A roof window is no longer a luxury, but a necessitya necessity for everyone who has a roof. Light and air are something that is always lacking. How to choose, install and place a dormer window in the space? Let's figure it out with the help of professionals If you have a roof, then there is an attic under it. And if you have an attic, then you need it. Today, no one doubts the fairness of this approach. The space under the roof is additional meters of useful and very interesting area of an unusual configuration. And the costs of arranging a residential attic have long ceased to be exorbitant.
Design Features Main Advantagedormer window - depending on the needs of the customer or designer. This allows for uniform illumination of the space under the roof, and sometimes even lower, if we are talking about a high staircase. Dormer windows provide 30-40 percent more light than regular ones. That is why they are so popular among architects and designers of ultra-modern spaces built on the advantages of lighting, plays of contrasts or light natural colors.
A slanted window has its own characteristics,conditioned by the "hard work" it has to do. The tireless worker must withstand heavy snow and rain, hail and wind, temperature and humidity changes. Therefore, the glass is usually tempered on the outside, and special kits are used for installing the window, not mounting foam. Almost all roof windows are equipped with a ventilation valve - and this function should not be neglected. In addition to ventilating the room as such, the valve protects your window from condensation and extends its service life.
Our opinion:— The most popular frame material is wood. It is reliable, environmentally friendly, looks great and fits any style. But there are also frames made of more moisture-resistant materials. Both the usual PVC structures and wood options in polyurethane. The latter are best chosen for children's rooms. They are warm, safe for health and at the same time do not get dirty, do not scratch and are very easy to wash off even from felt-tip pen drawings.
Double glazed dormer window Mostdormer windows have single-chamber glass units - this reduces the weight of the structure, reduces the load on the floors and ensures the ergonomics of the window. In order to retain a sufficient amount of heat, the "smart" "warm perimeter" technology is used - a steel frame without joints and cold bridges, as well as filling the space between the glasses with inert argon gas, which is safe for humans. In terms of its heat-saving and frost-resistant characteristics, such a package is no worse than a regular double one. For most regions of Russia, this is quite sufficient. And for residents of a colder climate zone, there are models with a double-chamber glass unit and additional insulation.
Marina Prozarovskaya, Velux Chief EngineerRussia: - Wherever there is a risk of breaking a window from the inside - this is especially true for children's rooms and playrooms - it is worth considering installing a high-security double-glazed window. Inside there is the so-called "triplex" - glass that does not crumble and in the event of an emergency preserves the fragments on a special film. In addition, triplex significantly better protects household members from noise, and the interior - from fading under the influence of sunlight.
Opening principle The roof window is alwaysis in an inclined position, so opening it like a regular window is inconvenient and dangerous. Other options are provided. And all of them are selected in accordance with the installation height and roof structure.
For most conventional roofs with a slope of15 to 90 degrees, a window with opening along the central axis is best suited. The handle is located at the top of the window and allows you to place it at the optimal height - 90 cm from the floor - and place furniture below. In some models, the handle is connected to the ventilation valve - this is a particularly convenient and ergonomic option.
If you need to install larger windowsstandard height, that is, at the level of 130-160 cm, you can use windows with a lower handle. The principle of opening them does not change - along the central axis, but they will be much more convenient to use.
Suitable for a roof with a smaller slopea panoramic window that can be opened along the central and upper axis. Such designs have two handles. One is located at the top and is combined with the window flap. For opening along the upper axis, a second handle is provided - at the bottom of the window. Such a window provides maximum visibility. And it can be used to exit onto the roof.
If you need windows that will be locatedvery high, the best solution is automatic structures with remote control, including a rain sensor that closes the window automatically when the first drops fall.
If you want to install a balcony without changingroof geometry, the best solution is special balcony windows. Such a window is mounted in the roof in the same way as a regular one, and consists of two parts. The upper one opens along the central and upper axis up to 45 degrees, and the lower one folds outward, extending special railings. The design is safe and time-tested. For those wishing to create a full-fledged terrace, a set of inclined and vertical window elements is provided, which literally flood the interior with light and delight with beautiful views. However, in this case, the lower platform will still have to be completed.
Correct installation Finally, the principleinstallation. Unlike modern vertical windows, dormer windows are not installed with polyurethane foam. In order to hermetically install such a window, there are special technologies, the specific application of which depends on the roof structure. It is better to turn to professionals for advice and invite installers. For example, a frame - a system of gutters that diverts flows - helps to protect the window from water. There are special kits for hydro- and thermal insulation.
Marina Prozarovskaya, Velux Chief EngineerRussia: - It is important to remember that dormer windows are not made to the size of the opening, but are sold ready-assembled with a standard range of sizes. Most architects advise to provide for the placement of such windows directly at the design stage. Firstly, it is easier to calculate the required number of structures, and secondly, cutting a window into a new roof will cost less than adapting the old one to the necessary work.
Accessories The most important and curtain orblinds. Due to the inclined position, you won’t be able to hang a regular curtain there, or you’ll have to come up with additional devices and fasteners for the fabric. But in general, it’s hard to do without window textiles. Even a small dormer window facing the sunny side receives, on average, 30-40% more sunlight than a regular one. One way or another, you’ll have to take care of protecting your household and the interior from the bright rays of the sun.
Additional accessories - curtains, blinds,roller shutters, mosquito nets, etc. — the easiest way is to order from the manufacturer. Then you won’t need to waste time calling in measurers and cutters. It’s enough to choose the necessary options and their design and provide the exact dimensions of your window, written on a special plate.
In addition, any roof window can be equipped with additional functions: remote control, rain sensor, programming, even connection to a smart home system.
All about roof windows: what to choose, how to install and what to supplement with - etk-fashion.com
