To velux or not to velux? (photo included)

[Spaghettiismessy]

I’d really appreciate some velux advice.

I’m having my polycarbonate conservatory roof replaced with a solid roof. It’s a lean-to conservatory which joins the kitchen. The conservatory sides are solid brick. I’ll only have the double doors and two windows at the end for daylight - pic included.

Sales rep from roofing company thinks there will be only 10% less light with proper roof and I shouldn’t have velux windows as they add costs, need cleaning, prone to leaking and also may let in too much heat/light in the summer - which is a big prob with the conservatory at the moment and something I really want to avoid.

So should I go for velux or not?

I’ll try to add some more pics…

Not noisy at all.

PLEASE just ensure you use the direct roof tiles. Generally conservatories aren't sturdy enough to take the weight of regular tiles!

Our lightweight metrotiles were linked in with the look of the main roof. From the ground you couldn't see any difference.

www.metrotile.co.uk/products/

Oops "correct" roof tiles not "direct"!

We used to have a conservatory off our living room it was noticeably much much darker when it snowed and the conservatory roof was covered so I think your sales rep is talking rubbish!

As an aside I’d consider changing your flooring in the kitchen and conservatory as that’s not helping with the overall darkness.

We have a single-story flat roofed extension, knocked through to an inner room, which has 2 very small windows. The inner room was dark, in spite of the extension having two double patio doors.
We've just had the extension re-roofed with a pitch, and had 2 veluxes put in. Until the boarding is down, I don't know how it will affect the inner room, but the extension is massively lighter, in spite of having 2 large double glass doors before. Windows in roofs let in far more light than windows in walls.
We had this stuff when we had a (glass roofed) conservatory- one chap quoting didn't want to put in opening roof lights for the reasons you mention. We went with a different builder, and had two roof lights- they were great, and it would have been far too hot without them in summer. If a builder isn't competent to put in a velux that doesn't leak, you don't want him building your roof.

Thanks everyone, I didn’t expect to get such helpful advice from MN on this. I’m so glad I asked and will definitely put in velux 😊

To be fair, the advice I was given must have been based on normal conservatories which have loads of windows so no need for more light. As mine has two solid, double cavity walls on either side, it’ll be much more like an extension….the roof tiles will be lightweight conservatory ones though so no need to worry about the weight.

Interestingly, I had a look on Google Earth to see what others have done and couldn’t see many extensions etc with roof lights - there must be a lot of v gloomy kitchens around here!

Will try covering it with tarp tomorrow and update with photo.

We have 2 Velux windows in our extension ( one on each side of the roof ) and they really let in loads of light , we have motorised blinds which are handy when it’s really sunny . We’ve had no issues with leaking and I think it’s just worthwhile getting an experienced fitter .

We got the moroised type for the extension roof, as the pitch there makes it very high for a pole. It does add a lot to the cost, though.

I know your using lightweight tiles for the roof, but just to say velux windows are a lot heavier than they look. Might be worth getting the weight of the size you want and working out if the roof can take the extra before deciding?