Folks,

Am now under way with the garage extension and think it and the new porch will be quite dark without extra light in. Looked at roof lanterns etc and they are v expensive for what they are.

So, I'm gonna make up my own roof lights.

Will use toughened or laminated glass pre-drilled to take stainless coach bolts and rubber bushes and rubber seals. An inner lip to prevent underward drippage!

They won't be that large - 3' per side. One in porch, two in garage.

Any thoughts or comments gratefully received

ATB

Simon

what's the roof made of? can you not fit a transparent panel or two?

like these for tiles
http://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/browse/pitched-roofing/roof-tiles-acrylic.html

or flat glass for slate

When I rebuilt my garage I fitted polycarbonate conservatory roof panels, the best thing I did.
This photo was taken late afternoon last April, no lights on in the garage

Empty

Supposed to be normal flat roof - timber joists, ply sheeting and asphalt etc. but garage will only have one window about 8" high, 2 foot long down at one end and as the new part will have a 13' long by 10' wide flat roof, thought I'd get some free light in there. Porch will go into existing hallway so may be darker than it is now and glass in roof should improve things a bit

ATB

Simon

Twin wall flat polycarbonate
Diddle to fit with glazing strips in ally and plastic top section
Made my workshop roof out of it
Look at Wicks or Buildcentre etc

[Edited on 6/5/14 by snapper]

Solar bottle bulbs!!!

Solar bottle bulbs

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil P
Solar bottle bulbs!!!

Solar bottle bulbs

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I dislike the security aspect of windows in the roof but I suspect it's no worse than windows in the wall.

I wouldnt want to just place stuff inline with a flat roof, would be a prime place for water to settle on any seams and eventually leak.

I would at least do an an upstand in timber, dress the felt/asphalt up/around, then as snapper said, use some some sort of poly carb (conservatory stuff) and finish with with consavaory trim - like this stuff.
http://www.omegabuild.com/conservatory-roof-components.htm

Should be a lot cheaper than a latern/rooflight/coxdome or similar.

quote:

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Originally posted by coyoteboy
I dislike the security aspect of windows in the roof but I suspect it's no worse than windows in the wall.

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^^ you could do that but make you timber upstand higher on one side so you end up with deliberate runoff - 5 to 10° should be more than enough


also make sure you paint the garage floor and walls a nice light colour - it make a little light go a long way