The blessings of specifying roof windows and rooflights are clear: they offer high levels of herbal light, they may be notable sources of air flow, and they contribute to the thermal consolation of a constructing. Roof windows and rooflights also provide an aesthetically eye-catching addition to the external appearance of a assets.
But what else should you do not forget to ensure the specification runs smoothly as soon as it gets to web page? Roof home windows and rooflights are commonly clean to install, however understanding what to anticipate can assist to ensure matters go easily.
Glazing Vision lately spoke to Clarkson Builders about how to make sure right specification and preserve work on-web page progressing as predicted. Here are the things they propose specifiers have to be aware about. Click here Flat roof windows
Window size
Roof home windows and rooflights are available an array of sizes and styles, and deciding on the right dimensions on your undertaking is crucial.
The ‘preferred’ for roof home windows is 900x600mm, and those are hooked up between rafters at 600mm centres. Other commonplace sizes are 980x980mm and 900x1200mm – the latter is designed to healthy in a double-rafter area. They also can be supplied in a whole lot larger sizes – as an instance, Glazing Vision Pitchglaze home windows can degree up to 3000x1000mm.
Structural help
The only manner of assisting a roof window is to use double trimmers for horizontal aid and double rafters for vertical assist. Double hangers are placed in every corner, and unmarried hangers are located round related rafters.
The double supports include portions of rafter wooden with 600mm centres (either C16 or C24 between 100x50mm or 225x50mm, depending on specification and structural calculations). The rafters must be fixed together with bulldog timber connectors and M12 bolts.
When solving the wood, the top of the bolt have to be recessed at the aspect of the timber to which the rooflight might be fixed. Otherwise, it can protrude into the region below the glazing.
As with all structural requirements, relevant calculations need to be done by way of a certified structural engineer.
Preparing the window aperture
Remember that the dimensions of the window aperture might not be the size of the window itself. The actual requirements will rely upon the character roof window, so make certain to seek advice from the set up guide early inside the planning levels.
When making ready the rafters, don’t forget how factors like the insulation sarking and the ends of the battens could be supported. The roofing underlay ought to be folded back and glued appropriately.
Other elements will even want to be delivered to the roof, consisting of tilting fillets, battens and flashing. Out-of-aircraft rooflights may also require the development of a window kerb.
Site shipping and garage
Take time to don’t forget how rooflights and roof windows will get to website – and once there, how will the gadgets be stored to make sure they aren’t broken.
Some producers, inclusive of Rooflights.Com, provide loose delivery through an online store and via selecting next-day delivery, you may minimise the on-web page storage necessities.
In addition, don’t underestimate the burden of a roof window. A small, 750x750mm laminated rooflight weighs just over 31kg, and the gadgets can reach more than 150kg, depending on the size and sort of glazing.
Heavier devices must additionally be assessed in phrases of Health and Safety. In a few cases, mechanical help can be required for shifting the roof windows round web page appropriately.
Getting the roof window or rooflight onto the roof
In most cases, production substances are added ‘to the kerb’, and this is the case for rooflights and roof windows. Unless you have got a in particular obliging driver, you’ll want to training session the way to get the unit onto the roof.
As mentioned within the previous phase, roof home windows can be very heavy and lifting them in a way that avoids damage or damage will require careful planning. It may also incur greater costs – you can need to lease lifting equipment for bulky gadgets, or for hard-to-get right of entry to places.
Instructions and equipment
Many roof home windows include an installation guide that sincerely covers multiple products – and people merchandise can appearance very comparable even as having slightly distinct fixings and flashings. If those commands aren’t followed efficiently, it is able to impact the set up system and the way the roof window or rooflight performs.
Be sure to check the commands to ensure that the installation team has the right tools. Depending on the manufacturer, special drill bits may be required. For example, Velux windows use a screw that uses a T20 drill bit that’s commonly used for daily paintings on building web sites.
Tiling around roof home windows
Roof windows are commonly discovered on pitched roofs (not like roof lighting fixtures, which can be typicallly determined on flat roofs).
When tiling around roof windows, it’s vital to ensure that the lowest tile isn’t always too close to the window, because the flashing can’t be established correctly. The excellent way to plot the tile gauge is to degree from the bottom of the roof, as this allows for the excellent finish and enables to ensure the roof window overall performance isn’t compromised.
When using pantiles (those are typically crafted from concrete but will also be clay in background projects), make sure to chamfer the pinnacle of the formidable roll beneath the window.
This should all be explained within the practise guide, which need to outline the distances to install your battens to the edges, pinnacle and bottom of the window.
With a lot to think about, it’s clean to see why it’s so essential to look past appearance and overall performance of a constructing element at the specification level. If you’ve got any questions or concerns approximately a product you’re specifying, it’s a very good idea to get answers and recommendation as quickly as possible from the manufacturer.
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