"rooflight"

The Rooflight Co collaborated with Hogarth Architects in designing rooflights to compliment the construction of a new Kensington mews property. Here the brief was to achieve a completely minimal frameless internal appearance, with low U-Values, and at the same time meet the planning requirement for a rooflight that would sit flush within the slate roof.

Project: Somerset House, London Client: Paye Stonework & Restoration Ltd Scope of project: Replica rooflights for an iconic Grade I listed building Products: em.glaze bespoke rooflights

Project: Wadebridge School, Cornwall Client: Wadebridge School Scope of the project: Supply rooflights for refurbishment of school roof Products: Pyramid and Trapezoidal em.dome Rooflights with PVC300mm High Eco em.curb & Rotating Trickle Vents

Project: Sale Grammar School, Manchester Client: K Pendlebury & Sons Ltd Scope of the project: School rooflight replacement as part of a roof refurbishment Products: em.line gable-ended ridgelight, em.line monopitch, em.dome and em.glaze hip-ended lantern light

LAMILUX designed, supplied and installed eight LAMILUX Glass Roof PR60 mono-pitch rooflights at Oundle School Sports Centre. Seven of the rooflights, were positioned over the 50 metre swimming pool, adding an abundance of natural light, with special sun protective glazing to eliminate overheating. A special coating was applied to the aluminium profiles to protect them from corrosion within the chlorine environment. The eighth rooflight, an 18m x 6m trapeze shape, illuminates the atrium at the flagship of the school’s sports masterplan.

LAMILUX designed, supplied and installed seven uniquely shaped glass rooflights to create an aesthetic pleasing solution for the overlooked roof. The high quality requirements of the STEM building at the university meant that high performance solar control glass was used. Why LAMILUX were chosen ? Low Ug-value of 0.29 W/m²k was specified ? Each glass field within each rooflight was required to be a slightly different size and shape to create the unusual design

The LAMILUX U.K Ltd installation team recently completed a school refurb project in York, where they installed an incredible 65 meter long X 2.4 meter wide LAMILUX Continuous Barrel Vault Rooflight. Designed with 16 integrated single ventilation flaps, evenly spaced along the rooflight for natural ventilation, the Barrel Vault rooflight, was positioned above classrooms and communal areas to not only enhance natural daylight in the rooms below, but also provide natural aeriation. Results from studies have proven that ventilation coupled with natural daylight will not only enhance the learning of the pupils in the classrooms, but also enhance the pupils health benefits with good indoor air quality. 

Tew Farmhouse and Barns, Oxfordshire was a conversion of a Grade II listed farmhouse into six luxury holiday lets.Working to the client's brief, the Architectural Designers at Charlie Luxton Design scoped out the design of the luxury accommodation to achieve a high-quality finish whilst retaining the idyllic barn-like character.The rooflights needed to align with the design concept externally, integrating seamlessly with the zinc roof, whilst contributing to the airy and light interior design. Neo Rooflights were selected for their frameless interior and edge-to-edge glazing technology to maximise the viewable space and flood the top floor rooms with natural daylight.The technical design team at The Rooflight Co helped to marry vision to solution by creating a bespoke baseplate that provided the level of detail required to ensure the rooflights work alongside the roof, not simply sit within in. The technical team also advised egress Neo Rooflights to provide a means of suitable fire escape access and ensure the buildings conformed with building regulations.The Neo Rooflight demonstrated its suitability to be used within the Grade II listed farmyard within the context of it originally being a historic non-domesticated building. The rooflights were not only practical within the design, but the appearance was in keeping with the aesthetics of the times.

The integration of an aluminium flat glass rooflight with solar control glass in this residential project successfully achieves the objective of maximizing natural light while mitigating excessive heat gain. The careful selection of glazing materials, orientation, and frame design creates an energy-efficient and visually appealing architectural feature. The homeowners can enjoy the benefits of ample natural light, enhanced thermal comfort, and reduced energy consumption, ultimately creating a sustainable and comfortable living space.

