Are you looking for a budget friendly solution to a dark and dull home extension that is in need of a facelift?
Maybe you have a dark hallway, or north facing room where conventional windows are not able to shed any extra light.
Roof lanterns and roof lights are designed to bring natural light flooding into your home in a dramatic and visually appealing way, they are also enjoying a design moment.
And according to Jim Toal of Fairco Windows and Doors, they are a surprisingly affordable way to totally transform a room.
Roof lanterns are raised, pitched windows which can come in anything from standard rectangular shapes to hexagons, octagons and pyramids.
A roof light is flat Velux-style, usually rectangular window inserted in a flat or a pitched roof.
“Roof lanterns and roof lights can turn a small, dark or uninteresting area into a light filled space that has the additional benefit of a striking, architectural feature,” said Jim, who has over 30 years’ experience in window design.
If you are keen to have a room with a view but your location is less than ideal, or perhaps you don’t want to be overlooked, a roof lantern can provide the perfect, visually attractive solution.
“The simplest and least costly way to improve a dwelling or extension with a flat roof is to install a roof light,” said Jim.
“Roof lanterns are a wonderful way to create the look of a conservatory, without being a conservatory.
“By flooding an area with natural light they give kitchens and living extensions the look and feel of being in an orangery.
“They have a hugely positive impact on a home, particularly in a north-facing room or in an old and tired extension, for relatively little outlay.
“A lantern roof light can be incorporated into an existing roof without interfering with the structure of the building, for as little as €8,000 and prices for roof lights start as low as €1,500.”
Fairco Windows and Doors supply a range of high quality roof lanterns and roof lights with a low U-value.
“The lower the U-value the lower the heat loss and the better the structure’s ability to insulate,” Jim explained.
“It is possible to get an A energy efficiency rating on a roof and Fairco’s roof lanterns and roof lights have insulation properties similar to a roof.”
Whether it is a new build or a home improvement project on an existing structure, Fairco’s expert trades people take pride in making installation an easy process for home owners.
“We take care of all aspects of the job doing everything from taking off a roof in an existing structure and replacing it with a lantern roof, to working with clients as their new home is under construction.”
Relatively easy to install, roof lanterns and roof lights can bring in up to 40 per cent more light than an alternative form of window, and as long as they are to the rear of a building they don’t require planning permission.
