Choosing the right Roof Window
If you’re looking for extra space in your home, extending up rather than out might be the best solution for you. A loft conversion can provide the same additional quality living space as an extension – at a fraction of the cost. Think about it, your loft has almost the same available floor space as the entire top floor of your house, it has the potential to become liveable – and unlike a conventional extension, your home won’t lose any valuable outside space. Choosing the right roof window can illuminate your new space and become the centerpiece of the project. However, before you start choosing between a roof window there’s a couple of questions you’re probably thinking.
Is your loft suitable for a conversion?
Is your roof suitable for a roof window?
Roof head height
First of all, an obvious point. In order to convert your loft into a liveable space you need enough head height and floor space. Consider how much height and floor space you’ll have after installing stairs, insulation, plasterboards and all your furniture and fittings. Plus, you’ll be losing space on the floor below for stairs too.
Roof windows or a dormer?
When planning to develop your loft there are two options to allow light and ventilation in: to incorporate a dormer (until recently a very popular solution) or install modern roof windows (becoming increasingly popular).
Can I have a roof window?
In short, yes. For almost any slate or permeant structure roof covering there is a suitable roof window. Different roof window styles are suitable depending on your roof pitch (the slope of your roof).
Choosing the right location for a roof window
When deciding on the location of roof windows in the roof surface you should consider an important principle – better illumination is achieved by installing several windows in various parts of the roof than by fitting one large window.
How to choose the right roof window for you...
1. Intended use and height of the room.
The correct amount of natural light in the room is calculated by the proportion of the surface of the window’s glass area to the total floor area. In a room for habitable purposes this proportion should be at least 1: 8, and in special rooms where more natural light is required the ratio should be at least 1:12
Wet rooms and rooms that experience higher levels of moisture (such as bathrooms and kitchens) you may wish to choose a PVC roof window – for example the FAKRO PTP-V Centre Pivot Roof Window or PPP-V preSelect / Top Hung Roof Window, which can be fitted with obscure glass.
2. The pitch of the roof.
Height of the chosen window also depends on the roof pitch. The lower the pitch of the roof, the greater the height of the window should be.
