Glass roof panels or skylight? Does activ blue glass work to keep out the heat?

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi there,

I'm totally stuck here. I had planned all along to get a glass panelled roof like the one attached. I'm having a lean too extension like the one in the photo. It's not huge, approx 4 metre long by 4.5 metres wide.

My drawings are pretty much done, but after chatting with a builder they warned me against getting an extension with so much glass. I was told by a glass specialist to get blue glass which reflects the sun, however I don't know how good they are. I don't effectively want an unusable green house at the end of my house 😂

The extension will form part of our living space, it will have a sofa in there and I'm concerned about the heat in the summer.

As an alternative I was going to get two large skylights like the ones shown which open. But on a pitched roof. So two next to one another which I will will look really nice .

Thoughts?

Which way is the room facing? I think both look nice but would go with skylights, I think laws will change in the future and you want your home to be an energy efficient as possible in case the gov bring in EPC restrictions on sales like they're doing on rentals

Can I be cheeky and ask how much the extension is costing? We're hoping to do a very similar extension next year

We have recently had a kitchen extension and have had 2 Velux windows on either side of the pitched ceiling and they are amazing, they let in plenty of light and they open to keep the heat under control. We went for the electric ones that open automatically when the room reachesa certain temperature and close automatically in the rain.

It's South West facing. Tbh I'd prefer my original glass panel idea. I think it looks so cool, but if it means it turns into a green house and we would be cooking in high summer then it's a no brainer. I'd have to go for large sky lights.

I'm getting quotes in and they are coming in around £45 inc VAT.

Are you thinking of getting an extension with roof panels or skylights? I'd think about it carefully before deciding.

I guess with skylights I can have them opening unlike the glass panels. I just hope they let in lots of light too. I'm going to go for two fairly big sky lights sat side by side.

We have blue glass in a large lantern in our SW kitchen. Heat hasn't been a problem at all.. in fact it's loads cooler than the old flat roof it replaced. It used to be a greenhouse but not any more.

I think it does a bit but when it gets really hot we ended up covering our rooflights in cardboard. I can't say if the room would have been the same heat without them though as I have only known it with an extension! I do find the light in my face annoying sometimes so am thinking of getting blinds. If you had this much glass you really should get blinds as you are likely to want shade from it sometimes.

It definitely makes a difference which way the extension faces. We have the same consideration but it's North East facing, partly hidden by a previous extension, so not in full sunlight at the hottest part of the day.

It also depends if you have the height outside, below any upstairs windows, to allow for a pitched or apex roof.

That's fine but when the sun is on them in the height of summer, you shouldn't open them as it just lets in hotter air from outside. Open them in summer when they're in shade and close them when it's hottest.

Our friends are spending their first summer in their extension completed earlier this year .. it has glass panels like the ones in your pic and friend says the kitchen/diner was completely unusable during the day in the recent heatwave. I don't think it has blue glass but they're looking at having blinds fitted now.

RN thanks, that's what I thought. I'm still undecided. I need to check out the blue glass to see if it makes a difference. Apparently it keeps out 70% of the suns rays?!

I have a glass roof in an extension at the end of the main living area facing out onto a SW garden and I wouldn't recommend it at all. Yes it looks lovely but unbearably hot in summer and although I've just paid £160 to have it cleaned is filthy again when the sun hits it.

Get an opening one - it's needed in spring and autumn when not quite hot enough to open the door but you need some fresh air.

Also think how you'll clean them. They get dirty after ever rainfall! I have "self cleaning" windows and they go a lot longer between cleans than my neighbours traditional glass.

We have blue glass in the conservatory. It stops both extremes of temperature - hot and cold. And it is self-cleaning.

Diana do you have large glass roof panels like the photo I attached? Does it have the blue glass?

I'm really thinking of going for the skylights which open now 😬

This is really helping, thanks so much. I'm annoyed as I'll have to pay £100 or so to change the drawings over, but I think in the grand scheme of things it'll be worth it as I want the space to be usable in all seasons.

That much glass, and SW facing? Honestly you will roast when it gets hot. That used to be rare, but it’s happening more and more.

I don’t have blue glass but have UV reflective coatings (they have a slight blue/green tint). I think it helps, but we do still get a hot kitchen, and that’s with much less glass than in your picture, and an awning to shade the big doors.

Swapping to opening skylights will make a big difference - lets flies and kitchen smells out too. And you can get them with blinds built in for when it’s really hot.

I think the style in your first pic is strictly for N facing only tbh. Or places which never get above 27.

Thanks Miniipie! My next door neighbour actually has a huge tree which provides a lot of shade at certain parts of the day in high summer. But she's elderly and I'm almost certain that when she passes (god bless her!) the new owners will get rid of the tree and I will have full sun all through the day.

We've had planning passed for a pitch glazed roof on our south facing kitchen extension . Going to go for it and regret it later. Sounds like we'll need blinds!

Thanks everyone! Lots to think about, tbh I'm 50/50 about it. It's a heart vs head situation. My heart wants the roof panels but my head is saying go for large roof panels like the attached. Basically I think this is my alternative option (without the bar in the middle) which opens. Obviously it'll be vertical as on a pitched roof. I think this will be a nice combination of light but enough roof as well?

We have a large glass lantern in our flat roofed extension and it really does make the room.

Only got experience of the velux sunlight which closes automatically when it rains and also has a black out blind. It is fab and makes a big, big difference. Not had issues with too much heat or too cold or anything. Two would be even better!

Please go and see some neighbours roofs if you can. The design you have chosen attracts dirt like there's no tomorrow and unless you clean your windows weekly you'll be staring up pissed off at dirt every day. And it will be awful in winter when you can't open a window and it's too cold to open the door. If you're going for bifold one has to be open fully making the house freezing or the hinge will conk out - you can't just crack the door open on a bifold.

My neighbour has ones like you and really regrets it - she wishes she had a Velux that opens like mine.

OP, I think you can still get the roof you want. Two years ago we had a new 'orangery' style roof fitted (almost identical to the one shown in the image) and we requested blue glass.

During the first bit of sun, we were gutted to find it was far too hot and too bright. We thought about roof blinds, but electric ones were really expensive.

So we bought this roof film and fitted it on the outside ourselves:

www.windowfilm.co.uk/buy-online/window-film-by-the-metre/solar-control/high-reflective-silver-window-film-external

It is bloody amazing! The room never gets too warm, our faces no longer feel burnt if we happen to sit in direct sunlight and the film has also drastically reduced the brightness/glare. Plus, we still have the lovely blue colour which makes the sky look awesome. I sound like I'm on commission 😁 (I'm definitely not!) but I really do recommend it.

@Tashface that’s interesting. Might consider it for our skylight. Although I think the neighbours might hate us as it would reflect the sun right at them!!

Is it noticeable from inside ie does the sky look different now the film is on?

Skylight options with remote blinds and automatic closing if it is raining. Had this in Portugal and it worked a treat.