Cheadle Hulme, Stockport

Luxlite® Pitched & Fixed Flat Rooflights

Alex and Ellie could see the renovation potential in Alex’s Grandmother’s house and when she wanted to downsize, they took the plunge and bought it. Whilst the house was habitable, the layout and décor didn’t suit modern living, so the couple didn’t leave any room untouched and the house is unrecognisable now. Knowing they wanted rooflights in two areas of the home, Alex did some intense research into the subject – reading articles and looking at various websites. After discovering Roof Maker, he knew they had found the modern minimalist look they wanted.

PLANNING

The benefit of knowing the property meant Alex and Ellie knew exactly what they wanted to do before they had even moved in. They had a clear plan from the start which went through several iterations due to planning constraints but overall, the layout is what they originally wanted.

Work has included removing a small wall from the hall to the morning room, opening the dining room into the hallway to create a flow of space. They widened and moved the doors into the formal lounge, creating a cosy space to relax in. Alex built a two-story extension where the old kitchen and garage were, adding two double bedrooms, study, utility room, downstairs toilet and an open plan kitchen living area.

Alex commented ‘We didn’t use an interior designer; the money was better spent on the rooflights.” Alex focused on his architectural knowledge whilst Ellie and her mother-in-law have a flair for interior style. Choosing to install three Triple Glazed Luxlite® pitched rooflights in the open plan kitchen living area, Alex was impressed with the U-values. Alex stated “We like the whole Roof Maker range, however we decided to go for the Luxlite® rooflights for our pitched roof – with the triple glazed element for extra U-value on our extension.”

Put simply, U-value is a measure of a material’s ability to conduct heat, the lower this number, the better it is at keeping heat from escaping. If you would like to learn more, please read our blog post ‘Understanding Ug Values’.

Alex and Ellie were keen to tie in the garden, “…bringing the outdoors in was a key factor for us, lots of big windows and lots of light coming in.”

They also selected a Triple Glazed Fixed Flat for the landing as the extension had removed the windows in that area – making it very dark and gloomy.

INSTALLATION

Alex stated that whilst all the Roof Maker range is superb, he was particularly drawn to the Luxlite® pitched rooflights for the extension. Opting for triple glazing and solar glass to provide UV protection for the furniture and flooring.

The Fixed Flat rooflight fitted above the landing is a genius solution to natural lighting when there is no option for any standard windows. Alex saw an opportunity to utilise a flat rooflight on the flat section of the new roof. “We created a plastered light well that went from the top of the roof all the way to the landing, which brings us all the natural light.” He noted that he liked the seamless transition between plaster and glass, as it creates a clean look.

Alex felt that they received a smooth, quick and professional service from Roof Maker. His online research uncovered many positive customer reviews and he watched a YouTube video of a builder he follows, who showed how easy the installation was. The online quick quote system was easy to use and then we were able to discuss the final price over the phone. Delivery was on time, and everything was as it had been described. With the comprehensive installation guides Alex found installing the rooflights very straightforward. He just needed the roofers help to lift them into place.

THE RESULT

Alex discusses a few of the challenges they faced whilst the project was underway. He managed to set up a temporary kitchen in the hallway, which meant they were lucky in lots of ways as they had a working dishwasher, sink, oven etc but after a year they were glad to see the back of it. The house felt cramped and messy for a lot of the time, but the couple would do it again for the end result.

Alex and Ellie were keen to add an abundance of natural light to the rear of the house, as it was usually quite dark and gloomy. With the addition of large windows and the rooflights they notice a difference in the lighting’s personality throughout the day, as the sun moves around. The couple enjoy entertaining and are happy hosting family and friends now they have a beautiful home that is designed for welcoming people.

Alex has some well thought out advice for anyone taking on a project or renovation:

• Take time to think about the way you want to use your home before jumping into the design.
• Write a list of ‘must haves’ and a separate list of ‘luxuries’ – use the ‘must haves’ to prioritise how you allocate the budget. Anything structural should never be compromised on.
• Sometimes less is more, open space can be effective.

They are both delighted with the outcome of the project and can see all their hard work come to fruition. They are now looking forward to the next chapter as they welcome their first child next month.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

✅ Made to measure in our factory in Leicestershire
✅ Constructed using triple glazed insulated glass units, with superior thermal efficiency and an outstanding Ug-value as low as 0.6w/m2k
✅ Available in your choice of RAL frame colours
✅ Available with a variety of glass types and tints
✅ We deliver anywhere in the UK mainland