Do you want to get more natural light into your home or extension? Ask a VELUX daylight expert – ANSWERS BACK

[JustineBMumsnet]

Answers are now back and this thread is now closed for questions. If you'd like to read Grant's responses you can view them here.

Building a kitchen/ dining room extension or adding another bedroom can be a great way to get more space in your home without making a big move. But it’s easy to overlook the importance of getting enough daylight into your design. VELUX would like to help by answering your questions on how to design your space with daylight.

Before and after images of VELUX windows in a single story extension can be found within this OP.

VELUX daylight expert Grant Sneddon says: “Whatever the project, it’s absolutely crucial to ask a professional for help as early as possible. Not only will they steer your project from start to finish, and work within your budget to help you get the space you want, but they’ll also come up with ideas that you might not have considered. One of those considerations, is the importance of natural daylight and ventilation in your home. Building an extension with roof windows or retrofitting windows into existing extensions will allow more daylight to penetrate deeper into the space and make it look and feel bigger and brighter.”

Whether you have a single-story extension already that you’d like to get more natural light into or you’re planning on building a single-story extension in your home, ask Grant your questions about getting more light into your design below. We’ll be selecting 10 questions and post a link to the responses as soon as possible.

All who post their questions below (regardless of whether their question is selected) will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £150 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks, and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[Gazelda]

How do I get the ratio right? I've got an Victorian cottage, which we're adding an extension to. We want to retain the 'old and cosy' character, but ensure there is plenty of light. How do we get the balance right?

[IncomingCannonFire]

How can we get light into an internal staircase, no external walls.

[m0jit0]

Ooh yes I'd like to know how to get light into a stairway with no external walls. Also if putting into a loft extension for example how to get the balance between getting enough light and not feeling like you are in a green house with too much heat!

[JellySlice]

Two things have always puzzled/bothered me about Velux wndows:

1. Can you keep them open in the rain? What if the rain's finished, and you open them - does the roof drip in?
   
   
2. How do you clean them?

[MacarenaFerreiro]

This thread is about a year too late! We had Velux windows fitted into the roof of our north-facing kitchen in the autumn and they are AMAZING, the amount of light they let in is fantastic. It's totally transformed the space, made it so much more modern and airy too.

My question is... given that they are in the ceiling, how do I open them for ventilation? Is there a long pole or something I can get?

[BookShop]

We would love to have 3 Velux windows fitted. We’ve used the Velux find a fitter service but often they are builders who are either booked up really far in advance or only want to add a Velux if you are undertaking a large project. Can you let me know if anyone available in the South East who would take on a 2 x Velux instalment in an existing bedroom and 1 x Velux in a kitchen extension. Please! I love your products but cannot find anyone willing to fit them for me! 😀

[Lua]

Is it possible to get a veluxwindow that doesnot leak? I would love to add one to my kitchen, but every one I know that has one, it leaks...

[PashleyB]

We have velux windows in the loft and I would like to know if we can change the blinds on them?

[Bebe03]

How do you open the windows at a very high height? Do people just never open them?

[Justbackfromnewwine]

What if it’s a room that’s going to double up as a spare bedroom? Is there a way of fitting blinds or curtains?

[Summergarden]

Is it possible to get blinds for ceiling windows and if so, can they be operated remotely if they are too high to reach with your hands?

[Whatabloodymessthisis]

Should you consider furniture placement when planning window position?

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

I have some reeeeallt old velux windows needing replacing. Can I get it done in other colourways than white upvc?

[Doilooklikeatourist]

I hate Velux windows
We have one in our bedroom.
When it rains ( and we live in Wales ) the noise wakes me up
We have a blind , but I can’t move it , it’s very high , and the pole is difficult for me to use
Dead flies fall out from the blind if I do manage to move it

Please help me love the way it lets light in , and help me solve the problem of the bits I truly dislike

[lostmywayrightnow]

How do you clean the really tall ones? Nothing we have done has done a great job.

[c00k1e]

How difficult is it to get another velux added into a prexisting loft conversion? Also how do u open high velux windows which have a leave type handle as opposed to bar at the top.

[AntiBi]

Years ago, the builder fitted a fire window (close to bottom edge of the roof) was a velux in our loft conversion. All the other velux windows in the roof have a catch that enables the window to be opened about an inch. This one doesn't. The builder said that fire windows can't have that feature. Is that true and can you explain why please?

[PickAChew]

We live in a 1930s dormer bungalow and one of the boys has the room under the eaves, with no dormer window, which can be a bit dingy. Can you fit velux windows into this sort of room?

[del2929]

we have a bay windows- the velux windows would be fab- im looking into them already!

[HoHoHolittlepea]

We are looking at buying an Edwardian style house which currently has a small kitchen and conservatory which we plan to extend into a bigger kitchen diner with velux, is there a style of velux that works best with this size of house?
Thanks :)

[alwaysinleggings]

I want to fit a velux into my loft, and make the space usable, brighter and add some ventilation, I would like the largest light possible, what is the largest window you can supply, I am worried about the structure of my roof (beams) how are they fitted to ensure the house structure remains strong,

[jacqui5366]

I love the VELUX CABRIO balcony roof window, and am thinking about investing in one - do I need planning permission ?

[daniel1996]

Hi Gary, I would love velux in my dining room extension, to make it brighter, the roof has quite a lot of cavity insulation in the roof, how insulated are they to keep the heat in to ensure my room remains warm in winter, and cool in summer.

[Natsai1]

I don't mind having natural light but at times would like a darken room. Do you have options where you can make the glass opaque/frosted to reduce light rather than using a blind?

[Carriecakes80]

We have Velux windows in our side conservatory, we are thinking of having them in our loft room which my eldest will be moving into soon, but the roof ceiling is extremely high, will he be able to open the windows? And if it does rain, will he be soaked if they are wet? Thank you! x