I am contemplating having some roof windows installed. There seem to be th= ree main companies: 'Rooflight', Keylight and Velux (or have I missed any?)= . I already have some Velux windows and am reasonably satisfied with them =
- although on one of the windows the double glazed unit seal failed after a= bout 9 years.
Has anyone got recent experience and preferences?
I'm assuming installing these windows is a job for a professional, but mayb= e it's not too hard for a (reasonably) competent DIYer - anyone tried it?
If I get a builder to do it, what sort of installation costs would people e= xpect? (the roof is slate and on a ground floor building)
three main companies: 'Rooflight', Keylight and Velux (or have I mi= ssed any?). I already have some Velux windows and am reasonably satisfied = with them - although on one of the windows the double glazed unit seal fail= ed after about 9 years.
t maybe it's not too hard for a (reasonably) competent DIYer - anyone t= ried it?
expect? (the roof is slate and on a ground floor building)
Stick to velux. Keep away from Roto. For slates you need EDL flashing kit. = Depending on the size width you maybe will have to cut the rafters put a tr= immer in top and bottom and a new short rafter and extend the slate lath.= =20 Best to screw all new rafter it makes it easyer to dismantle if things go o= ut of square. You will need slate rip and slate cutters, copper straps and = alloy or copper nails. Dont be tempted to use galv nails for fixing slates.= The main thing is a full dry day.
o be three main companies: 'Rooflight', Keylight and Velux = (or have I missed any?). I already have some Velux windows and am reasonab= ly satisfied with them - although on one of the windows the double glazed u= nit seal failed after about 9 years.
ional, but maybe it's not too hard for a (reasonably) competent DIY= er - anyone tried it?
eople expect? (the roof is slate and on a ground floor building)
. Depending on the size width you maybe will have to cut the rafters put a = trimmer in top and bottom and a new short rafter and extend the slate lath.= =20
out of square. You will need slate rip and slate cutters, copper straps an= d alloy or copper nails. Dont be tempted to use galv nails for fixing slate= s. The main thing is a full dry day.
Thanks for the tips.=20 I haven't removed slates before. I presume the slate rip pulls the nail out= from between in-situ slates, or shears the nail? I have a tile cutter (dia= mond wheel)- are these any good on slates?
main companies: 'Rooflight', Keylight and Velux (or have I missed any?). I already have some Velux windows and am reasonably satisfied with them - although on one of the windows the double glazed unit seal failed after about 9 years.
it's not too hard for a (reasonably) competent DIYer - anyone tried it?
expect? (the roof is slate and on a ground floor building)
Not too difficult to DIY, I think I used a Wickes clone of Velux. You might also want to think about the need for blinds.
I *think* I managed to do mine starting from inside. It's a second floor without good ladder or tower access. These were concrete tiles, and at the time it was a bare loft.
main companies: 'Rooflight', Keylight and Velux (or have I missed any?). I already have some Velux windows and am reasonably satisfied with them - although on one of the windows the double glazed unit seal failed after about 9 years.
it's not too hard for a (reasonably) competent DIYer - anyone tried it?
expect? (the roof is slate and on a ground floor building)
if its easy access and a few drips dont matter whilst youre tweaking it the DIY.
formatting link
refixing the slates if you're not going to strip them to the roof is an art with tingles like these:
re seem to be three main companies: 'Rooflight', Ke= ylight and Velux (or have I missed any?). I already have some Velux window= s and am reasonably satisfied with them - although on one of the windows th= e double glazed unit seal failed after about 9 years.
for a professional, but maybe it's not too hard for a (reasonab= ly) competent DIYer - anyone tried it?
s would people expect? (the roof is slate and on a ground floor building)
g kit. Depending on the size width you maybe will have to cut the rafters p= ut a trimmer in top and bottom and a new short rafter and extend the slate = lath.=20
gs go out of square. You will need slate rip and slate cutters, copper stra= ps and alloy or copper nails. Dont be tempted to use galv nails for fixing = slates. The main thing is a full dry day.
il out from between in-situ slates, or shears the nail? I have a tile cutte= r (diamond wheel)- are these any good on slates?
Diamond wheel is the easiest way to cut slates, but you don=92t get the dre= ssed edge. You can remove slates with a claw or slate hammer by putting the= claw in-between the joint of the slate you want to remove and jag it side = to side with a downward pull. Once you=92ve got one slates out its easy to = release the nails in the slates below. Copper nailed slate comes out quite = easy it=92s the ones with zinc or if someone=92s used galv nails takes some= getting out. That=92s when a rip is worth it.
stalled. There seem to be three main companies: 'Rooflight= ', Keylight and Velux (or have I missed any?). I already h= ave some Velux windows and am reasonably satisfied with them - although on = one of the windows the double glazed unit seal failed after about 9 years.
windows is a job for a professional, but maybe it's not too= hard for a (reasonably) competent DIYer - anyone tried it?
allation costs would people expect? (the roof is slate and on a ground floo= r building)
L flashing kit. Depending on the size width you maybe will have to cut the = rafters put a trimmer in top and bottom and a new short rafter and extend t= he slate lath.=20
e if things go out of square. You will need slate rip and slate cutters, co= pper straps and alloy or copper nails. Dont be tempted to use galv nails fo= r fixing slates. The main thing is a full dry day.
ls the nail out from between in-situ slates, or shears the nail? I have a t= ile cutter (diamond wheel)- are these any good on slates?
ressed edge. You can remove slates with a claw or slate hammer by putting t= he claw in-between the joint of the slate you want to remove and jag it sid= e to side with a downward pull. Once you=92ve got one slates out its easy t= o release the nails in the slates below. Copper nailed slate comes out quit= e easy it=92s the ones with zinc or if someone=92s used galv nails takes so= me getting out. That=92s when a rip is worth it.
The above method of removing the slates with a hammer refers to natural sla= te not manmade fibre cement or interlocking slates like Britlock or Redland= Cambrians
I put a Velux in our loft around 15 years ago. I needed an assistant with the lifting and it was quite daunting. I managed it all from inside and had to cut rafters. I don't know whether it was necessary, but before I cut them, I bolted solid steel angle across them to ensure nothing moved as I cut the rafter. Basically bolting the one to be cut to its two adjacent ones.
I watched the weather forecast carefully before deciding to break through, allowing an entire day with an early start to do the job. As it happens it was completed by lunch time. It was quite a relief to actually break through and get some air through - it was a scorching hot day and around 40C in that then uninsulated loft :-)
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