Rooflights or skylights come in many different shapes, types and materials and are very versatile for using in both commercial and residential spaces. It is a bit confusing to decide on which skylight is better suited for our purpose, that is, if we do not have a clear idea about the various types available in the market. But before we move on to categorising them, let us first look at the benefits they provide.

Benefits of Rooflights:

• The first obvious benefit is the use of natural lights. When installed in proper places, skylights can provide natural lights a lot longer than traditional windows. The more we can use natural lights, the less we need artificial electric lights.
• In addition to letting in natural lights, skylights also allow heat to enter. Depending on their glazing type, skylights can very effectively trap heat from escaping. So not only they light up your place with natural lights, they also effectively add into the total insulation.
• By reducing the use of electricity and temperature control system, skylights can very efficiently reduce monthly expenses. What is more, using artificial lights and temperature control systems emit almost 25% of the total greenhouse gases. So by reducing their usage, skylights make commercial and residential spaces more environmentally friendly.

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An electrical capacitance test is a test which determines the ability of a body to store an electrical charge, and it is used in a lot of different industries. It is a standard test used to determine the quality of all electrical products, and is a test well suited to determining whether or not a roof leaks.

This test works for roof leaks due to how water can store an electrical charge. This means that somebody who wants to find out if they have a roof leak, they can do a quick electrical capacitance test to check.

The test is a lot cheaper and quicker to do than alternatives like the thermal imaging test. Unfortunately it is no where near as precise, and for certain types of roofs it will give a false positive, like with roofs which contain a layer of foil.

There are plenty of different architectural roof designs but one contemporary style that you’ll regularly see on stylish apartments and contemporary getaway homes is the butterfly style.

This type of roof can work beautifully with large skylights on both of the ‘wings’, and you’ll get a substantial amount of desirable sunlight to brighten up the home. Light will really penetrate into the living spaces with a butterfly roof, and it’s certainly a unique style.

Different materials can be used to form this kind of roof, depending on the pitch, but a continuous membrane is the best option in most cases, for example; fibreglass. If you’re looking to make your residence a little bit different, a butterfly roof could be the best contemporary, eye-catching solution.

Thermal imaging, or thermographic imaging technology, is one of the methods which roof surveyors  will use to detect any heat loss. It does this by taking thermal images of the roof, which will then show where areas of the roof are hotter than others, which indicates where the leak in the roof is.

A leak in your roof could be down to a number of reasons, with a number of potential problems arising as a result. It could simply be an issue with the insulation, and a small job can fix that for relatively little cost, but it could be a real hole which has allowed water to get into your roof structure and begin to cause real damage, resulting in thousands of pounds of costs to repair it.

So, to recap, thermal imaging can be used as means to determine the effectiveness of the heat capturing effect of your property, as well as to determine if there is any damage occurring as a result of a leak. Both of these are important tasks, but one of the things which makes thermal imaging such an attractive option is that it does this entirely through non-invasive methods.

Pyramid rooflights can give a room a tremendous amount of light and these systems are ideal for flat roofs. You essentially get light from four angles, and these rooflights can be offered in a wide range of sizes.

The pyramid style is not often found on residential properties but it really thrives in the commercial sector. You’ll often see these lights installed on schools, factories and shops, while they can be finished in various glazing colours.

Some pyramid rooflights are provided with a hatch making access easy, while these often benefit from the option of electric or manual operation. A fixed pyramid rooflights is the most popular opting and these can be provided with ventilation, yet we’d recommend glass over polycarbonate.

It’s always a pleasant surprise to see a green roof and it means that the owner of the property has invested in a sustainable home. A green roof is essentially made up of various layers including vegetation, growing membrane, moisture retention fleece, aqua drain, Sarnafil membrane, insulation, a vapour control layer and structural a structural deck.

The roof is designed to absorb rain water (up to 70%), while it is relatively low maintenance. These roofs are not necessarily expensive to install but they do need a little bit of maintenance work if you want to keep them tidy.

Some people have used these systems on houses, garages and commercial properties, and they are certainly visually appealing, while it’s a nice surprise and you’ll always get a few turned heads when you invite guests over.

Gutters are often taken for granted, until they begin to leak that is, and the rubberised Plygene Gutterline system is a quality solution. It’s essentially lining for a tired gutter but it’s compatible with virtually any property. It can be installed to match the shape of a gutter, no matter how complicated while it can be provided in long runs, so it’s suitable for large commercial properties too.

You’ll definitely get a watertight finish with this system and that’s why it’s one of the most widely used guttering systems in the UK, while some properties have been lined in the excess of 200 metres. Not every roofing contractor will be experienced in using this system, and if you are going to use it then always call on the services of a certified installer.

Roof lights are openings on the roof which allow the penetration of light into the house. Various types of roof lights are available in the market and vary according to design, way of operation, and the raw material used in their manufacture and where to be installed among other factors. The following are examples and explanations of some of the lights:-

Fixed lights

This type is designed to impress and was originally created with the intention of reaching the high end market. Fixed lights are stylish and are usually fixed (one place) unlike other categories which are available in the market. The category is specifically designed so as to give a low external frame thus allowing light into the house. In terms of security, the lights are fitted with a thermally efficient glaze unit hence safer and efficient. This is because safety is the number one factor when considering such kind of lights. The inner part of the light has a laminated pane which not only adds up to the efficiency of the light but also safety of the light. The panes are made in such a way that they stay together when broken as opposed to toughened glass. This is an important aspect since when the lights are broken they do not scatter all over the place hence easier to tidy up whenever they are shattered.  Continue reading →