Velux windows?

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Just bought a tiny cottage, with a downstairs bathroom and a - well, we call it the 'middle room. It's the space you walk through to get from the living room to the kitchen, where the cottages were 'built on to' to extend them from 2 up 2 down donkeys' years ago.

The bathroom has a light well for natural light, which is tiny. The 'middle room' has no natural light (I'm in the middle of a row of four cottages, so only front and back outside walls).

I'm thinking of putting a velux in the bathroom and one in the middle room to get some more daylight in. The back of the long living room is dark too and I think it will help all through. Next door (the other middle cottage) has a velux in the bathroom, so know that can work.

Drawbacks? Things to consider? Cost? I'm new to this whole 'home owning' thing...

I’ve had velux windows twice now and installed them on one of those properties but as part of a loft conversion so I don’t know about installation costs.

I can’t think of many cons to be honest. They are easy to open, close and clean from the inside (they pivot past the 180 plane). It’s easy to get and fit blinds if you want them.
Even a small window lets a surprising amount of light in. The one we have over our loft staircase casts light into the existing landing which has been great.
Maybe the con would be the extra heat in summer depending on which way the window faced. But blinds can mitigate this.
I’ve never had electric ones so people might have a view on this.

I have 6 of various sizes in my home. They are wonderful. We are doing a big conversion in a year or two and expect to fit more - even thinking about their balconies as well. Go for it. You can also buy blinds for them, should you need privacy.

I've got a velux in the loft conversion which I love, which is why I like the idea for the extension. Do they do electric opening ones? That sounds exciting!

Thanks for the advice.

do you need planning permission for velux windows and fensa certificate?

We have a couple of Velux windows and as they are quite high in the ceiling they have a remote control to open and close. They also have external shutters (also remotely controlled) over them as they are in a bedroom and so in the morning they would let too much light in (for me).

I should have added - external roller type shutters are good for keeping the heat out during sunny days.

Ours are terrible. Saying that they are not velux. We asked for and were quoted for velux but the guy fitted something called rooflite. Just make sure you get velux and proper mechanisms. You can't clean ours and they're not remote controlled. You have to do it with this ten foot stick and chip the paintwork in the process. Can you tell I've not come to terms with it?

We have Velux windows and they are brilliant. I think the blinds with electric motor would be good...Neighbour has electric Velux and they are extremely slow opening and shutting but you can still use a pole.

Be aware though...don't be tempted by cheaper Velux copies. We inherited one in another part of the house and have had a nightmare with leaks. Roofer says that Velux have three lines of defence against leaks and rarely fail but the copies whilst cheaper are more susceptible to leaks...so spend the money and be reassured.

I'm amazed how much light comes through our Veluxes. Can tell just by closing the blinds on them.

I don't need blinds for mine - my house isn't overlooked and the only things that could look through them would be cats on the roof.

Good point about making sure they are Velux - the one in my loft is brilliant (and real Velux). I know there are other brands available, but Velux do have a good name. They won't be that high up as it's a single level extension, I'm just wondering if I have a water tank above the middle room that might be a sticking point (I haven't really looked yet!).

We have solar powered velux in our kitchen and they are brilliant. Not slow at all to open/ close and they have a rain sensor so close automatically at the first sign of rain. We got the white upvc ones, as opposed to wooden, to avoid maintenance down the line.

As others have said, pay the extra for Velux as the cheaper ones aren't worth it. If buying blinds, don't buy direct from Velux as there are cheaper online suppliers out there.

We have a heritage rooflight from The Rooflight Company. If you have a heritage building these are better suited to older roofs. They cost more but are very unobtrusive. Velux are fine but suit modern houses more, in my view. No cons with any of them.

There's a Velux in the roof already, up in the loft, it's a wooden one. I agree that the white upvc wouldn't look right in my cottage. The main part of the cottage is old but the extension part (where the bathroom and middle room are) was added on in the 70's, when the cottages were renovated from being 2 up 2 down farmworker's cottages into houses with a bathroom and kitchen, so a Velux would be fine.

Going to pay a bit more for actual Velux rather than a substitute cheaper brand if I can.

No planning permission needed to fit them as long as they aren't above the roofline (it's at the back of the property so won't affect the 'look' of the house either. Just the lighting).

We've got six Velux in the roof as we did a big loft conversion. They are conservation style as it's an old property. They've been in four years and weathered some terrific storms without a problem. Really happy with them.

Velux, the company, have been great to deal with. The blinds are easy to fit, and Velux will also advise you of recommended installers locally. If you are any good at building work, you can fit yourself, and get a certificate from building control.