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What Size Roof Lantern Should You Choose?
Introduction
You won’t regret installing a new roof lantern. These eye-catching fittings are inherently stylish and can do wonders for the kerb appeal of a property. Overhead glazing is an ideal way to bring extra sunlight into the home, making rooms feel bright, airy, and welcoming. This goes for aluminium roof lights as well; once the sun is beaming directly into your house from above, you’ll wonder how you ever did without them
Before you get to this point though, you’ll have to figure out what size roof lantern is right for you. There’s no one size that fits all and what’s perfect for one person might look out of place on their neighbour’s house. So, without further ado, here is the AluFold Direct size guide for roof lanterns.
How Big Is A Roof Lantern?
The size of your future roof lantern largely depends on where you’re placing it. You commonly find them on orangeries or extensions, but they all require a flat roof. If you’re hoping to install one in the sloping ceiling of an attic room, you’ll have to go for a roof light instead. But if it’s a flat roof and it’s strong enough, you’ll more than likely be able to place a lantern in it. Consult a structural engineer to make sure it’s resilient enough, and then you’ll be able to start planning.
As you’ve probably guessed, the size of the roof itself will determine the size of the lantern. The smaller ones are usually in the region of 850mm x 850mm, but they can also be as big as 6000mm x 4000mm. Choosing the right one depends on your preferences, but a good thing to keep in mind is that it should be about 20% of the floor size. This offers a decent proportion of lantern to roof and will let in plenty of natural light.
Other Considerations
Aside from the available space, there are a few other things to consider. For starters, you don’t necessarily have to install one roof lantern. Yes, a grandiose aluminium roof lantern can be an incredible centrepiece, but if you’d rather have two moderately sized ones next to each other, go ahead!
The direction it faces will have an impact too. If the room faces south, it’ll get constant sunlight and might benefit from a smaller roof lantern, as it reduces the risk of the room overheating. On the other hand, north-facing rooms only get direct sunlight in the morning. As a result, a larger roof lantern would be the best choice as it’ll maximise the amount of light it captures and can make a dingier room more welcoming.
Finally, bear in mind that roof lanterns are windows and you’ve got to think about privacy. If any of the neighbouring buildings overlook the roof lantern, you’ll potentially have people looking in, whether intentionally or by accident. Yes, you can solve this by including roof lantern blinds, but nobody wants to install a lantern and then keep the blinds closed all day.
Whatever you wind up choosing though, your new aluminium roof lantern will bring years of benefits. If you’ve got any questions about the process or want more advice, why not contact us? You can also request a free online quote. The journey to your new roof lantern starts with a single click.
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