Rooflight size in kitchen extension - any advice??

[Azrael]

We started a kitchen/diner extension in our semi-detached and need to make decisions on glazing. The extension faces North/West. Looking out, we'll have a dining area on the left, and a kitchen on the right, along the wall.

Our draftsperson says that because of the 'excessive glazing' rule, the maximum glazing we can have is a rooflight of 1.5m x 2m PLUS a window of 0.8m x 1m (this window will be in the right wall, between the kitchen units).

My question is:

1. should we bother with that kitchen wall window at all?? It won't be for the view (as it'll look onto the neighbour's wall) but more for light. But then again - what light will we have if we look onto a wall?
2. If we give up on the kitchen wall window, should we try to have the biggest rooflight possible (1.9m x 2m) or should we go for 2 or even 3 small rooflights? Does one massive rooflight look better than 2 or 3 smaller one? are there pros and cons to having one big rooflight versus having several smaller ones?

I've been googling this for days and can't seem to get a straight answer from our draftsperson or builder - or DP. Mumsnet wisdom, help! And congrats for reading this far .

I think, psychologically, people like to see a window in a room, maybe it gives the impression of being cell-like without one. I think it is worth having a window in a kitchen simply so you can open it to let out smells/steam/smoke.

It's hard to know whether one big rooflight will look better than several small ones without knowing the shape and layout of the room.

Have the kitchen window even if the view is bad (use wooden venetian blinds if needed to soften the view of the wall).
And go for the largest rooflight you an afford as well.
HTH!

Erm, not sure what this excessive glazing rule is...

We had an extension - finished this time last year - across the back of our house. It's a kitchen/diner and we have 2 roof lanterns, a window and bifold doors into the garden!

Not sure on any of the sizes, but I would say 2 roof lights are better than one big one

Not sure this is at all helpful...!

what excessive glazing rule?

we have three veluxes and a big window and a door and the glazing to the conservatory

Lalalonglegs - good points! Particularly the idea of being able to let out smells/steam without having to open the doors onto the garden. The extension will be 3.4m length by 5.5m width, with a dining area on one side and the kitchen against the wall on the other. Yes the thing that most puzzles me is: should I place 2 or 3 smaller rooflights based on where the dining table and kitchen will be? Or should I just have them laid in a row across the extension, with no consideration for the layout of the room? Going for one large rooflight would solve this puzzle...

Pannacotta - Thanks for your opinion. You seem to think that one large rooflight is better than a few smaller ones.

HomeEcoGnomist - I didn't know about this rule but found some information here. It's basically a rule to check that you've got enough insulation for the size of your extension. Interesting to hear that you think 2 rooflights will look better than one big one.

Talkinpeace - I assume that the excessive glazing rule doesn't apply to an extension with a conservatory - which has almost only glass!

I think one big rooflight would look better but, as the light into the room is going to be quite limited with only one other window which face a wall, you might be better off with several rooflights spread across the extension. Have I understood this correctly? There won't be a door or any other windows (apart from the kitchen one) letting in light?

OP
THat link is to a company, not to regulations
here are the regulations
www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partl/approved#ApprovedDocumentL1B:ConservationoffuelandpowerExistingdwellings

We just had our extension done and we spent ages deciding roof light (flat roof) sizes. We finally chose standard sizes ones which is quicker to get and easier to bargain for hence cheaper.
Do think about how you will light the area under the rooflights in the evening especially if they are large and directly over your kitchen island / dining table.

both. lll is right about windows but large flat roofs are always wonderful and as you don't get much sun( i think??) no risk of the area becoming too hot in the summer

lalalonglegs - we will have sliding doors leading to the garden (4m x 2.2m) so light will be coming from these as well. It sounds like the best option for us is to go for 2 roolights, so that it spreads the light towards to middle of the house where we most need it.

Talkinpeace - thanks for this, you found the exact source of information.

gymnasticrobotics - very good point about choosing standard sizes for rooflights. We've relayed this to our draftsperson!

Herhonesty- you're right, too much sun is not going to be an issue for us.

Thanks all!

IMO have your roof light in the kitchen area as that's a more 'noisy ' area most of the time, with cooking hustle and bustle etc the natural daylight will be great as you work -and when it rains you will hear it in a less noisy place ie rather than when you are sitting at dining table drinking a coffee and reading the Sunday papers IYSWIM - as by the sound of it , you will have plenty of light that end by the sliding doors !