Understanding Aluminium in Roof Lantern Design: More Than a Finish

An aluminium capped timber roof lantern is a stylish solution for bringing natural light into your home and opening up your space.

If you’re currently weighing up your options and wondering why a timber composite roof lantern is a good choice for your space, read on to discover the role aluminium plays in our roof lanterns and the functional aspects of the material.

Why Aluminium Appears So Often in Roof Lanterns

Aluminium has long been a preferred choice in building design due to its highly versatile nature and the fact it is both strong and weather resistant. When it comes to roof lanterns, aluminium is commonly used because of its robust performance and lightweight nature, which makes it easy to install, as well as its low maintenance properties. Aluminium naturally forms a protective oxide layer which prevents rust and corrosion and does not rot or warp which makes it incredibly easy to care for.

As a roof lantern has external components, weathering can be a concern for many homeowners, so it’s vital for the materials used to be highly durable and resistant to the elements. Aluminium possesses strong anti-corrosive properties which offers a long-term solution for lantern roof lights, giving homeowners peace of mind that their lantern is built to last.

At Aliwood, we go one step further to ensure that our roof lanterns are weathertight. Not only do we use aluminium capping externally, but we also use knot-free, Redwood timber for the internal sections which offers superior thermal insulation, preventing cold spots and condensation, for a more well-rounded finish. Not only this, but timber is more visually appealing and allows for more colour options, offering a more personalised approach to roof lantern design.

Aluminium in Roof Lanterns is Functional, Not Decorative

Whilst aluminium roof lights are often sought out for their sleek and modern appearance, they are, more often than not, chosen for their functionality. As aforementioned, aluminium’s weatherproof qualities and low-maintenance nature is often a deciding factor for homeowners as aluminium capping can help reduce maintenance demands over time when compared to more exposed materials. Additionally, aluminium can reduce the overall cost of a roof light over other materials like timber.

What “aluminium” refers to in roof lantern design

Generally, a search for an “aluminium roof lantern” can return anything from aluminium skylights to cheap, low-quality, pitched lanterns. However, if you wish to find the kind of roof lantern that offers the benefits of weatherproof aluminium, combined with the warmth and quality of timber, you are best to look for “timber composite roof lanterns”, or “aluminium capped roof lanterns”.

Aluminium capping is a popular solution because it combines aluminium’s durability, versatility and modern appeal with the impressive warmth of timber. Aluminium capping involves covering exposed surfaces with aluminium to create a durable, weather-resistant finish that is fitted with a weathertight seal to prevent water damage and rot and reduces maintenance such as re-painting. This protective layer enhances the longevity of the underlying structure, as well as offering a sleek finish that feels modern and impressive.

This solution allows homeowners to benefit from external weather resistance and a more customisable and aesthetic finish internally.

What aluminium is protecting against

Unlike other materials, like some timbers, that can warp or fade, aluminium – or aluminium capping – offers innate structural stability and advanced thermal break technology which helps to protect roof lanterns from:

• Corrosion – Thanks to a self-healing layer of aluminium oxide, aluminium does not rust or corrode when exposed to damp weather conditions typically seen in the UK, ensuring it maintains its structural integrity over time.
• Moisture – Often finished with a highly durable powder coating that acts as an extra protective layer against moisture intrusion, aluminium capping prevents water from causing damage to the roof structure and room below.
• UV Degradation/Fading – Unlike uPVC, which can suffer from “yellowing” and become brittle, aluminium is unaffected by UV radiation, meaning it doesn’t change colour or fade.
• Extreme Temperature Fluctuations – Rigid frames, combined with high-performance double glazing, ensures the room below remains comfortable regardless of the outdoor temperature.

How Aluminium Behaves in a Roof Environment

Whilst aluminium actually expands almost twice as much as steel when exposed to extreme temperatures, this predictable expansion is accounted for in manufacturing and construction. Modern designs incorporate thermal breaks to account for and manage this movement, ensuring aluminium frames maintain integrity and uphold the watertight qualities they are famed for, improving overall insulation.

Why Aliwood Doesn’t Use Aluminium Alone in Roof Lantern Structures

Whilst there are fully aluminium lantern roof lights available on the market, Aliwood prefers to combine capped aluminium externally with knot-free, Redwood timber internally to get the best qualities from each material.

Aluminium offers plenty of good traits, namely its weather resistance, slim profile potential and cheaper cost, which makes it a popular choice for homeowners on a budget, however, it does have its limitations – mainly aesthetics and thermal related restrictions.

Timber offers a more aesthetic appeal inside the home thanks to the high-end finish with visible wood grain and more colour options (compared with aluminium’s limited colour choices), which is more complementary with period properties, heritage homes and orangeries. Not only is timber more visually appealing, but it also offers superior thermal insulation, preventing cold spots and condensation.

Therefore, combining low maintenance aluminium outside with the warmth of timber inside, Aliwood is able to offer a weatherproof roof lantern that balances performance, comfort and long-term durability through a hybrid material approach.

