Do you want to get more natural light into your home or extension? Ask a VELUX daylight expert – ANSWERS BACK

[JustineBMumsnet]

Answers are now back and this thread is now closed for questions. If you'd like to read Grant's responses you can view them here.

Building a kitchen/ dining room extension or adding another bedroom can be a great way to get more space in your home without making a big move. But it’s easy to overlook the importance of getting enough daylight into your design. VELUX would like to help by answering your questions on how to design your space with daylight.

Before and after images of VELUX windows in a single story extension can be found within this OP.

VELUX daylight expert Grant Sneddon says: “Whatever the project, it’s absolutely crucial to ask a professional for help as early as possible. Not only will they steer your project from start to finish, and work within your budget to help you get the space you want, but they’ll also come up with ideas that you might not have considered. One of those considerations, is the importance of natural daylight and ventilation in your home. Building an extension with roof windows or retrofitting windows into existing extensions will allow more daylight to penetrate deeper into the space and make it look and feel bigger and brighter.”

Whether you have a single-story extension already that you’d like to get more natural light into or you’re planning on building a single-story extension in your home, ask Grant your questions about getting more light into your design below. We’ll be selecting 10 questions and post a link to the responses as soon as possible.

All who post their questions below (regardless of whether their question is selected) will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £150 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks, and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Hi Grant
We've been talking about using velux in our extended kitchen, do they get condensation in areas like kitchens? Is there a best way to avoid this?

I am getting a loft conversion later this year, we are currently getting quotes, we are having 2 roof windows put in, but as this room will be for my 7 year old I am terrified they will want to climb out, I want the ventilation and light in the room, but I want to make the windows totally safe and childproof, what devices can be installed on a Velux window to allow ventilation, but to be safe (locked and open an inch or two for summer)

I would like to look at adding them, my Mum has them and her flat looks so light and airy. Thing is I have high ceilings, and I'm 4ft10, firstly how would I close them properly without utilising a ladder. Secondly, how would I go about closing the blinds?

Best blinds for french doors?

It’s the logistics that confuse me, how do you: open & close a window so high, wash it, put on and control a blind (if needed)?

Hi, does the glass come 'self cleaning' hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings. I am considering having them in my dining room extension, but don't want them to collect the debris which rain leaves. Looking forward to your reply. Thank you

Whats the best blind to fit which blocks bright sunlight but doesnt dim the room too much? Our kitchen ones allow blinding sunbeams over the kitchen table at breakfast time and I'm fed up with shuffling round to avoid them.

Also interested in how to clean. And can you advise on the optimal blinds? Can you get electric blinds that you can operate remotely?

We have a flat roof kitchen/diner extension that currently has just spotlights in - no natural light and it's rather gloomy.
We would dearly love to add Velux windows to the roof - my question is, I worry as they would be cutting into an existing roof, that i could potentially be opening up our roof to a whole host of issues, like it leaking, messing with the electrics etc? Is this not the case? And also, would you have skylights that open, or stay closed?

I have two questions: (1) Since they are so high up can they be motorised to make opening and closing easier? (2) How secure are they? Are insurance companies happy with their level of security?

Hi, I would like to know if there are any advantages to Velux over dormer windows? About to do a loft conversion and I'm a bit confused with the pros and cons of Velux.

We love to build a single storey extension to the rear of our mid terrace two storey house. It's two rooms wide at present, so the ground floor at the back is the kitchen and living room.

I'd like an extension to encompass a garden room, with doors that can be thrown open to maximise use of frwsh air and sunlight in summer but find a way to minimise loss of heat in winter. What could you recommend?

Can these be fitted into an existing extension? What work would be needed?
We have a very badly planned kitchen extension that looks brilliant but has very poor ventilation unless the stupid doors are open, not massively practical seeing that there’s a step down and we’ve got young kids. Previous owners were very much of the fur coat no knickers brigade....

Do you need planning permission to replace an existing (small) skylight with a larger velux window. It's a loft conversion. Window will be rear facing.

Is it possible to get total blackout blinds for velux windows? The blinds on mine are good except for the annoying very thin strip of light at the bottom.

What’s the most cost effective way of getting light into a single storey unlit corridor? Thanks!

Can you retrofit electronic opening and blinds onto a velux window?

We fitted 3 wooden Velux into our high ceiling when we did our kitchen extension a few years ago.
Absolutely love the amount of light they let into the kitchen but when we open them they won't stay fully open ,they don't close completely but it's so annoying not to be able to have them fully open ,especially during a hot summer.
Is there a way to fix this ?

Thanks

What is the largest size Velux window that can be fitted in a residential house? I have only seen small windows but would like lots of light.

How long is the life expectancy of a Velux window before it needs replacing?

Do you offer windows with self cleaning glass?

Also I have a Velux window that was installed in the 80s (Model GGL5). It's still in good condition apart from there being moisture that has got in between the double glazing which makes the glass look unclean- how do I fix this?

Many thanks.

We have noved into a house with a skylight. The room is noticeably cold. Would moddern velux redduce heat loss and how difficult is repplacement?

If fitted into an existing roof, how do you retain the integrity of the roof? Is there an easy way to work how how big you can go before it would cause problems?

Are Velux windows all white upvc? We’re planning a single storey extension this year and have plans for dark grey sliding doors and some Velux windows but I think they’ll look odd if the door are grey and the windows white?

How are Velux going to deal with the fact that their blinds only last 10 years before needing to be replaced? Apart from the financial aspect, i now have 6 lots of blinds for landfill. Presumably I will have the same every 10 years. I have been told by the Velux company that 10 years was about their life expectancy. My rollerblinds on normal windows will last several times longer.

I spend so much time trying to reduce my rubbish that I would be much happier if my blinds could be mended rather than just dumped. Disappointing that Velux are not addressing this in 2019.