A roof lantern in its conventional type is essentially a glass and timber roof light, quite like a mini conservatory roof, which is integrated, usually into a location of flat roof, in order to present light into the location below.
It is also possible to include a roof lantern into the ridge of a roof, and there are other locations where a roof lantern can work well if the design and installation are performed properly.
When the first orangeries and conservatories were being built, roof lanterns were initially used in the Georgian era at a time. The roof lantern permitted light into the stairwell of a residential or commercial property and into other areas of the home, a crucial consideration when without electric or gaslight, candle light power was the only lighting offered and interiors could be dim and dark even on bright days.
At the time glass was still made by hand and was hence costly, so initially designers had to reserve making use of roof lanterns when developing fine town and country houses for rich clients.
In the 2nd half of the Victorian age, glass started to be maker made and became more economical. At the same time society ended up being more upscale and the interest in glass structures influenced by the Crystal Palace constructed for the Great Exhibition of 1851, led to a higher demand for glass to be utilized in the building of homes,
Both the Victorian's and Edwardian's utilized roof lanterns wherever they were required for both practical and aesthetic factors - domestically to present light over stairwells and landings, in billiard rooms, reception rooms and cooking areas. Roof lanterns were also included into the style and architecture of hotels and in places of education and public buildings such as city center and public libraries.
It is regretfully true that much of these fine and imposing structures were prone to leak, due to the restriction of contemporary building and construction and sealing materials. Exactly what's more, single glazing implied that they permitted heat to leave, so the locations below them could be expensive or unpleasant to heat during the winter season. Unfortunately, this suggested that the owners often lowered the size of the roof lantern, and with it the offered light, or boarded them over entirely so that the area underneath had to be brightened with electric light.
Ventilation was also sometimes needed in these early roof lanterns and this could only be provided by manual opening through a crank rod to turn the window system open or closed. Really inconvenient if it suddenly began to rain.
Modern Roof Lanterns & Skylights
Fortunately today we have the benefit of contemporary dry double glazing strategies, advanced sealing compounds and automatic electric systems for opening and closing roof lantern windows.
These enhancements, together with the use of sealed double glazed panels guarantee that modern roof lanterns can preserve a standard appearance while offering, structural Integrity and toughness together with good insulation properties.
Exactly what's more, the use of resilient wood wood and high quality microporous paints and discolorations makes sure that a modern roof lantern will last for many years with minimum maintenance.
It is sadly true that many of these fine and imposing structures were prone to leak, due to the restriction of modern building and construction and sealing products. Exactly what's more, single glazing suggested rustic metal industrial desks that they allowed heat to leave, so the areas below them could be uneasy or expensive to heat throughout the winter. This indicated that the owners typically reduced the size of the roof lantern, and with it the offered light, or boarded them over entirely so that the area beneath had actually to be brightened with electric light.