Flat roof skylights

[Katjolo]

Hi all. Does anyone have experience of flat roof skylights? Pros and cons in comparison to roof lanterns? Such a tough decision! Help please.

The main pro of a skylight over a lantern IMO is that it’s much easier to get opening ones. An opening skylight is great for ventilation (anywhere in the house but especially at the top where heat collects) and letting out cooking smells (if in a kitchen).

I don’t believe there is any difference in how much light they let in, as the hole in the roof is the same size with either.

Thanks. Do you have one currently?

I'm planning this for a new kitchen diner extension

I have 4 flat roof lights in a kitchen extension and love the amount of light they give. It means the natural light is spread across a large space rather than in one location with a roof lantern.

My sister has one and although that part of her kitchen it’s lovely and bright the rest feels dark in comparison.

Whereas ours is light throughout. However, we couldn’t have a roof lantern because it would have been above the sills of the windows in the main part of the house. The kitchen is in a single story extension.

@Katjolo

Thanks. Do you have one currently?

Yes we have an opening skylight (remote control) in our flat roof kitchen extension. It’s a godsend in the summer as we are S facing with lots of glass, and when frying smelly food.

As a PP says a lantern would have been very visible from our bedroom windows which are above the extension, so that’s another pro of a flat skylight.

Any problems with leakage or annoyance of rain/ hail stones hitting the glass?

Just had two flat skylights fitted in my extension. They are non opening. No noise from rain at all. Can’t comment on hailstone as not had any since fitted,
No leaks as have been fitted properly (they sit on a upstand made on the roof and sealed in). The key is probably making sure you’ve got a good roofer and good fitter for the skylights.

@Katjolo

Any problems with leakage or annoyance of rain/ hail stones hitting the glass?

Nope. They’ve only been in a little over year so there’s still time I suppose but no issues so far.

That's great to hear. Thanks all. For those with skylights, where/how have you laid out your switch on lights? Spotlights/ pendants etc.

One skylight (the opening one) is in between the kitchen island and the wall units. So the spotlights are above the worktops, the skylight doesn’t cause issues.

We have another skylight above the dining table, so no pendant but we do have directable lights attached to one side of the skylight opening that light the table.

Do you have to have a flat roof as my advice is avoid them like the plague? They just do not last and over the years you get odd leaks that cause untold damage. Some insurance companies restrict cover as well after x number of years, typically 10 depending on materials used.

If you can have a normal roof and Velux windows it is so much more superior

Due to size of extension and height restrictions from local council, flat roof is the only option. All other houses near me, beyond 3m also have a flat roof. Just trying to visualise the roof lights and main lights etc. Really need to make a decision. 😬

I have lived with both - they can both be deafening in heavy rain or hail. You'd probably get more light from a lantern in case of snow.

Before getting either I'd make sure that you're able to get access to clean as they get grimy very easily. One day you'll just look up and see a dusting of filthy green.

The issue we had with flat non opening skylights was that all the flies, but etc get stuck up there, eventually die and drop all over the area below.
After a few years we replaced them with electric opening flat skylights which were much better.
Obviously it depends on your ceiling height, but our was quite high and I really hated the big thing in summer.

I’ll second the advice against having a flat roof, a lot of people are having them nowdays but they will be trouble in the future. Velux windows go down to 15 degrees with no problems if you can get the pitch ?

I am told modern flat roofs with rubber or GRP covering are a completely different ballgame to old flat roofs with felt or bitumen. I may be proven wrong in a few years of course... !

Yes, I've heard the same about the materials nowadays being 100% better. Good tip about the electric opening skylights.