Lantern or ceiling window panels - extensions

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi there,

I'm currently in the planning process of creating a 4 metre x 4.5 metre single storey extension. Not huge but large enough to create some additional fab space for us to live.

I want the space to be as light and contemporary as possible. My concern with a lantern is that the room will only get the light from above (I'll have bi folds too) whereas with window panels I would get a lot more light in all directions as it would be pitched.

My architect said that you lose a lot of heat with window panes and they are noisy when it rains. Is this really the case? I would have thought that would be the same with a lantern?

I think a pitched roof with glass panes would look amazing, but also concerned it could look like a conservatory. Ah help, I don't know what to do! 😛

Sorry I realised I wasn't that clear, I meant glass window panels across the ceiling vs a lantern!

Is it a flat or a pitched roof?

Are you talking about flat window panels in a pitched roof (which results in the windows being pitched) or pitched window panels in a flat roof?

Also - which way does it face?

I'd like a pitched roof something like the attached. I think I'm West facing. So in the photo the sun where I love would move round from left to right.

I love the roof panels in the photo and would definitely prefer something like this to a lantern.

Whether you have a roof lantern or pitched roof lights, with bifold doors there will be plenty of light. Possibly too much. So factor in electric blinds for convenience.

South and west facing you also need to consider the heat of the sun. Be aware that lots of glass can get very hot as well as being noisy.(See also point about blinds above).

Personally I prefer roof lanterns by far as I think they look more professional, but that’s just personal taste. There are loads of pitch roof extensions thrown up by builders without much design sense.

The extension is where the sun hits the current patio in the mid afternoon. So it gets very hot around this area. I do wonder why a lantern would be less noisy than the roof in the photo. It's still glass?

Obviously if I go for a lantern then I'd have a flag roof.

I have a lot to think about. I see your point about too much glass, however I want this room to be as light as possible. The way the sun moves it would be hitting the side wall the majority of the day if that makes sense.

We have similar and the heat in the Summer is extraordinary.
Our dining table is positioned in a similar way to the one in the picture and it becomes unbearable. Something we will have to address.

Thanks Kipper! I do wonder if it will be any less hot with a lantern.

If there isn't much difference I'd prefer the glass panels as I think they look more contemporary. I don't live in a period properly so I think the panels would suit it better.

Do you find it's noisy and gets cold in the winter?

Thanks

What about an apex roof with long glass panes running front to back on each side? That should reduce the intensity of the sun coming directly in.

Do you definitely have the height clearance for a pitched or apex roof, below the height of the next floor?

Hmmm that's what I was wondering...I'll have a look at an apex. Not sure what those look like 👍

You can get contemporary roof lanterns, they don’t have to be old school. Otherwise you could do a flat roof with roof lights (or indeed a pitched roof with roof lights) rather than having such a large area of glass.

With roof lanterns I think the sun is less direct due to the angles the light protracts from, you also limit your exposure due to the aperture in the ceiling. Roof lights let light enter directly into the room through the flat panels and allow the most direct sunlight through.

They both let in light and let out heat though.

As above, consider the heat. Know of someone with bifolds and large lantern which had to install air conditioning to make the room usable.

We have just one (large) sky light over a TV snug area and it does get noisy when it rains.

This is all so helpful thank you. Too be honest it sounds like there isn't much difference between a lantern and glass panels in terms of noise. It's more just the level of light. I may not even have the height for a pitched roof anyway so it may rule it out anyway. I need to chat to my architect. I only have a small house.

My neighbour has a huge tree which offers a lot of shade, so as least that helps.

I'm going to take a photo of the back of my house and send in a bit.

Oh wow! Looks lovely! I really like your doors and the way they curve around 😃

This is the back of my house, you can see it's not that big and the extension will be fantastic. Excuse the garden mess! It's still looking a bit sorry from the winter!

We have an East and North facing orangery kitchen. It is very warm in the summer when the sun is high in the sky. Doors open on two sides and part of the roof opens too.

Yes, we do notice heavy rain. It’s a big lantern. However mostly we don’t notice rain. We have double glazed expensive panels and we are happy with them. Don’t buy cheap panels and you will be fine.

@Cherryblossom200

Thanks Kipper! I do wonder if it will be any less hot with a lantern.

If there isn't much difference I'd prefer the glass panels as I think they look more contemporary. I don't live in a period properly so I think the panels would suit it better.

Do you find it's noisy and gets cold in the winter?

Thanks

Rain noise doesn’t bother me at all you get used to that. It’s the heat that is the issue in the Summer. Height of summer it’s sunglasses and trying to avoid sunburn and I’m not joking.

It’s a double whammy from the sun coming through the bifolds plus overhead. It offers fantastic light most of the year but there are significant downsides height of Summer and it’s only be experiencing it that you get the full impact.

But it does depend which direction the house faces.

I also prefer roof lanterns. I think the glass panels make it look like a conservatory but that might be the look you want.

Whichever you choose, do think about how you'll clean them, both inside and out. As an ex-window cleaner they can be a nightmare and we often turned down the work.

Thanks everyone! So much to think about 👍

Our roof lanterns have self cleaning glass. The bifolds on the other hand don't and we don't clean them nearly enough.

The inside cleaning them we'll need to get someone with scaffold for inside.

I bought a 1930's bungalow with a 2002 extension with a flat roof and a lantern, and in November Storm Arwen blew the roof off. I thought the lantern was glass but it was plastic, I hadn't worried about it blowing off too!

The builder gave me the choice of another lantern or window glass, unfortunately I couldn't afford it so just lost the 'hole' completely. I didn't like the light 'square' at all.

Do you want the very contemporary look? We just opted for a large velux in the centre. Can be opened for cleaning and have lots of insulation so it's warm
It feels like a lot of glass in a small space.
Are you overlooked by neighbours? Do you want them staring down from upstairs windows at you?

We are only overlooked by an elderly neighbour, nothing on the other side or directly in front of us.

I'm not a fan of a big Velux unfortunately.

Maybe I will have no choice but to go for a lantern - I know they do contemporary designs. I just feel all the light will be come from above, whereas the sun moves round the front of the house in the morning to the left side. With a lantern it'll totally block that beautiful light. But with a slightly pitched roof and glass panels we will get a bit more of the sun.