Planning Officers Are Looking CloserIt’s worth noting that planning scrutiny of rooflightspecifications has evolved in recent years. Conservationofficers (quite rightly) no longer accept the simpleaddition of a glazing bar as a ticket to approval. There isgreater awareness of construction methods, profiles, andproportions.Modern equivalents must meet today’s performancestandards for insulation, condensation control, andweathering, but they should do so without sacrificingmaterial authenticity. High-grade stainless steel, forinstance, offers a corrosion-resistant, slim-profile alternative to traditional ferrous metals, maintaining visualcontinuity while improving longevity.A flush fit is now considered a minimum requirement.Beyond that, officers may ask:• Does the product replicate the fine, slim steel profilesof a traditional Victorian rooflight?Likewise, internal linings play a more significant role thanoften appreciated. In many heritage projects timber is thepredominant internal material, whether exposed rafters ortimber-clad ceilings. A genuine conservation rooflightshould offer a hardwood liner that visually complements itsenvironment. Too often, architects discover too late thatthe internal finish of a rooflight is plastic or bare aluminium- jarring with the character of an exposed timber ceiling orheritage plasterwork. By then, it’s too late to change.• Is the glazing bar structural or merely cosmetic?• Is the internal finish appropriate to the surroundingbuilding materials?• Can the rooflight accommodate modern performancestandards without compromising on historical accuracy?The Importance of Section and ProfileHistoric rooflights were typically made with minimalframing, set flush or nearly flush with the roofing material,often with delicate, hand-fabricated profiles. Modernproducts that seek to replicate these rooflights must payequal attention to proportion and section, especially asviewed from the exterior.Architects must be prepared to answer these questionswith confidence. That means understanding more thanjust product codes, it means knowing how rooflights aremade, how they sit in the roof, and what makes themgenuinely compatible with heritage buildings.Material MattersA key differentiator between true conservation rooflightsand their lookalike counterparts lies in materiality.Traditional rooflights were made from cast iron or steel,set directly into the roof structure, often without aninternal lining.Deep or bulky sections can appear alien on a slate or tileroof. Capping details, edges, and visible hinges must all beconsidered in terms of visual weight. True conservationrooflights prioritise slenderness and shadow lines, creatinga light touch that respects the building’s roofscape.Below, Stella country estateiiConservation & Heritage Journal58
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