The main benefits of roof lanterns are much more natural light, a greater sense of space and ceiling height, less daytime use of electric lighting, useful solar gain in winter, and an architectural feature that appeals to buyers. Modern thermally broken aluminium lanterns also perform far better than older glazed roofs.
Read on to find out some of the key advantages of roof lanterns and why installing one could be the perfect investment in your home.
Do Roof Lanterns Let In More Natural Light?
Yes. Because a roof lantern faces the open sky, it lets in far more daylight than a wall window of the same size, bringing light into the middle of deep rooms that windows can't reach. Find out why a roof lantern lets in more light.
Due to the large amount of daylight a roof lantern brings in from above throughout the day, it can make your home look much more spacious and brighter, even in north-facing rooms. Increased natural light also reduces your reliance on artificial lighting during the day.
Is Natural Light Good for Your Health?
Daylight helps regulate your body clock, supports better sleep and can lift mood, particularly during darker winter months. Light exposure is linked to serotonin production, and light therapy is an established treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), although a roof lantern is a home improvement rather than a treatment.
Note that glass blocks most of the UVB light your skin needs to make vitamin D, so a roof lantern won't boost vitamin D levels, but it does make a room far more pleasant to spend time in.
Are Roof Lanterns Energy Efficient?
Modern roof lanterns with thermally broken aluminium frames and low-E double or triple glazing are far more energy efficient than older glazed roofs, though any glazing loses more heat than a well-insulated roof. Their main energy saving comes from cutting daytime lighting and from solar gain in winter.
Roof lanterns can help to keep a room warm. They offer excellent thermal performance, thanks to their advanced double glazing. They help retain warmth inside the room, keeping heat loss low for a glazed roof.
Historically, glazed extensions like conservatories are known for being too hot during the summer months and too cold during the winter months. Not anymore, with modern technology.
Good ventilation and warm-edge spacer bars also keep condensation to a minimum.
Can a Roof Lantern Be Tailored to Your Home's Style?
Yes. Roof lanterns are made to measure in a range of shapes, sizes and frame colours, from traditional designs with glazing bars to contemporary slimline styles. Compare the different types of roof lanterns.
These lanterns look amazing in pictures, and they're breathtaking in the flesh. As a modern glazed roof feature, they're available in styles with clean lines, and their elegant, sophisticated appearance is sure to blow you away. Traditional looks can include glazing bars, while contemporary designs use a slimmer frame. It's possible to change the colour to suit your aesthetic and create the home of your dreams.
Still wondering, is a roof lantern suitable for my home?
Well, when adding an extension to your home, roof lanterns are the ideal option. Unlike skylights or flat rooflights, a roof lantern vs skylight comparison shows the key differences in how each suits a space, especially for rooms that don't border external walls and, of course, those with flat roofs. They'll look as good from the outside as they do the inside, too.
Roof lights are ideal if your loft is converted, but you cannot use standard windows or add much vertical glazing. They'll allow increased natural light to flow into your roof space (a notoriously darker part of the home).
Are Roof Lanterns Good Value for Money?
Roof lanterns cost more upfront than flat rooflights, but a quality aluminium lantern lasts for decades with little maintenance, making it good long-term value. See our roof lantern cost guide for typical prices.
Now you know how amazing a roof lantern is, you may want to know how much a roof light like this costs. The short answer? It depends on size and the materials used.
uPVC lanterns are generally cheaper because the material cost is relatively minimal, but other materials on the market, including timber and aluminium, can offer a longer lifespan.
High-quality aluminium lanterns last much longer and keep their finish, which is why aluminium is the most popular frame choice for modern extensions.
The initial cost of having a roof lantern installed may be somewhat high, but they will last you near enough a lifetime. Larger models can be up to 4000mm by 2000mm, which can mean a higher cost depending on the project.
Do Roof Lanterns Add Value to Your Home?
A roof lantern adds value to your property, can contribute to increased property value, and may appeal to prospective buyers, making it an excellent investment option. From aesthetics to efficiency, roof lanterns give every property with a flat roof an interesting architectural element.
And what does that mean?
