opening kitchen to roof/Velux

The Banks Home

Hi all,

OK, first question. Dont think the answer will be here on boards, Ill just ask it.

I have a kitched, 5m X 6.5M
I am thinking of opening up a section of the kitchen to roof level, its a bungalow with a 45 pitch.

I was going to take out 5m X 3M section and leave it open up to the Veluxes,

I want your opinion, has anyone done this, I want as much light as possible. there is an A roof on the kitchen 6.5m from one side to the other, nice big Veluxes to allow south facing sun in on the room, (even though the wall below the Veluxes will have alot of glass.

of course if heat wasnt a factor I wouldnt need to ask this. . :P

Thoughts appreciated.

Thank you and look forward to your reply

Mr & Mrs Self-Build

Learned a lot, a lot to learn!!

• 5000 sq ft dormer house
• Velux's
• 3000 sq ft down stairs including 420 sq ft attached Garage.
• Oil heating/Rads
• Insulation and windows first priority

FBS

I have worked on a project were this was done using heat reflective blinds fitted to the windows. Also you could look into the cost difference in getting shutters that operate by remote on the outside of the velux.

Carlow52

IMO external shutters will be much more effective than internal blinds as the shutters stop the sun reaching the glass.
would be easy to connect shutters to a thermostat....

How will roof collars be accommodated?

The Banks Home

Thanks all,

But i think you misinterpreted my question.

I am concerned about heating the room itself, heat rises and thus it would take more to heat the room with the ceiling gone exposing the pitched roof with veluxs above.

Lets just say, I was talking to someone who knew someone who done something similar in a hall way, right up 2 story, and it was the worse thing ever done, heat goes straight up and always cold on the ground once you walk in.

I know i am just talking about a single story job, but i just thought id see if anyone had done this.

Thank you and look forward to your reply

Mr & Mrs Self-Build

Learned a lot, a lot to learn!!

• 5000 sq ft dormer house
• Velux's
• 3000 sq ft down stairs including 420 sq ft attached Garage.
• Oil heating/Rads
• Insulation and windows first priority

davidoco

attached is what I did. Was a new build so spacings or double rafters were easy to fit for the biggest velux available.

Never fitted blinds to these.

Regarding heat. Obviously a full height room will be harder to heat but I think the benefits during the 6 months of the year when we get a bit of sun and have a bright airy room. Also being a kitchen your never going to want any thing more than 20 +- 1 so your not going to have a freezer if you have a properly sized rad.

unclebill98

I've seen this done. It looks great when done right.

The Banks Home

Thanks, this is just what i was talking about,

brilliant, photo and all.

great to here opinions, and looks well.

as you say you never want the kitchen to be too warm a room.

I am seriously giving this thought.

Thank you and look forward to your reply

Mr & Mrs Self-Build

Learned a lot, a lot to learn!!

• 5000 sq ft dormer house
• Velux's
• 3000 sq ft down stairs including 420 sq ft attached Garage.
• Oil heating/Rads
• Insulation and windows first priority

Carlow52

The Banks Home wrote: »

Thanks all,

But i think you misinterpreted my question.

Solar gain will be an issue with all that glass if u are south facing as written nin original post

Retro-Fit

The Banks Home wrote: »

• 5000 sq ft dormer house
• Velux's
• 3000 sq ft down stairs including 420 sq ft attached Garage.
• Oil heating/Rads
• Insulation and windows first priority

Have you calculated the cost of running your home for heat and power? on completion and in ten years time.

Fakro have better thermal qualities than standard Velux. I 've seen these types of Rooflights perform terribly from an airtightness and insulation continuity point of view. The window sits in above the insulation layer. It needs careful detailing.