazed and in the full range of 7 Aspect foil colours. Eurocell have confirmed an Anthracite Grey through-colour profile will also be offered as standard. A highly popular colour trend at the moment, especially in RMI projects, through-grey means none of the white PVC core is visible, even along the edges of the door frame. The result is a door with all the looks and style of an aluminium design, without the premium price.

Another new addition is Eurocell’s door restrictor, which can be used with the latest French door and with Aspect bi-fold access doors. This allows the door to be left open in any position up to 90°, preventing it blowing open and damaging the hardware, or blowing shut and trapping fingers.

Like all Eurocell products, the latest French door is designed for simple, fast and accurate fabrication. In fact, fabricators who already make the Aspect profile system will be able to start right away with only a couple of additional items needing to be bought. It can even be used to fabricate single entrance doors too.

Following indicative testing to BS6375 and PAS24, the Aspect Flush French door is fully compliant with Part Q requirements for security, and in line with Eurocell’s commitment to sustainability that sees it recycle and re-use more PVC-U than any other manufacturer, it is made of at least 50% post-consumer material – Made & Recycled in the UK.

Despite the growth in bi-fold door installations in recent years, the French door remains the most popular choice of ‘lifestyle door’ among homeowners, with over 200,000 expected to be fitted this year alone. By introducing this new take on a design that has changed little in the last 30 years, Eurocell are hoping to galvanise sales still further and give their installer base another great product to take to their customers.

Ian Kernaghan, Eurocell Head of Product Design and Development, said the flush French door was one more example of Eurocell’s commitment to helping installers capitalise on emerging trends in the market:

“The new door design meets a need among homeowners for a flatter frames and less of the detailing that comes with more traditional profiles. It can also be installed with two threshold options – our standard frame, or a lower aluminium version for compliance with Part M regulations on building access.

“And of course, it offers complete peace of mind in the usual 10 year guarantee and 5 year hardware guarantee we provide with all our products.”

Find out more at Eurocell.co.uk/aspectflush

Anthracite Grey Aspect bi-fold door system butt hinges Eurocell PVC-U doors PVC-U French doors