You could make more when it comes time to sell your property! Because they are so highly sought-after, these roof lanterns could even add value to your home if you ever decide to sell, for the aforementioned reasons and added sale appeal.
Do Roof Lanterns Provide Solar Heating?
Another benefit of installing a roof lantern is the solar gain it brings, and quality glazing can help retain heat and support your home's thermal efficiency. This can make rooms significantly warmer during the winter months, with modest energy savings and more inexpensive bills over time. Heat is let in through the roof lantern, meaning you might be able to reduce the thermostat from time to time, with some glazing options covered or coated to reduce glare or overheating in summer.
Do Roof Lanterns Reduce Noise?
Double-glazed roof lanterns, especially with laminated glass, reduce outside noise well, although heavy rain will still be more audible than under a solid roof.
Modern technology has greatly improved the glass that makes up a roof lantern. Similar to windows, a lantern's noise-reducing performance depends on quality glazing. A well-glazed lantern can help reduce noise in your living spaces, including from traffic and rainfall.
What does this mean? Your roof lantern could just help you get a sound night's sleep without outside disturbances!
Do Roof Lanterns Make a Room Feel Taller?
There's no denying that a roof lantern looks incredible in just about any home or setting, and it can also enhance perceived ceiling height to make a room feel taller and more open. They also offer amazing views and allow you enjoy much more of the outdoors, inside—for example, by framing more sky and changing the whole feel of the space.
What's not to love?
Roof Lantern Benefits FAQs
Are roof lanterns worth it?
Roof lanterns are sleek, modern, energy-saving and a great investment in your home. In particular, modern roof lanterns can outperform standard alternatives for both light and efficiency, especially with high-performance glazing and thermally broken aluminium frames that improve insulation. They also offer more architectural presence than skylights and tend to spread daylight more widely through the room. They provide the perfect talking piece while allowing a plethora of natural light to flood your home. Plus, thanks to their durability, they won't require replacing anytime soon.
Do lantern roofs leak?
A correctly installed roof lantern should not leak. Most leaks come from poor installation, such as a kerb that is too low, roof membrane not dressed under the drip lip or failed sealant, rather than from the lantern itself. Check the seals and clear debris around the kerb once or twice a year.
How long do roof lanterns last?
A roof light offers excellent value for money. As they are durable, hard-wearing and highly resistant to bad weather, you can expect a roof lantern to last upward of 30 years and likely longer.
Are roof lanterns noisy when it rains?
You will hear heavy rain more than under a solid, insulated roof, but double-glazed glass lanterns are far quieter than polycarbonate roofs. Laminated inner glass and good seals reduce drumming further.
Do roof lanterns lose heat?
Any glazing loses more heat than an insulated roof, but building regulations limit new rooflights to a U-value of 2.2 W/m²K and good lanterns achieve 1.6 W/m²K or better. Low-E double or triple glazing keeps heat loss low. Learn more about U-values for windows and doors.
Are roof lanterns a good idea for a kitchen extension?
Yes, they're one of the most popular choices. A lantern above an island or dining table brings light into the deepest part of the extension, and pairs well with aluminium bifold doors or aluminium sliding doors on the rear wall.
Is a Roof Lantern Right for Your Home?
A roof lantern suits most homes with a flat roof over a kitchen, extension or orangery, provided the roof structure can be adapted and the size suits the room. Start with our guide to choosing the right roof lantern size.
The benefits of roof lanterns are numerous. From increasing your home's value to brightening the darker winter months, it's no wonder these additions to the home are proving so popular, and rooflights can let in around three times more light than a wall window of the same size.
Adding a beautiful added architectural element to just about any home, these lanterns act as a key component of a flat-roof extension by bringing extra height, light, and style to the space.
To get the best result, installation needs careful structural planning, as roof lantern works look most balanced on a sufficiently large roof area and may require steelwork or reinforced openings for proper support. For thermal performance, look for details that reduce cold bridging, with features such as aluminium cappings helping create a sleek finish. Building regulations approval is required, and planning permission may also be needed depending on the project, but permitted development only covers rooflights projecting no more than 150mm above the existing roof plane, so check with your local planning authority.
