Velux windows

[Rae36]

We're looking to replace some small velux windows with larger ones. We toyed with the idea of building a dormer but have decided not to. I've got some questions though from people who have had them installed recently.

I'm assuming we want the biggest we can fit in the space for max light and views, or is there a down side to having them too big? Will the room get too hot?

Has anyone used the duo blackout blind? I like the idea of being able to reduce the light a bit when it's shining right in the window, but we need the blackout for sleeping at night.

And what about the automatic opening and closing windows? Because of the shape of the existing room and roof the windows are quite high and it's impossible to open them without climbing onto a chair. Or do you just open and close them with a pole or something?

If you've had a small roof window replaced with a larger one did it take a while or was it done in a day? I'm assuming it will take less than a day but I don't know.

I'm also assuming we won't need planning permission or a building warrant (we're in Scotland) but I guess I should check.

Tell me your velux experiences please, good and bad.

PS does anyone have the really fancy one that converts into a balcony? We're not getting one but they look amazing

Did you get some quotes yet? Been wondering about doing that myself so following with interest.

No, I've only browsed their glossy website with photos of glossy young couples in streamlined homes looking out their clean new windows. We're hoping to improve a teenagers untidy and slightly stale smelling bedroom so it's not quite the same.

From memory and excuse my lack of technical knowledge/speak but the size of the velux depends on the amount of roof space there is? You can't just go as big a possible, there are safety rules, as you can't end up with more velux than supporting roof. I had them in an extension in my last house.

Oh, and I bought an old chalk board scroller poll with its hook on eBay, used that to open the .

2 important considerations that might be worth mentioning.

Be wary of getting the top hinged Velux windows. They are very difficult to clean (window cleaners generally don’t have ladders that can extend that high and also accommodate the pitch of the roof, it would be too dangerous to angle the ladders without slipping) so unless you have two top hung velux side by side Where you can hang out and clean with an extendable brush, you can’t clean the exterior. For this reason, I would always recommend the middle hinged models.

Second, if it’s a bedroom it’s worth investing in the sound reducing glazing. Even in light/moderate rain, the standard glazing can be too noisy to sleep in. I would go for this sound proofing over a electronic version. The electric ones are only really beneficial in high ceilings like in kitchens where you can’t easily open them for ventilation.

On the subject of Velux fitted blinds, I have the black out ones and when they are completely pulled secure got totally lost in the room trying to get to the ensuite. No bedside light! Ended up crawling to trying find a wall.

We had big high Velux in our last house. They are lovely. We had a pole with a hook for opening them which was totally fine, would not think the electronic ones would be worth the extra money. Also had the duo blinds which were great but slightly tempermental and had to be handled with care so might be worth thinking about how gentle your teen is likely to be...

We have electric and they are good, automatic rain and temperature sensors on them means they get used a lot, we have one in another part of the house which is standard velux and we don’t use it anything like as much, floor gets soaked in rain...

We've got an extendable pole for opening our velux windows. It's curved on one side to hook over the opening bar and has a sort of knob thing (very technical!) for opening and closing blinds so we've never felt the need for the electric windows. Our windows are quite high.

I don't know about the duo blinds but the blackout blinds are really effective.

Our veluxes will open as top hinged for fire safety or pivot round a central hinge for general opening/cleaning. There is a spring for the top opening but I don't think we've got it right (installed them ourselves) as they are really heavy.

We've also got the duo blinds and love them. The room is really bright with the light blind down and really dark with the blackout one pulled down as well.

We have an electric one and it’s great. We’ve had a pole thing before in a different house and if was a bit faffy. Not awful but we avoided using it.

I have the duo blinds and LOVE them. They let in a tiny (tiny) corner of light at the bottom if you close them well, or a strip of light along the bottom if you close them badly. I use the shaded part when it's very sunny to keep it cooler, and when I'm dressing for privacy

You need building regs for Veluxes. Most builders say you don't but you do! And it's up to you to find out and apply (if the builder won't). The larger the windows the more rafters and purlins need to be cut and the adjoining timbers need to be strengthened so they support the roof and window properly.

I have Velux windows and I couldn't be bothered with a pole and opted for electrically (remote) controlled. Also had a external roller shutter (also controlled from same remote) this was to reduce heat in the summer, although they are on the north side of the roof and to reduce rain noise. They operate on 24 volts and our transformers are downstairs by the electricty meter. I can't tell you the cost as it was more than 10.years ago.