Exploring the technical side to our Essex Roof Skylights

13 Oct

Bright modern room with large skylight, abstract wall art, and a window letting in natural light.

As much as we love to talk about our Essex roof skylights in our blogs, we think it’s important that you understand the mechanics behind the manufacturing and installation of the product.

We’ve recently outlined how at the forefront of our skylights is the environment, and how passionate we are in upkeeping the best carbon footprint possible for a business in our industry. But, the team here at Aliwood also wanted to inform you of the design process and some little facts so you understand the logistics about what we do a little more!

The Kerb

We design our Essex roof skylights as if they were to be assembled atop a pre-built kerb, built into a flat roof. The kerb is treated as if it was the roof membrane to ensure precision and accuracy. To clarify, the upstand (the kerb) should be dressed securely with a waterproof roof membrane to form a weather-tight seal when the lantern is fixed on top.

This kerb will then set in place with the roof membrane dressed over and lead flashing in place before the roof skylight is delivered. This way, the installation of the skylight will run as smoothly as possible with no sticky situations (touch wood, literally!) and ease the whole process.

A person sanding a wooden frame with sandpaper, smoothing the surface of light-colored wood.

Measuring The Kerb

Here’s where we get a little more technical!

Your specification upon the proposal of your bespoke Essex roof skylight will outline the size of your lantern. The opening aperture should measure ever so slightly smaller than the roof lantern that you are ordering and when setting up the kerb, should be referred to continually.

For those of you who simply order the skylight and don’t require help installing the lantern, the kerb depth (for your knowledge) from the highest point of the roof deck should be an absolute minimum of 150mm and the width should be no less than 90mm. If you follow this sizing guide, you’ll have no problems with installing your skylight!

Wooden frame box on plywood floor, measuring 1.8m x 1.8m, with a minimum border width of 90mm labeled.

Supply Only

Whilst on the topic on the services that we offer, you can either choose out supply only or supply and install service. Within the supply only offer, you will receive a full set of installation instructions along with an installation video to help ensure that the process is straightforward, and you encounter no problems. Though it takes (on average) 3-4 hours to fit our Essex roof skylights, they’re worth it just for that finished look!

Close-up view of intersecting modern architectural beams forming a geometric pattern against a white background.

Supply and Install

Alongside our supply only service, we offer an installation package too, which for those of who aren’t confident in setting the skylight up yourself, might work best! Prices for the service are dependent on your location, but typically starts around the £800 mark.

A person uses a cordless drill to assemble wooden boards, wearing a watch and sneakers.

We hope this has been an informative blog and you understand the logistics a little more! If you’re considering or looking to invest in one of an Essex roof skylight, contact us today! We’re based in the heart of Essex just 15 minutes from Chelmsford and have worked on a variety of skylights, thus can cater to your ideas! We look forward to hearing from you!

Posted in