There are a massive range of rooflights to choose from. They differ in size, with smaller products such as a sun tube, and larger products like a roof lantern. Some are also made from polycarbonate, rather than the usual glass or tempered glass options. These different varieties of rooflights offer different benefits, such as improvements in lighting, better insulation or less heat loss. Many also have preferences based upon their style preferences. We will provide you with a clear overview of the kind of products that you can expect to buy and what they offer owners.
The first type is the flat skylight or rooflight. These are flat window panes that are set into the roof in a slightly elevated setting. This is to allow rain water to run off and prevent excess pooling that could damage the rooflight, and lead to a quicker accumulation of dirt and grime, limiting the amount of sunlight coming in. These types of products are usually roughly one metre squared in size, and so are quite a significant installation. They can allow a significant amount of sunlight in, or at the very least, more than you would get from a traditional vertical window. There is also the option to install rooflights that are double glazed so that the heat loss is greatly reduced. Even so, a rooflight is well known to be a source of heat drain, and you should expect to depend more on your central heating to keep your home warm.
An alternative to a standard rooflight is a sun tube, which are on the smaller scale in comparison. These can range anywhere from half a foot in diameter to one foot in diameter. They are usually installed solely for the benefit of an increase in natural lighting in a internal space. Because of this, the small size of the sun tubes allows for a lot of light to infiltrate the property, while also being much more energy efficient. The sun tube will often have a curved top section that is in an elevated position so that the rain can help to keep the window clean. They are also made with a secondary window at the bottom end of the window, which helps to keep the underside clean and adds extra insulation. The window materials are often made with a polycarbonate alternative to glass, however both are an option.
Lastly there are electric windows, which are a variety of rooflight but with a bunch of additional features that really add value to the product. Firstly, an electric velux window can act as both a rooflight and an air vent, with the ability to open up the window, which is not a common option with rooflights. It also opens up automatically, with the electrical switch placed in a remote area so that the rooflight can be opened up to let heat and moisture out of the property. These products can also double, or rather triple, as a roof access point, allowing quick and easy access to the roof so that maintenance can take place.