How to make the most of your roof window replacement

The lifespan of a roof window ranges from 20 to 30 years, although if your roof is well maintained it may last a little longer. It's time to replace your roof windows when:

If drips or puddles of water start appearing around your roof windows after rain, it’s a sign that the surrounding materials have deteriorated. They are letting in water and no longer acting as an insulator; they're ready to replace. 

Condensation can encourage damp patches and mould to form in your home, which can impact your health. If condensation is regularly forming on your roof windows, the seals are likely wearing, and your roof windows need replacing. 

If you see cracks in your roof windowpane, this can be dangerous. The cracks can also let in water and draughts and encourage condensation to form. A cracked roof window should be replaced as soon as possible.

If the pane in your roof window is starting to discolour or is no longer clear, it can make your home appear run down, diminish natural light entering your space and make it feel dark and dreary. It’s time for an upgrade.

If you find that other areas of your roof are leaking and you need to repair or replace your leaking roof, it’s an opportune time to replace your old roof windows as you can get everything done at once. 

Simple like-for-like replacements can be completed from the inside of your home. You can replace your roof windows at any time of the year, but it’s obviously best to do it on a dry, warm day if possible. Although it can be the last thing of your mind in the summer months, it’s best to plan for new roof windows before the winter months set it.

If you’re planning for bigger changes, the best time to replace roof windows is when you’re renovating the surrounding room and can get everything done together. This means if you opt for larger, or additional new roof windows, any cosmetic touch-ups can be neatly tied into the rest of your decoration plans. 

You’ll see a noticeable difference when you upgrade your roof windows. The latest VELUX roof windows will: 

It's recommended that the glazed area of any room should be at least equal to 20% of the room's floor area to guarantee a good amount of natural light. When you introduce more natural light into your home you completely change its look and feel. 

The latest VELUX roof windows have slimmer frames and a larger glazed area, so they let in more light. While you’re working on your home, you might even decide to go for a larger roof window or to add additional roof windows to really brighten up your space and make it much warmer and more inviting.

Add more natural light to your home

When you upgrade your roof window, you can look at a host of different design options. You can add additional roof windows to make the most of your view or invite in more daylight to gloomy rooms. 

If your room is susceptible to feeling chilly or unwanted outside noise, choose VELUX roof windows with triple-layer glazing. This small upgrade can greatly help to improve the insulation and soundproofing of your home. 

Most older roof windows have pine frames, now you can choose from a variety of materials. The recommended modern finish is called white maintenance-free. It’s a moulded polyurethane finish and is - as the name suggests - completely maintenance-free. It will also make your space feel lighter and brighter. For more traditional homes, a white painted wooden finish is also available.  

With VELUX automated solutions, experience the ease of airing out your space with the simple touch of a switch. Did you know - existing manual roof windows can be easily upgraded?

If you opt for VELUX solar roof windows, you can remotely control your roof windows with free, renewable power from the sun. Solar roof windows are non-intrusive and easy to install as they require no mains wiring. They are particularly suited to roof windows that are out of reach, so you can ditch your old operating pole. What’s more, they’re reliable even in cloudy weather. 

See solar and electric solutions 

Once you’ve upgraded your roof windows, it’s the perfect time to enhance them and tie into your surrounding décor. VELUX offers a range of roof window accessories designed to help you manage the comfort of your space. 

Exterior blinds and shutters are fixed to the outside of your roof windows - protecting from heat waves in the summer and harsh cold spells in the winter. Interior blinds and shutter fit to the inside of your roof windows and come in several styles. Ever-popular blackout blinds will block out all the light, making them perfect for bedrooms. There are also translucent options that let the light through while maintaining privacy. 

Consider adding blinds or shutters