Surrounded by rolling fields, wetlands and a riverbank, Wraxall Yard is situated in the heart of the West Country. Clementine Blakemore Architects were entrusted to convert and rebuild a collection of derelict barns for this not-for-profit organisation, run by a father and daughter team. The philosophy behind this project - to create a multifunctional development with accessibility for all; with an educational farm, community space and a series of holiday cottages. As the collection of buildings sat within the West Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it was essential the buildings were sympathetically restored, retaining the agricultural aesthetic. The Neo Rooflights played an instrumental role in creating cross ventilation in conjunction with the doors, ensuring the spaces were not only light and bright, but also well-ventilated for the comfort of its guests. Accessibility at the core of the project was the driving factor for requiring motorised opening rooflights with rain sensors, allowing visitors to have full control of room temperatures with ease. The concealed jamb motors, unique to The Rooflight Co's Neo design gave the architect the ability to achieve a clean flush installation externally, frameless lining to glass installation internally, and unobstructed views out to the fields beyond.In total 7 Neo Rooflights were specified to create the airy, tranquil, and peaceful spaces both the architect and the owner wanted to achieve. Testimony to the design and quality of the project is the High Commendation received by Clementine Blakemore Architects in the 2023 MacEwan Awards and winning the 2023 AJ Retrofit Awards.

LAMILUX designed, supplied and installed the 3.5 metre wide by 14 metre long PR60 mono-pitch rooflight at Kimpton Fitzroy to complement the hotels Winter Garden providing the ideal relaxing area for guests to take in the beautiful surroundings. LAMILUX used their knowledge and expertise to complete the installation at this very tricky central London project. An incredibly tight site with no tower crane, meant that we offered just-in-time delivery and installation of materials and worked very closely with the Contractor from an early stage to carefully plan and execute the install on time and within budget.

All LAMILUX rooflights are available in circular shape, too, with diameter sizes ranging from 60 mm to up to 180 cm. In the beautiful new University Hospital building in Milton Keynes, our Glass Skylight FE Circular rooflights create an eye-catching design element, while providing natural daylight and ventilation.

Transforming Small Spaces with Rooflights.In the heart of the English countryside, you’ll find lots of quintessential cottages, often with thatched roofs, just like something you’d find on a postcard. Whilst these cottages are beautiful on the outside, they often lack light and space on the inside.This was the issue a homeowner in Salisbury, Wiltshire ran into when it came to renovating an ensuite shower room in a cottage. The space runs the length of the adjoining bedroom but due to the size of the property, it’s only a few feet wide. The other problem was, it was incredibly dark, with no existing windows or the wall space to install them. The homeowner would need to put their thinking cap on, because this challenge would be the focus of their renovation. Natural light was a top priority to create the bright and airy ensuite space the homeowner imagined for their renovation.With the room not having the wall space to install vertical windows, and because it was in the eaves of the building, there were no floors above it. Thinking creatively, the homeowner opted to use the ceiling space and install rooflights to allow an abundance of natural light to flood into the small space. However, this wasn’t as straightforward as you may think because of the very nature of the homeowner’s quintessential cottage nestled in the English countryside. Being a Grade 2 listed building, planning permission is strict and so the homeowner needed to find the right rooflights that would be in keeping with the property and not upset its overall aesthetic.The Planning Officers themselves were able to help the homeowner with their renovation, pointing them in the direction of the Rooflight Company’s Conservation Rooflight, the Victorian-style rooflight, engineered to modern specification.With their advice, two CR10-2 rooflights were installed to the ensuite bathroom. The finished result is the beautifully light and airy ensuite bathroom that the homeowner had envisioned from the inside, and a period Salisbury cottage still quintessential from the outside.

At Mayfield Place in Winkfield, Bloor had planned and designed seven five-bedroomed luxury houses. Whitesales were asked to provide sleek, minimalist rooflights which would complement the homes’ design. em.glaze modular ridgelights are modular rooflights available in standard sizes from stock, with a choice of glazing and ventilation options. They exceed all regulations for impact-resistance, durability, environmental and thermal performance. Two rooflights were supplied and installed for each home; one in the deep open-plan dining areas and the other above the first-floor landing and stairwell, casting natural light through both floors.

