Rooflight position & sizing
Natural light is hugely important, which makes it a crucial consideration in our homes. While too little light can make a room seem small, plenty of light makes a home feel more spacious, more welcoming and more comfortable. By installing the right number, type and size of windows you can get the daylight in your new space just right and properly realise the potential in your home.
Living spaces that are used for everyday activities, such as the kitchen or living room, benefit from extra daylight. Other rooms, such as hallways, also benefit from flat roof windows but do not require the same size or number as you won't be performing light-sensitive tasks. Using VELUX flat roof windows can increase usable space by providing natural light and ventilation to dark corners or poorly lit rooms while creating inviting and comfortable spaces.
For optimal comfort, it is recommended that the glazed areas represent 20% of the overall floor space in your room. You can learn more about optimal daylight using the VELUX daylight calculator to ensure your rooms have adequate levels of daylight.
Do I need planning permission?
Permitted development rules in England and Wales typically allow the installation of rooflights or skylights without any additional permissions. This is, however, only applicable if you stay within their rules which are as follows:
- Must not project more than 150 millimetres from the plane of the existing roof slope.
- Must not exceed the height of the existing roof.
- Side-facing windows must be obscure-glazed; and, if opening, to be 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which they are installed.
You can find more information regarding planning permissions and permitted planning here.
What style of rooflight do I want?
VELUX flat roof windows are available in a discreet flat glass profile, or a sleek, modern curved glass rooflight option. You can also choose a VELUX flat roof dome, with an insulated PVC construction that is incredibly low maintenance, or a flat roof kerb that allows for the installation of a VELUX roof window onto a flat roof between the pitches of 0-15°. We discuss the key features of each roof window in more detail below.
How do I want my flat roof window to operate?
Along with the above design choices, you can also choose between a fixed unit or an electrically operated vented base unit. If you don’t want extra ventilation then the fixed base unit with a high insulated PVC sash construction and a two-layer energy pane is ideal for just bringing in daylight. For better indoor comfort and fresh air at the touch of a button, we would recommend the electrically-vented base unit with VELUX INTEGRA® that also features a practical pre-installed rain sensor.
