Overcoming perceptions: Lantern roofs

Staycations are on the rise this year and many families are choosing to reallocate the funds they would have spent on a summer holiday on home improvements instead. From extensions, conservatories and garden rooms to decking and fencing, homes and gardens are getting some much-needed attention following lockdown in 2020.

For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on one product which has risen steadily in popularity for the last five years: the glazed lantern roof. Ideal for flooding a home with natural light, lantern roofs are excellent enhancements for rooms and extensions including kitchens and living rooms.
These unique products offer vast views of the sky thanks to large expanses of glass – and they’re a brilliant alternative for properties lacking the space for a traditional conservatory. Whilst those of us in the industry recognise the benefits of lantern roofs, many homeowners still base their opinion of them from their older, draughtier predecessors. Let’s address these perceptions:

1. Lantern roofs will make the room cold in the winter or scorching in the summer

In the past, lantern roofs were notoriously draughty and thus thermally inefficient. In reality, modern lantern roofs offer exceptional energy ratings.

This can be illustrated by the following Liniar customer, who took the plunge to update two aging lantern roofs in his home with the Elevate lantern roof:

“We love them – and in fact, we’ve had to turn down the heating! We didn’t realise how much more thermally efficient the Elevate lantern roof is – plus, there is just so much more light in the room.”

For customers who think that a lantern roof will fill their home with heat in the summer, the same logic applies. Thanks to the thermal technology built into today’s lantern roofs, rooms with lantern roofs can remain cool, even when the outside temperatures soar.

2. They’re too hard to keep clean on the outside

This is another myth, possibly stemming from polycarbonate conservatory roofs which would turn green with algae – and which aren’t exactly the easiest to reach to clean.

The days of worrying about dragging a pressure washer to the roof are long over. Glass technology has come a long way and with self-cleaning glass, homeowners no longer have to worry about keeping their lantern roof looking crystal clear. The glass does all the work.

3. They’re difficult to install

Modern lantern roofs are in fact extremely quick and easy to install, especially those in kit format. With an installation time as low as 30 minutes for Liniar’s Elevate roof, fitters can be sure of a fast turnaround – perfect for these busy times.

Give customers more of what they want

A lantern roof is the perfect add-on for bi-fold, patio and French door projects, as per of existing homes and new extensions or orangeries, providing the opportunity to bring in more natural light.

Like many others in the industry, Liniar has seen the demand for these products rise rapidly since lockdown – along with other low maintenance PVCu products such as fencing and decking. This trend looks set to continue as consumers fall back in love with their homes and gardens.

Find out more

You can read a case study featuring Liniar’s Elevate lantern roof at https://www.liniar.co.uk/case-studies/shedding-light-on-a-home-in-the-derbyshire-dales/.

For more information about Elevate, available in bespoke sizes, rectangular or square, and supplied glazed or unglazed, visit www.liniar.co.uk/elevate.