Can Rooflights Be Retrofitted to Older Homes?
Can Rooflights Be Retrofitted to Older Homes?
If you are wondering whether rooflights can be retrofitted to older homes the answer is "Yes". Retrofitting an older home with rooflights will not only bring more light into the space but will transform how you experience your home in a fundamental way. There are, however, several issues that must be considered before going ahead with a rooflight retrofit, and below we'll take a look at them.
Things to Consider When Retrofitting Older Homes with Rooflights
The following are a few of the most common considerations that arise when retrofitting rooflights onto older homes.
- The state of the existing roof: It's a given that in the majority of cases, an older home will have an older roof. The question then becomes is the roof sound enough to support the addition of rooflights? You may need to have reinforcing work performed on the roof or minor repairs may be in order before adding the rooflights. On the other hand, if the older home recently had its roof redone there may be no issue at all.
- Weatherproofing: Installing a rooflight or rooflights on an older roof requires the installer to pay close attention to weatherproofing and insulation. If either one is deficient it could lead to leaks, drafts and wasted energy. Keep in mind though, that our state-of-the-art rooflights are available with double and triple glazing that will greatly reduce thermal transfer.
- Planning permission: If your older home is located in a National Park or other designated conservation area, or it is a Listed Building, you will need to obtain planning permission before retrofitting rooflights. If your home does not fall into one of those categories it's possible rooflight installation will be considered "permitted development". The best thing to do is to ask your local authority before you begin work.
- Aesthetics: You'll want to make sure the rooflight you select will look like it belongs on your older home. If you are unsure about what style of rooflight to choose the experts at Rooflight & Roof Lanterns will be happy to help you select just the right one.
Contact RLRL About Rooflights for Older Homes
If you have decided to retrofit rooflights on your older home you'll want to make sure you pick an aesthetic match, that your current roof will be able to support it and that you obtain planning permission if indeed that is required. To learn more about our high- quality rooflights contact the team at RLRL by calling 020 8087 2004 during regular business hours.
- Josh Hartim