DESIGNING WITH DAYLIGHT
How to channel light through a property Peter Daniel, Product Innovation Director at The Rooflight Company, explains two different ways of channelling natural light in a home.
The importance of natural light is well known. It has been manipulated for thousands of years by every civilization. In the modern day, it is becoming a top priority for homeowners. So, channelling light through a home must be carefully considered during the design process. There are two main approaches to channelling light in open living spaces, installing rooflights or adding a conservatory. In the latter’s case, almost the entire structure is made of glass, so they let the maximum amount of light possible into a room. But that brings drawbacks of its own. There is such a thing as too much light and a room that is too bright is just as unwelcoming as one that is too dark.
Thermal performance Then there is thermal performance to consider. Due to the sheer amount of glass involved in a conservatory, it’s a well-known fact that they often suffer from poor thermal performance, making rooms stiflingly hot in the summer but freezing cold in the winter. This is also off-putting for homeowners, and many will no longer compromise on thermal performance in favour of aesthetics. In fact, many homeowners are now replacing their conservatory
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July/August 2021
roofs in favour of a tiled one with smaller rooflights to marry their desire for a finish that is thermally efficient and pleasing to the eye.
Rooflight advantages Rooflights don’t suffer this problem. This is partly because there is a lot less glass involved, but there are also more glazing options available which can reduce the G-value of the glass panes and reduce solar energy transmittance (how easily a room warms up in direct sunlight). This makes them a winner from a comfort point of view for homeowners, and it also saves on their household bills.
“Rooflights can add all important design interest and channel light in a way that a conservatory can’t.”
They can also add all important design interest and channel light in a way that a conservatory can’t. A building’s orientation is a significant consideration when determining how light travels through a property; if a room is South facing, for example, it will benefit from more light then if it were North facing. By using several rooflights instead of a single glass roof, the light level can be controlled, and the light’s direction manipulated to create a desired look, instead of flooding in from all angles – it’s a more focussed and considered approach.
www.daylightingmag.co.uk
