Conservation Rooflights by Stella Rooflight
Modernising a historic or listed property comes with its fair share of challenges. It certainly isn’t a straightforward project and there are lots of restrictions that come into play meaning that your options may be somewhat limited when it comes to repair and maintenance. Whilst historic or listed buildings are appealing due to the character and charm that they excude, it is worth considering if you are ready and prepared to take on the added challenge that this type of renovation throws up. It is definitely worth doing your research to make sure you know how to navigate such a project and in today’s post we will be taking a deeper dive into the choice of rooflights. Conservation rooflights are often required when working with historic or listed buildings because they are designed to replicate the style of traditional Victorian and Edwardian rooflights. But even then, you still need to work out which conservation rooflights are right for your property.
What is a Listed Building?
Firstly though, let’s make sure we understand what a listed building is. According to Historic England, a listed building is “of special architectural or historic interest”, this means that it is of national importance and therefore needs to be protected from unauthorised demolition, alteration, and extension. It is protected by the Planning Act 1990 to ensure that any future alterations are in keeping with its historic interest, and that the unique character is not affected.
Listed buildings are usually older buildings. Those built before 1700 are always listed for example, and buildings built after 1945 are rarely listed. Any building less than 30 years old is almost never listed. Listed buildings are assessed by Historic England and then approved by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Once approved, all listed buildings are featured on the National Heritage List for England.
So when renovating a historic or listed building it is important to respect the architectural integrity of the building. So when choosing conservation rooflights for your historic or listed building there needs to be a balance between modern functionality and historic aesthetics. This requires some careful consideration when it comes to compliance, design and material choice.
Choosing Conservation Rooflights
Conservation Rooflights by Stella Rooflight
What is a Conservation Rooflight?
Rooflights actually became popular during the Victorian era when technology had developed enough to provide the construction industry with a solution to introducing natural light into a property. The designs at this time were slim, single-glazed rooflights with multiple panels of glass that were unobtrusive and sat flush in the roof. Modern designs seek to replicate the minimalist appearance of these Victorian designs.
Understand Conservation Guidelines and Regulations
As previously mentioned, historic and listed buildings are subject to local planning laws and conservation regulations. It is important to do your research and understand what is required before making any decisions.
In many cases, you will not require planning permission because the installation of conservation rooflights often falls under permitted developments. But even in this case, there are requirements that must be met in order to qualify. For example, rooflights must not protrude above the highest point of the existing roof and any installed windows must maintain a distance less than 150mm above the current roof plane. In addition to this, any openable windows cannot be situated lower than 1.7m above the floor and any side-facing windows must be fitted with obscured glazing for privacy reasons.
There are also incidences where the local planning authorities can restrict permitted development rights to safeguard the character of an area. This means that an Article 4 Direction will have been issued and in this case, planning permission will need to be obtained. It is always advisable to consult the planning authorities in this situation.
Regardless of whether or not you need planning permission, you will probably need to get approved by Building regulations. This is especially the case if you are making any structural alterations to the roof. You will need to show that the roof can bear the weight of the new conservation rooflights. You will also likely need to prove that the new rooflights are energy efficient and prevent excess heat loss. This falls under Part L of the Building Regulations. Part B will also apply which relates to fire safety as well as Part K which relates to protection from falling, collision and impact.
Consult the Local Planning Authority
As you can see, there is a lot that goes into choosing the right conservation rooflights for a historic or listed building and unless you understand the regulations and what is required, it can quickly become overwhelming. Consulting experts is a shortcut that takes all the worry and stress out of the situation and streamline the whole process. It also minimises the chances of costly mistakes that need to be rectified down the line.
Local Conservation Officers have comprehensive knowledge of exactly what is required when it comes to planning permission and building regulations and should be consulted to ensure the successful installation of conservation rooflights.
Conservation Rooflights by Stella Rooflight
Carefully Consider the Materials
The next thing to consider when choosing conservation rooflights is the material they are made from. There are a few options to choose from and the one you pick will determine the durability, performance and look of the rooflight.
The most common options for conservation rooflights are wood, aluminium and steel. Wood is great if you want something more traditional and is often selected for period buildings. Durability can be an issue as wood will rot over time so do bear this in mind.
Aluminium is more durable than wood and requires less maintenance. Steel is often a popular choice because it is not only strong but also allows for slimmer frames and more glass. In wetter climates or coastal locations 316L Stainless Steel is recommended as it is highly resistant to corrosion and rust.
Fixed or Opening Conservation Rooflights?
The next choice you have to make is whether you want your conservation rooflights to be fixed or opening. This will depend on a number of things. Fixed rooflights are usually more affordable, costing roughly 30% less than opening rooflights. They offer better thermal efficiency and insulation. They can have a slimmer profile meaning they have a larger viewable area. And they tend to weigh less making them cheaper to transport and install.
On the other hand, opening rooflights allow for better ventilation and access to the roof. They can be operated manually or electrically and can even operate on sensors that will close them automatically if rain is sensed, the temperature drops or the wind picks up. Some can even be operated remotely using smart devices.
However, opening rooflights generally cost more due to this added functionality and the installation process is more complicated and can be more costly. Mechanisms may also be visible and can reduce the viewable area.
Another option is to install a variety of fixed and opening rooflights depending on your needs. This will give you more choice when it comes to ventilation, functionality and budget.
Conservation Rooflights by Stella Rooflight
What Type of Glass to Choose for Your Conservation Rooflights
There are various options available to choosing the right glass for your conservation rooflights. Some provide increased thermal performance, whilst others provide improved security and safety, particularly laminated glass. Some offer better protection from UV radiation, which can lead to fading of furniture and carpets. Others are self-cleaning for ease of maintenance and others offer better solar control, preventing the need for blinds or airconditioning.
Things to consider when making your choice include the size and thickness of the glass panes, the design load and the overall performance of the glass. All of these things are likely to affect the budget as well.
Consider Bespoke Rooflights
Listed buildings and heritage properties tend to be unique which may mean that standard, off-the-peg rooflights don’t meet your requirements. In old properties, it is unlikely that rafters are evenly spaced and making massive alterations to the roof of such an old building is not recommended.
This is where bespoke rooflights come in. You can design your roof window to exactly the shape and size that it needs to be. Bespoke designs You can design allow you to match the spacing of the glazing
bars exactly to the wonky rafters. You have much more choice over the materials and colours allowing you to achieve an appearance that blends in with the rest of the building and looks like it was always meant to be there.
Weigh up the Options
Choosing conservation roof lights for historic and listed buildings can seem daunting but with the right support from the manufacturers, architects, planning experts and conservation officers you can make the right decision for your particular circumstances. Balancing performance, functionality, aesthetics, safety, and budget constraints is key to making the right decision.