Through The Looking Glass: A Closer Look At Our Bespoke Roof Lanterns

With the New Year approaching, it’s the perfect time for change. 2020 has been a challenging year for many, so the premise of 2021 is certainly lifting spirits. With the majority of us having to spend prolonged amounts of time at home, let's face it, we’re getting a little fed up with looking at the same four walls. 

Maybe you’ve been thinking about a new conservatory, but it’s quite an expense to spare. This is where a roof lantern is the perfect choice. Many homeowners are opting for single-story flat roof extensions under the new Permitted Development Scheme. We offer the perfect solution for that all-important refresh and increasing natural light into any home through a new or existing flat roof extension.  
With over 30 years of experience, here at Aliwood, we wanted to get into the nitty gritty specifics of our Essex skylights.

The Perfect Choice

The clean lines and symmetry create an incredible architectural impact when viewed from inside or out. Designed with correct proportions, Aliwood roof lanterns consider depth of shelf, beam dimension and hip shape. The result is an impressive, balanced design that suits any style of property, from classic to contemporary. 

Roof lanterns are a feature in themselves and do not always need to form part of a larger extension project. In built-up areas, for example, where space to extend is at a premium, skylights sit well above an otherwise dark and forgotten transition space in a property, such as above a stairwell or hallway.

Equally, properties that aren’t provided with a consistent stream of natural daylight due to their orientation will also benefit from installing a roof lantern, thus allowing more light into the room from above.

Sustainable Materials

Our Aliwood roof lanterns are aesthetically beautiful and of the highest quality structure. Internally crafted from superior, knot-free laminated Redwood timber, which is fully capped with powder-coated aluminium externally. This means that no timber elements are exposed to weathering, ensuring no water ingress or leakages. 

Our timber is sourced from fast-growing, FSC® certified forests and is a sustainable alternative to both tropical hardwoods and PVC. Thermal qualities of the timber aid heat retention in colder months.

The finials are made from a timber-resin composite, which means they will last for decades, as opposed to solid timber which, from our experience, may split over time and could cause ingress of water. You may choose either a ball or a cap style finial.

Additionally, our high-tech glazing reduces heat loss, which leads to energy savings and ensures your room maintains a consistent temperature throughout all seasons. Thermostatic ventilation sashes can be included as an optional extra to improve airflow.

Finishing Touches

The paint that coats the inside of our timber roof lanterns is of vital importance to provide a flawless, long-lasting finish. We spray-apply two coats (fully finished) of Teknos paint to the inside of all our lanterns. This is approximately four times thicker and more effective than a brush-painted layer, resulting in a layer measuring 120 microns.

Teknos water-based, microporous, flexible paint systems are made up of water and plastic. After application the water evaporates, leaving a highly durable and protective plastic layer behind. This provides our roof lanterns with an extremely durable and highly protective barrier against internal moisture ingress and bacteria. This substantial protection ensures an immaculate finish, resulting in long-lasting, low-maintenance joinery. Take a look at our colour choices here. 

All of our Lanterns can be made to order, in the size you require. If you’re interested in our bespoke services, please contact us today or give us a call on 01245 967107. We look forward to hearing from you!