Differences between Skylights & Rooflights
Rooflights and skylights are both designed to allow more natural light into a building but if you don’t know the difference between the two it will be hard to decide which is right for your home. To make your decision easier, we’re going to examine the similarities and differences between skylights and rooflights, and how they may affect your choice.
The Similarities Between Skylights and Rooflights
Skylights and rooflights share a number of similarities:
- Glazed Units – They are both glazed units and may be fitted with clear glass, tinted glass, laminated glass or clear/tinted polycarbonate.
- Fitted on Roofs – Both skylights and rooflights are designed to be fitted on the roof of a building, as you would imagine. However, as we will see in a minute, one type is more commonly found on flat roofs and the other on pitched roofs.
- Available in a Range of Different Styles – Whether you opt for skylights or rooflights, you will find they are both available in a wide range of styles. It doesn’t matter if you are the proud owner of a contemporary property or a traditional country residence, you will be able to find a style of rooflight/skylight that complements the exterior appearance of your home perfectly.
- Available with Electric or Manual Hinges – Skylights and rooflights are both available with either electric or manual hinges.
Now we have covered the similarities, let’s take a look at the key differences between skylights and rooflights.
The Differences Between Skylights and Rooflights
To confuse matters, you may come across products that are variously referred to as both skylights and rooflights. In technical terms, there is really only one key difference between the two and that is the type of roofs on which they are normally installed.
- Skylights – In the trade, the term skylight is most often used to refer to glazed units that are installed on pitched roofs, i.e. traditional roofs that slope downwards from a central ridge at the top.
- Rooflights – When you hear an expert refer to a rooflight, they will normally be talking about a glazed unit that is designed to be installed on a flat roof. There are also rooflights that are designed to be installed on pitched roofs but these normally sit out of plane, rather than being flush with the roof pitch.
To find out more about skylights and rooflights, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
- Moshin
