Not all Roofs are the Same: Choosing the Perfect Skylight for Your Roof

Date: 12/03/18

There are a wide variety of choices when buying a skylight or roof lantern for your home. There is no single best fit for a project. If you’re planning to add natural sunlight to your living space, you need to ask yourself these questions:

Is your roof flat or pitched?

If you are working with a pitched roof, you will likely be looking at a more traditional flat skylight. If you have a flat roof this means that you have the option of buying a roof lantern. A roof lantern can add a touch of architectural class to the exterior of your property and can transform the look of a room from the inside.

Does the skylight need to open?

Does the room need ventilating? This can be an important consideration for kitchens and naturally stuffy, warm rooms. If ventilation is required then make sure that you choose a skylight that fully opens.

Is the main reason for the skylight to bring in more light?

If the principal reason for buying a skylight is to add more light to your room, then a roof lantern would be preferable to a flat skylight. Because of their pitch, larger surface area and narrow frames, roof lanterns can add up to 50% more light than a traditional flat skylight.

Will people be walking on the skylight?

Sometimes, a roof area may be a pedestrian area, especially in a commercial project. If this is the case in your project, make sure you use specially strengthened walk-on roof windows.