Protecting Your Roof Lantern from Mother Nature

Now that Spring is on its way, we can start looking ahead to brighter mornings, evenings and more sunshine throughout the day!

As a result, we can spend more time enjoying our roof lanterns around this time of year. Hip hip hooray!

With a change in seasons, comes a change in roof lantern care! With the brighter weather, there’s a little more to consider. From nature’s elements to the different wildlife, here Aliwood discuss the precautions you should be taking to protect your skylight.

A Change in Season

As winter becomes spring, we can expect things to become a little brighter. However, the premise of stormy weather is very much a possibility. We should know with Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin making their appearance over the last couple of weeks! Luckily, our roof lanterns are made of sturdy stuff and won’t be running away with the breeze anytime soon. Our timber and aluminium elements are strong and weatherproof, even in the eye of a storm.

However, as the weather begins to change, we would advise checking your lantern glass for any abnormalities to ensure it is in the best condition possible. Small chips and cracks can easily occur from fallen branches and even windy weather! We recommend inspecting the corners of the glass panels to make sure there are no hairline cracks hiding. These are likely to get bigger quickly and move inwards towards the centre of the glass.

Blowing Away the Cobwebs

With Spring comes the blowing away of a few cobwebs… branches and leaves! Luckily, you don’t have to think about scaling your roof with a leaf blower because our roof lanterns are pretty self-sufficient. You really don’t have to do a lot to protect your structure. The pitch of our roof lanterns really helps with self-cleaning and allows particles to easily slide off with wind and rainfall. The steeper the pitch, the more difficult it is for leaves, twigs and dirt to settle and accumulate on the glazing.

At Aliwood, our roof lanterns are pitched at a 25-degree angle, offering a resistant solution to the changing winter-spring elements and providing maximum structural integrity. You can be confident that your roof lantern is built to withstand the extra weight any unwanted elements should present.

Wildlife

There’s nothing like watching the woodland wildlife come alive at this time of year! However, one thing you can’t control is when and where they come and go. We’re talking nests on your roof, guttering or roof lantern, squirrels using your lantern as a springboard shortcut to get to their favourite tree and the bird poop that falls onto your lantern glass from beautiful, yet oblivious birds above! These animals are cute, but you wouldn’t be the first to admit, they can be frustrating where your home is involved.

To protect your roof lantern from any unwanted visitors, we recommend keeping any trees and bushes surrounding your skylight pruned and trimmed back. This is a very easy way to ensure your roof lantern is protected from wildlife.

A Spring Clean

On that note, we thought we’d give you a few cleaning tips for getting that pesky bird poop off of your roof lantern, so you can still enjoy a room with a clear view and maintain the quality of your skylight.

Depending on where the offending stain is, have someone else spotting from below. Always use ladders correctly and with extreme care. Don’t use harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners or hard utensils to clean your roof lantern. Not only could this affect the glass, but it could damage the timber and paint. We recommend using a non-abrasive sponge and some lukewarm, soapy water to clean the windows and the exterior structure of your roof lantern. The surrounding fixtures can be wiped over gently too whilst you’re up there! You can either use a soft squeegee to eliminate drip marks, or a large microfibre cloth. Use both in a downward stoke motion to avoid smearing.

You may find that certain areas need a little more elbow grease than others and this is completely normal. Leave the warm water to soak in for a few minutes and it should become easier to wipe away. Never stand or lean on your roof windows.

Some springtime TLC will ensure that your glass is spic and span in no time. To keep your glass in the best condition possible, clean the exterior every couple of months and be sure to dust the inside before cleaning internally where possible.

Get in Touch

If you’re interested in getting an Aliwood roof lantern now that spring is on the way, then we can help you find the perfect fit! Contact our friendly team today for further information. Alternatively, you can give us a call on 01245 967107. We look forward to hearing from you!