Silsoe School Rooflights

A large residential development in Fulham. Multiple standard rooflights and walk on rooflights.

LAMILUX were chosen by the façade contractor, to undertake this specialist element within their glazing package. By using 220mm deep mullion profiles, LAMILUX were able to design a system structurally capable of completely self-supporting. The 25m X 6m self-spanning rooflight removed the requirement for additional internal structural support such as steel beams - saving time and reducing the costs. High performance glazing was essential to reduce solar heat gain and heat losses. 40 fixed glass panels, each measuring 1.2 x 2.9m and weighing 150kg were used to reduce the buildings energy consumption, without compromising daylight intake.

LAMILUX designed and installed a shallow pitched glass roof for the central courtyard atrium of the student accommodation halls. The 60 equal glass panels formed the 7m X 29m rooflight featuring a sound reduction index of 38dB with double layered heat protection glass. Why LAMILUX were chosen ? LAMILUX could install with a surface inclination of just 3° ? The architect wanted to achieve a class 2 roof for safety of maintenance personnel whilst maintaining a low pitch

Surespan supplied a number of circular dome rooflights with triple layers to The Key, situated in the new Science Central development at Newcastle University. These large 1500 (49”) and 2000 (79”) diameter polycarbonate domes feature triple layers providing a U-value of 1.8 W/m²K. The rooflights were supplied with electric opening actuators to allow ventilation to control the temperature of the fabric structure. Surespan Dome skylights were specified due to their high sustainability and small impact on the environment. The triple layers ensure compliance with energy-saving requirements and offer excellent air tightness.

FIXED PYRAMID ROOFLIGHT Case Study

Project: Woodland View ASN School, KirkintillochSpecifier: McLaughlin & Harvey (Contractors) Scope of project: Supply and installation of rooflights throughout a new build Additional Support Needs School for East Dunbartonshire Council Products: 14 Solus Monopitch rooflights and 4 Solus smoke hatches The Challenge:Architects NORR Group designed the new state-of-the-art Woodland View School to provide a richly enhanced educational experience for 200 children and young people aged from 3 to 18 with additional support needs. Acknowledging the proven benefits of daylight to pupils’ learning and wellbeing, they wanted to use rooflights as well as fenestration to create flexible, light-filled, spaces. With some of the rooflights spanning 15m, the challenge for Whitesales was to design and supply durable, cost effective and energy efficient rooflights and deliver a smooth, hassle free installation.The Solution:Our team worked closely with main contractors McLaughlin & Harvey to design 14 separate Solus Monopitch rooflights for Woodland View School. Ranging in length from 4000mm to 15000mm, they have been sited above the many break out learning spaces and extra wide corridors in the school, bringing daylight into the very heart of the building. They help to meet the requirements of BS EN17037 2018, which focuses on the physical and mental health benefits of daylight, as well as the energy savings that can come from minimising the requirement for artificial light.Whitesales manufactured and installed the rooflights and four Solus smoke hatches in three phases as the build progressed, utilising a crane for the final installs to minimise time and disruption on site. They were all fitted on upstands constructed on site by the contractors and all comply with BS EN6375, BS EN1026 and BS EN1027 to withstand even the toughest Scottish weather conditions.The Benefits:The £34.9m Woodland View School was shortlisted for Project of the Year – Inclusive Design at the Learning Places Scotland Conference, partly on the basis of the light and space that the rooflights bring into the building.At the opening of the school, East Dunbartonshire Council Leader Gordan Low was hugely positive: “I'm very proud that East Dunbartonshire Council has delivered this landmark project that will make such a difference to the lives of our young people and their families. We’ve worked with pupils, families and staff to create a place of learning and nurture that meets their very specific needs in a safe and welcoming environment.”

A large number of rooflights to a curved school roof.

A number of Flatglass rooflights on a commercial education project.

A residential flat roof terrace with walk on Flatglass rooflights.

