What shape glass roof lantern do I need for my home?

A glass roof lantern can be a stunning addition to your home, but when it comes to installing one, you want to make sure you are choosing the right size and shape.

Aliwood have over 30 years of experience in bespoke roof lanterns and know all about how to select the perfect roof lantern for your home. Here, Aliwood have decided to give you a breakdown of our products and how each one can fit into varying rooms and houses.

About Aliwood

Before we start looking at sizes, we thought we would tell you a bit more about us. Aliwood are a glass roof lantern designer and manufacturer based in Essex. We supply and install in Essex and the surrounding areas, but we also offer a supply only service across the UK. During our time in the industry, we have perfected the crafting of roof lanterns to guarantee our products are not only visually stunning, but also practical with high-quality performance.

Square 

Sitting in the middle of the ceiling, a square glass roof lantern provides a neat and symmetrical appearance. This shape can be suitable for homeowners who want to step away from the usual rectangular shape and add something different to their home.

These roof lanterns look great in rooms where a central source of natural light is needed, such as a dining room to cast light on a seating area. You can also install them above staircases and in bathrooms and hallways. This design is more compact and sleek when compared to our larger rectangular roof lanterns that dominate a lot of space.

You can purchase a square glass roof lantern in three sizes depending on the size of the room you wish to install it: 1200×1200, 1800×1800 and 2700×2700.

Rectangular

This is the traditional style of glass roof lantern. We would advise keeping your roof lantern in proportion to the room it is installed above as this allows for the balance and flow of the space.

If you have a rectangular room, it’s better to go with this roof lantern over a square one. These roof lanterns can be installed and run the whole length of the room, illuminating and transforming a dull space.

A rectangle glass roof lantern can also be used in an open plan room to incorporate two spaces and help to connect them together.  If you are going to install this shape and size roof lantern in your kitchen, we would recommend adding a single or double vent, which Aliwood can include for an extra cost.

Octagonal 

Adding an octagonal glass roof lantern can bring a sense of grandeur to any room. This structure gives off an almost dome-like effect from inside the room and creates an impact on the space and the light flow. If you have any circular or polygon rooms within your house, this design is the one for you. Octagonal roof lanterns work really well in period homes with towers and turrets.

Other features

When buying and installing a glass roof lantern, it is also important to consider what other features they include. We have already mentioned that some can come with single and double vents. Vents are useful when installing a roof lantern in a room that holds a lot of heat or steam – such as a kitchen or a bathroom.

The vents we install are operated electronically and draw the warm air up and out of your space. Our roof lanterns are designed to benefit your home in many ways. The glass in our products is pure in colour and has high insulating 4/16/4mm toughened glass with a Soft Low-E coating, argon gas-filled cavity and a warm edge spacer bar. These features, along with the Sun Guard solar reflective coating, help to keep the heat in during the colder months and expel it during the summer. 

The aluminium that coats our timber is powder-coated and designed to withstand any weather conditions and provide excellent durability. It also protects the timber, ensuring none of it is exposed to the weather.

Sustainability

A glass roof lantern for your home can help save money on heating and electricity, therefore reducing your carbon footprint. We ensure the environmental impact of your installation starts way before your purchase is even made. Aliwood strive for sustainability across the company and continuously make an effort to reduce carbon footprints and minimise the impact on the environment. Aliwood roof lanterns are all made from premium grade knot-free laminated Redwood timber that is sourced form FSC certified sustainable forests. This is longer-lasting and more environmentally friendly than hardwood or PVC. 

Not only is our timber sustainable, but because of the way it is incorporated into our product, we can offer protection from cold spots and condensation. This is what sets apart our products from regular PVC roof lanterns.

Adding to your home

There is no default size or shape for a glass roof lantern. It all depends on you and how you wish to improve your space. There are recommended shapes for certain rooms, but as the homeowner, you have the final say. Aliwood create bespoke structures and we can work closely with you to produce the perfect tailored addition to your space. 

Contact us

We offer quality installation services and products boasting a 4–8 week delivery time due to the streamlined manufacturing process. All our products are designed with pleasing aesthetics and the environment in mind, so you can be assured the glass roof lantern you are installing in your house is flawless. 

If you’re still not sure on which roof lantern to install in your home, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our friendly team today to discuss options and get a quote. You can also call us on 01245 967107 – we look forward to hearing from you!