Your customers will often ask you how to bring more light into their homes, and if they’re looking to do this on a larger scale, you may want to suggest a roof lantern. Often much bigger than your standard sky light, a roof lantern instantly lightens up a room and doubles up as a statement feature. But working with these large glass features seems tricky and a bit of a challenge. So, we caught up with Whitesales, to give you some handy tips that can make installation much easier.
Meticulous measuring
Accuracy is definitely key, as getting the measurements wrong for a roof lantern can create some serious issues later on. There are two measurements you need to take care with: the roof opening size and the external kerb dimensions. Roof opening refers to the size of the hole that you’ll be making in the roof and the external kerb dimensions are the overall size of the roof opening plus the width of the existing kerb.
Pick the right product
Your customer will know the end-result they’re looking for, but they may not know how to achieve it. So, it will be your job to decide what kind of roof lantern they need. As a general rule of thumb, one that is 10-15 per cent of the floor area will effectively light the room.
It’s also worth considering the potential for overheating in summer months. The larger the surface area, the hotter the room can get, and this will only increase if you’re working on a south facing roof. To help, you might want to opt for solar reflective glass or glass with a low g Factor to keep solar radiation levels down. It can also help to consider integrated ventilation options, to give your customer the most comfortable result possible.
Going for a custom-made roof lantern, like to ones at Whitesales, is a great way of making sure it’s the perfect size for the space, and meets the exact requirements of your customer. These top quality lanterns are also strong and safe enough to withstand potential damage.
Getting it on site
So, you’ve selected the right product using accurate measurements, but what about getting it on site? Depending on the weight, the delivery of roof lanterns can be tricky. Considering that large glass rooflights can weigh up to a staggering 200kg, you might need to arrange for suction pads or hoisting at delivery. If you aren’t prepared for this, it can lead to costly redelivery charges and site delays.
You’ll also need to put in extra thought for particularly large units, as they may need a roof weight load review and the advice of a structural expert.
By following these simple tips the next time you work with roof lanterns, you’ll be making sure the job runs as smoothly as possible, whilst delivering the bright and comfortable space your customer wants. For more information or to order a custom-made roof lantern for your next project, just head over to the Jewson or Whitesales website.