Project: Northbrook College, West Sussex Client: M&E consultants Scope of project: New canteen and refurbishment of the college’s engineering block Products: em.glaze modular circular glass rooflights, em.glaze shedlights and em.tube tubular skylights

A commercial education sector project comprising a number of walk on rooflights in a school playground.

West Kirby railway station’s 1930s platform canopy was long overdue refurbishment. Whitesales were brought in by Briggs Amasco, Network Rail’s roofing contractor, to design, manufacture and install a series of non-fragile rooflights for the 900sq m replacement roof. After our initial roof survey, we specified bespoke polycarbonate Em-Vault continuous barrel vault rooflights. They’re compatible with the chosen Sika Liquid Plastics roofing system and have light transmission of up to 88%. The standard mill finish frame would keep costs low and blend with the canopy's concrete finish.

A residential multi Pane walk on rooflight over a swimming pool.

At Trade Access Panels, we are often asked questions from customers regarding the Polycarbonate Rooflights which we supply. We have tried to note down the most frequently asked questions below to hopefully assist you.

The Double Red Duke, situated in the Cotswolds village of Clanfield, is one of Oxfordshire’s most iconic inns, with a history dating back to the 1600s. This luxury boutique hotel, bar and restaurant, with its unique and carefully balanced approach, has modernised the property without compromising its much-loved character and aesthetic.The owners of this property specified The Rooflight Co's Conservation Rooflights - with a whole unit u-value of 1.4W/m2K and a design inspired by the cast-iron rooflights of the Victorian era. The Double Red Duke owners were able to ensure the building performed to modern standards, with rooflights that fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the heritage building.The frameless appearance of the interior finish on the rooflights is achieved by installing the plasterboard up to the underside of the timber linings provided. From the external view, the rooflights are designed to be installed flush with the roof tiles. The resulting impact is a seamless integration with the building inside and out.

Surespan manufactured a FGL non-opening Glazed Rooflight for a residential house in London to fit structural opening 1465 x 4200 which was divided into four panes. The 28.4mm sealed glazed unit will comprise Pilkington Insulight™ Therm comprising 6mm Optifloat™ Clear ‘T’ (toughened), 16mm Argon filled cavity, 6.4mm Pilkington Optilam™ ‘K’ Glass Laminated. This sealed glazed unit has a U-Value of 1.5 W/m²K. This hatch was a new design with thermally broken extruded sections.

A rooflight over the Cast Court installed in the Seventies had pretty much ‘given up the ghost’ and several leaks were apparent. There had been a history of glass cracking apparently without reason, which we attributed to thermal stress and poor edge cutting of the laminated glass. It was time for renewal.

When selecting your new polycarbonate rooflight, the main deciding factor should be how energy efficient you need or want it to be. In this process it is important to ascertain the rooflight’s U-value. U-values measure how effective a rooflight is as an insulator. The lower the U-value the more thermally efficient your polycarbonate rooflights will be.

Ascent Rooflight Covers were specified by Eurosafe Solutions as part of a Safe Access strategy to allow maintenance personnel to frequently access the roof areas to undertake Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) works at an office / warehousing premises in Orgreave, Sheffield. The Ascent Rooflight covers are a freestanding unit that sits above the potential fall hazard of the glazed rooflight. Formed from an angular aluminium framework with mesh infill the rooflight covers do not overly restrict light penetrating the rooflight. The Rooflight covers are supported on small spreader plates which provide a non-penetrative support solution on the flat felt roof. The Ascent Rooflight covers are testing in accordance with ACR(M) 001:2014 Test for Non-fragility of Large Element Roofing Assemblies (fifth element) and manufactured following 1090 factory production control procedures allowing CE/UKCA marking as required with all Safety critical components as per the Construction Product regulations 2022  

