Where Should A Roof Lantern Be Placed?

Are you thinking about investing in a roof lantern but aren’t sure where it should be placed? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

At Aliwood, we’re roof lantern experts, with over 30 years of experience and have installed thousands of bespoke projects across the UK. We can advise you on where your lantern would look best positioned, tailored to the structure of your home. We are well aware that each homely space is different, with contrasting characteristics. Therefore, it is important that your roof lantern highlights the beauty of your home, whilst also holding its own.

What to Consider

Roof lanterns bring natural light and space into any room. They’re not only an architectural statement but an investment to your home, elevating a room to a new height of elegance. Roof lanterns should always be placed on flat roofs – as they’re the only kind of roof that will hold the heavy lantern structure – and are perfect for adding that bit extra to single storey extensions and open-plan spaces where natural light from your French doors and bay windows, for example, work all together to effortlessly keep the room feeling light and airy. Your roof lantern must be installed above a ground floor space in your house, however, the actual room you choose to place your roof lantern is completely up to you because every home is completely different! Whichever you choose you will not be disappointed.

To avoid confusion, it’s important to mention that a roof lantern is different from a skylight. A skylight or roof light is a simple glass ceiling window that is set at a non pitched plane. A roof lantern is pitched and three dimensional, increasing the height in a room and creating a loftier space that is suitable for both traditional and contemporary homes.

Do You Need Planning Permission?

This depends on your home and structure you are building. If it is being placed within an existing flat roof, it must be higher than any existing part of the roof it is set in – a key determinant of the need for planning permission. However, if you are installing a roof lantern as part of a new build or building on an approved, new extension, then you won’t require any additional permission.

The guidelines are quite complex and lengthy. Therefore, it’s important to note that specific limitations and conditions must be met. So, have a look at your area’s planning portal and check with your local planning department to see if they can give you anymore guidance on your planning permission. 

For now, here is a quick breakdown of the sizing guidelines under the most recent conditions for extensions:

• No more than half of the land around the house can be covered by other buildings
• No extension can be forward, or side elevated in front of a highway
• No extension can be higher than the highest part of your roof
• Single storey extensions cannot extend beyond the rear wall of the original building by more than 8 metres.
• Max height of a single-storey extension is four metres
• Extensions more than one storey cannot be extended beyond the rear wall by more than 3 metres of the house
• Two storey extensions cannot be closer than seven metres to the house’s rear boundary
• You cannot have balconies, verandas or a raised platform

What Rooms Work Best?

Honestly, it is completely up to you. We’d say the most common placements tend to be kitchen, dining rooms, gyms, conservatory like spaces and bathrooms. A place where good daylight quality can be appreciated is always the best space to position your roof lantern. Somewhere like a kitchen or dining room is perfect because those areas tend to be the central hub of house. Keeping the placement of your lantern central makes sense – i.e: over an island or table. You’ll also benefit from natural light filling the whole room, rather than shining through on one side only.

It is worth keeping in mind that a roof lantern could bring in too much sunlight in some rooms. For example, the lounge where you might watch TV or use a computer, where the glare could become frustrating. In a bedroom, you would need blackout blinds, so that the early morning sunlight doesn’t stream through in the summer months.

Is There A Right Orientation?

This is something to discuss with your architect, or we can help here at Aliwood. Depending on the way the chosen room faces, the orientation will be different.

• A north-facing roof lantern will give you constant but cool light.
• South-facing can get very warm in the summer, so exploring your glazing options would be beneficial.
• A west-facing roof lantern will reap the benefits in the afternoons.
• An east-facing one will get the morning sun and become cooler in the afternoons.

What Shape and Size Do You Need?

Again, this is entirely down to the size of your house and your budget. We can always help you to decide on a size that’s right for you. We offer three different shapes – square, rectangular and octagonal. Here’s a little more on our sizing to give you an idea.

Square

Our square roof lantern has a neat, symmetrical and modern appearance. It’s perfect for homeowners looking for something a little smaller than the usual rectangular shape. This one is best suited for smaller or square-shaped ceilings. These roof lanterns draw natural light down into a singular zone of the room below, such as a seating or dining space. They contribute to the aesthetic of the room without dominating the platform above. They come in three measurements, the smallest between 900mm2 – 1.2m2, costs £995. The medium size is 2 square metres, costing approximately £2100 and the largest measures around 3m2, costing £3200.

Rectangular

The rectangular roof lantern is most commonly used to enhance larger length rooms. Typically, they run the whole length of a room, making a real impact and transforming it into a bright and spacious area. Our rectangular lanterns do not include vents, but these can be added for a small additional cost. The smallest rectangular roof lantern at 1.5m x 2m, costs £2300. A medium-sized rectangular roof lantern at 2m x 4m is around £3300. The grandest of the sizing measures 3m x 5.6m and will cost approximately £4500.

Octagonal

Lastly, our octagonal roof lantern really brings that sense of grandeur to your home. From the inside, it gives the impression of a dome structure, allowing light to cascade into the room from all angles. Octagonal roof lanterns are ideal for circular or polygonal rooms that are often found in period homes. Please contact us directly to discuss requirements for your octagonal lantern.

Get in Touch

We hope our guide has given you some ideas on where to place your roof lantern this summer! If you have any questions or would like some help picking the perfect size and placement, our friendly team is on hand to help you with anything you may need. For more information, contact us here, or call us on 01245 967107 today! We look forward to hearing from you.