Why Aluminium Roof Lanterns Let in More Light

Aluminium roof lights can be formed with slimmer frames due to aluminium’s strength and versatile nature. Not requiring a bulky frame, unlike other roof lantern materials, this maximises the glazing area.

In turn, this optimises the amount of natural light flooding the room below and makes the room feel more open, which is often the very reason for installing an aluminium roof lantern in the first instance.

Not only this, but a slimmer framework means that views are less obstructed, creating a natural link between your room and the world beyond, making the room feel grander and more inviting.

Aluminium capped lanterns will have thicker frames than all aluminium roof lanterns, due to the timber involved. However, timber frames offer more stability and strength and also optimise your internal artificial lighting as they are strong enough to hang lighting from. A full aluminium roof lantern often needs tie bars in order to hold lighting which detracts from the aesthetics and limits your options for artificial lighting which will be needed in winter and in evenings.

Aluminium Capping and Thermal Behaviour in Real Use

Roof lanterns are a great solution for homeowners wanting to encourage more natural light into their home and reduce reliance on artificial lighting. However, we understand that many worry about the thermal consequences of such a decision. It’s a common misconception that a roof light will cause room temperatures to fluctuate based on the weather outside, however, well-designed aluminium capped systems are typically engineered to manage heat transfer effectively when paired with modern glazing.

Aluminium capped roof lights are equipped to hold high-performance double-glazing units, improving the overall effectiveness of the lantern. Plus, when paired with a Low-Emissivity coating (an energy efficient microscopic coating) that reflects radiant heat back into the room, and the added benefit of an internal timber structure, homeowners can achieve a comfortable internal environment year-round.

Aliwood offers the option of Solar Control glass which reduces solar glare and heat gain in the warmer months, whilst helping to retain heat in the colder months. This is particularly recommended for larger roof lanterns and for south-facing properties to help maintain a comfortable temperature year-round.

Common Misunderstandings About Aluminium Roof Lanterns

It’s not just temperature concerns that are flagged as potential decision-stoppers, there are several misconceptions about roof lanterns which we hope to put homeowner’s minds at ease over:

Noisy when it rains – Roof lanterns are not the same as conservatory roofs which are often associated with noise (polycarbonate roofing is often the culprit when it comes to unwanted noise, with the plastic sheets far less sound absorbent than modern glazing). In addition, the pitched design of a roof lantern allows rain and hail (as well as debris) to slide off, making it far less noisy as well as less maintenance.

Moreover, to alleviate noise concern, we offer a security glass option that is upgraded with a laminated pane interlayer. This is not only designed for optimum sound insulation but also reduces the amount of harmful UV rays passing through the unit, helping to reduce furniture fading and also acts as an extra security layer, preventing broken glass from falling inwards into the room. 

Hard to clean – Again, thanks to the pitched design, most debris, like leaves or branches, will slide right off. In terms of cleaning the glazing, we always recommend having a professional clean your roof lantern as they will be equipped with the tools required (high ladders and extended poles). A professional should be able to clean your roof lantern alongside your regular window cleaning.

Prone to leaking – If installed correctly, aluminium capped roof lanterns provide exceptional versatility and protection as they ensure that no timber elements are exposed to the atmosphere, meaning no unexpected water ingress or leaks. Aliwood also offers a 5-year warranty for peace of mind when it comes to structural components.

Too hot/too cold – as aforementioned, insulation is a common misunderstanding with many worrying about temperatures becoming too hot/too cold dependant on the season. Due to modern glazing technology and good glass-to-frame ratios, this is a worry that can be left behind.

Why Understanding Material Roles Matters When Comparing Roof Lanterns

Not only is it vital to understand the different materials on the market before making a decision on your roof lantern, but it’s also important to understand how design decisions can affect performance and experience.

Aluminium roof lanterns offer great external weatherproofing, however they are limited on design choices, such as colour, and tend to look best in modern homes. Additionally, they may feel less warm internally without the insulating benefit of timber.

On the other hand, timber roof lanterns offer exceptional warmth internally and allow for more customisable design, as well as looking more high-end and stylish. That flexibility, however, does mean they come with a higher price tag.

An aluminium capped timber roof lantern offers a great balance of weatherproof qualities, thermal efficiency and cost for a well-rounded solution that can suit many properties and homeowners.

Aluminium as a Design Choice, Not Just a Finish

For Aliwood, our inclusion of aluminium capping is a deliberate technical choice that supports longevity, light flow and overall function, not just appearance.

For homeowners who love the appeal of timber thanks to its warmth and versatile design, but perhaps are not so fond of the price tag it comes with, this solution will allow you to benefit from a roof light that fits your style, and save on the overall cost.

For those who admire the weatherproof nature of aluminium roof lanterns, but prefer the thermal benefits of timber, consider an aluminium capped design which will offer you the best of both.

Aliwood, are specialists in supplying and fitting aluminium capped roof lanterns for your home. If you would like more information, contact us today or request a quote to get started with your project.