Project: Creative Centre, York St John UniversityClient: Tate+Co ArchitectsScope of project: Design and supply 24 bespoke-sized rooflights for the roof of a triple-height atrium to fit within apertures in a glulam timber grid.Products: 24 bespoke sized em.glaze rooflights, some with concealed actuator smoke ventsThe ChallengeThe roof of the striking 14m, triple-height atrium, which forms the centrepiece of the newly opened Creative Centre at York St John University, features a glulam timber roof grid. Architects Tate+Co wanted to punctuate that grid with bespoke sized rooflights to bring even more light into a space which is used as an exhibition, teaching and theatre space, as well as somewhere for students to mix and relax. The rooflights had to have a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, in line with the overall design intent of the atrium and, because almost all the services in the atrium are hidden, needed to be available with matching concealed actuator smoke vents.The SolutionWhitesales designed and supplied 24 bespoke-sized em.glaze rooflights which suited the specification perfectly. The flush-glazed glass-to-edge design of the em.glaze units with flat sealed glass units fitted within a fully welded, thermally broken aluminium frame achieved the lean, crisp look the architects were looking for. The fact that they were also available with fully concealed actuators in the smoke vents supplied by our affiliate business Sertus was an added bonus. All the rooflights were supplied for the project complete with preformed 300mm PVC splayed upstands, which enabled them to be fitted directly into the glulam grid, saving the contractors time on site. They were also fitted with specially coated glazing which allowed for a degree of solar gain and contributing to the low energy requirements of the BREEAM Excellent rated building.‍The BenefitsAs well as the meeting the design specification, Whitesales’ technical team helped to ensure that the em.glaze rooflights could be installed quickly and efficiently by the main contractors Kier Construction. We estimate that our recommendation to supply the units with preformed 300mm PVC splayed upstands saved the roofing team at least two weeks on site because they didn’t have to construct the upstands themselves and the integrated splay made waterproofing the roof a lot easier. Tate+Co Director Andy Baker-Falkner is delighted with the em.glaze units: “We liked the lean, crisp design of the Whitesales em.glaze units, particularly with the clean white reveal and option for fully concealed vent actuators.”

We travelled to London and sat with Sebastian and his wife Miriam who have just rejuvenated their kitchen area, so that it connects their home with the outdoors in a wonderful way by simply replacing and upgrading their rooflights.The old rooflights simply didn’t have the versatility that the family was looking for, so when it came to finding a set that offered them exactly what they needed, Sebastian and Miriam chose Vario by VELUX.Due to the position and functionality of the existing rooflights in the kitchen, the family quickly realised that it didn’t fit their needs, discovering that the room became hot during the summer months and because of nearby foxes, they couldn’t safely leave their façade windows open without worrying about inviting unwanted visitors into the home.“We moved here in the middle of winter,” Miriam explained, “So we didn’t understand how hot it became inside over the summer months. What we needed was ventilation to cool it down over the summer. We chose to replace the rooflights, as the ones that we had were static and didn’t allow ventilation and these are amazing for that.”Sebastian discussed how working closely with Vario by VELUX allowed the family to get exactly what they wanted and how they were able to create a home that truly met their needs. “Vario by VELUX were the only ones that offered bespoke windows that could open, and when you’re away, if it rains, they close.”“I did everything online. I went to the website where they have this Build Your Own 3D configurator and I chose the window I wanted, the colour I wanted and the size I needed. I would definitely recommend everyone to use Vario by VELUX for installation, delivery and to receive support and warranty, which is very important.”An incomparable differenceThe impact that the new rooflights have had on the family has been remarkable and really had a positive impact, as Miriam explains. “The contrast between a fixed rooflight and one that opens is incomparable really - cooking smells are out very quickly, you can cool the room down and it never gets too hot in here, it’s not just a bit of glass in the roof, it’s a bit of tech that you can use and integrate into your life.”“The two Unlimited Rooflights have really impacted the room with the amount of fresh air we get in there.”“I get up for work very early, about 6am,” Sebastian adds, “And before having these windows, the room was just hot and you could feel the lack of air, now, when I come down the window has been open and it makes a difference.”“It’s made the whole house cool. We now have a movement of air through the house that we didn’t have before. I think it’s a really lovely way to be connected to the outside - you see the seasons change, you can watch the roof splatter with raindrops - my daughter loves watching that when it happens - and the bifold doors plus rooflights really make this an integrated room with the garden. You have a bit of the outdoors inside here.”