Focus on
We talk to Peter Creedon, operations director at glazing specialist Roof Maker – which has recently launched a Passive House Institute certified rooflight – about how to maximise daylight in your home without wasting energy
We chat to glazing specialist Roof Maker about maximising daylight in your home
What are the key considerations for installing expansive glazing? Insulation is one of the main concerns when tackling projects such as replacing walls with glass door panels, and many worry this is a recipe for heat loss. The benefits of having natural light flooding into a home are vast, but once you’ve made the decision to install bifolds for instance, it’s really important to carefully consider the materials used. These will affect not only the overall aesthetics of your doors, but also performance, longevity and comfort levels.
Can having lots of daylight pouring inside actually contribute towards heating and save money on bills? Research has shown that by replacing single or old double glazed windows with triple glazing, energy bills could be cut by 50% as long as the rest of the home is properly insulated. And you may not realise that it actually costs more to light a home than to heat it, mostly because it’s rare to have the central heating on through the summer months. This means being clever with utilising natural illumination could really help to keep bills low. Glazed doors and overhead rooflights are great ways to flooding rooms with sunshine.
Many people think that with numerous windows and doors, they will spend more on heating and their home will become a greenhouse, hot in the summer and cold in the winter. However, investing in high-quality products will make a world of difference.
How can homeowners ensure the glazed elements they’re looking to buy are energy efficient?
The type of glass used will have the most significant impact on thermal efficiency, but it’s also important to think carefully about the frames around the units, as this will affect overall performance, too.
A product’s thermal efficiency is measured in what is known as a U-value, which presents the rate of heat loss and therefore how well your glazing will work to keep warmth inside the building. The lower the U-value, the better the performance. For instance, at Roof Maker, we’ve just launched the world’s first Passive House Institutecertified fixed flat rooflight – an accreditation that's only given to products that meet exceptional levels of thermal performance and airtightness. The units achieve a U-value of 0.9 W/M2K
(the requisite standard for horizontal installations).
Also think about whether you want double or triple glazing. Having the layers of glass separated by a vacuum or gas-filled space means these units are more effective at regulating temperature – basically, having more layers means better heat retention.
Making sure your glazing is fitted correctly is really important, too. Glazed doors should be manufactured to British Standard BS6375 or equivalent, for instance, and should always be installed by a competent person – if not, then you risk there being a draught.
Are there any downsides to having lots of glazing?
You’ll want precautions in place to prevent the room from becoming too hot when it’s really bright outside. Blinds are an easy solution – you can even get ones that come fitted to the unit. Another solution is to design in shading from brise soleils or overhanging roofs.
More and more people are looking at ways of bringing natural light into their homes, but not everyone considers the consequences. Strong sunshine through poorly-specified glazed aspects could bleach furniture, for instance, and even cause sunburn. Although invisible to the naked eye, the sun emits different kinds of light – infrared is what supplies the heat, but ultra violet can fade carpet and furniture. Having different tints on your glass can help to block certain rays. A light blue tint can remove harsh glare from sunlight and protects furniture, for instance. For stronger protection, subtly bronze-hued reactive glazing works like bifocal lenses and darkens with the sun’s heat. Electric blackout blinds are another option to protect you and your home’s contents from any harmful rays.
For more information about Roof Maker and its Passive House rooflight visit www.roof-maker.co.uk