What should you pay attention to when choosing roof windows?

In a house with a functional attic, the installation of roof windows is a necessity especially, when you have some plant climbers running all over your house, as if we want to feel comfortable in the rooms under the roof. Roof windows are the best way to light up the attic, because they let in up to 1.8 times more natural light than traditional facade glazing. What should you know before buying roof windows?

Roof windows in the case of loft or attic rooms not only serve as additional illumination of the interior, but also support the work of gravitational ventilation. This is important especially in rooms without traditional windows, where stuffiness may occur. Therefore, the possibility of opening the window in order to ventilate the room will be invaluable.

Types of roof windows

Before choosing roof windows, it is worth familiarizing with their different types. Due to the method of opening the glazing, we distinguish between pivot, tilt and turn, hatch and l-shaped windows. The method of opening will have an impact on the comfort of their use and the possibilities of installation in the roof. The most commonly used type of glazing in the roof are pivot windows, which are able to rotate 180 degrees. Such construction makes it much easier to clean the windows, and without the need to lean out, the cleaning process becomes much safer. Pivot windows can be equipped with a top or bottom opening. The first type is recommended for children’s rooms – thanks to the high placed handle it will be more difficult for a child to open the window. Whereas the roof window with bottom opening will be a good choice for buildings with high knee walls.

When choosing windows for different rooms, it is worth taking into account the material they are made of. Roof windows are mostly made of wood, plastic or aluminum. Glazing with wooden frames work well in most rooms such as bedrooms or living rooms. In interiors with increased humidity, however, it is better to choose windows made of plastic or aluminum. For example, Fakro offers plastic or wooden windows painted with polyurethane varnish, characterized by high resistance to moisture, therefore, they can be used in bathrooms and kitchens.

How to conveniently arrange your roof windows?

Before installing the roof windows, it is important to consider their location. Effectiveness of natural illumination and proper ventilation of the interior will depend on the proper choice of the place of glazing installation. It is worth following the principle that the larger the room is, the more windows will be needed. To be precise – the area of glazing should be at least one-eight of the floor area. In order to effectively illuminate the room, it is better to decide on several smaller windows in different points of the roof instead of one large one. When planning their arrangement, it is also worth taking into account the orientation of the interior in relation to the sides of the world. For optimal illumination it is advisable to place the roof windows on the southern side of the roof, which is its most sunny part. However, to ensure proper ventilation, it is best to install windows on both sides of the roof, and if such a solution is not possible – in its center.

How to install a roof window?

Correct installation of roof windows will allow to minimize heat loss. Glazing should be tightly connected to the roof and properly insulated, which guarantees warm window installation. Sealing flashings are used for warm installation, as they create an effective thermal, steam-tight and steam-permeable insulation around windows.

When installing a window, the height of the glazing installation in the roof is also important. It is worth knowing that the higher from the floor we install a roof window, the more efficiently natural light will illuminate the interior, and at the same time increase the visibility. When installing roof windows, you should therefore take into account their upper and lower edge – the upper edge should be at least 220 cm above the floor and the lower edge at a distance of 110-140 cm from the floor.

When choosing roof windows, it is worth taking into account their type and purpose. An important issue is the resistance of the glazing to moisture, the development of mould or fungi, as well as the thermal insulation, which will prevent heat loss. In order to obtain effective and equal interior lighting, it is worth ensuring proper distribution of windows in the roof.