How to protect roof windows from weather conditions?

Roof windows require greater strength than façade windows as they are exposed to intensified weather conditions. These include not only extreme temperatures, but also rain, hail and snow. FAKRO roof windows are made with care for the smallest details, while the use of high-quality materials and modern technologies stands behind effective protection from cold and frosty air. The method of installation is also important. Roof windows are part of the roof, therefore they should be properly connected with it, the joints must be tight and additionally insulated. The basis for such assembly is the correct setting of the window in the roof structure as well as its tight connection and insulation. Those who decide on such lighting of the room should also know how to protect roof windows in the winter season. An additional screen on roof windows can be provided in the form of external roller shutters or awning blinds. External shutters give efficient protection for all year long as in the summertime they do not let excessive heat in and on colder days they improve thermal insulation of the room.

If you want to enjoy comfortable living conditions in the attic, it is worth to opt for FAKRO roof windows which feature excellent insulation performance and gaskets that reduce the sound of rain falling on the window cladding. The Rw coefficient of the window is a basic parameter that determines the acoustic properties presented in decibels (abbreviated dB). The higher the decibel value, the better the window protects against noise. If the Rw coefficient is high enough, it can protect the interior against the annoying noise from the outside. How to protect roof windows from rain? A good solution is to apply additional external screens such as awning blinds or roller shutters. They offer exceptional comfort of using the attic, as mounted outdoors, they become an effective barrier protecting from rain. Aluminium slats introduced to FAKRO external roller shutters are joined by means of a special rubber connector that prevents raindrops from getting onto the glass.

An additional protection from rain is the use of electrically and manually operated awning blinds made of durable and weather-resistant mesh. They ensure effective protection not only from excessive solar radiation during the summer heat as when rolled down during rain they dampen the sound of falling raindrops. 

More and more frequent weather phenomenon in our latitude is hail. Large hail stones, sometimes even the size of a golf ball, can damage car windows as well as façade windows, however roof windows are particularly vulnerable to such damage. During violent thunderstorms and hailstorms, it is good to have a safe place to shelter and such a space are usually our homes. Applying FAKRO roof windows means effective protection from hail. The window design incorporates a toughened glass as standard, which provides the best protection of roof windows from hail. In addition, an external blind can be installed to enclose and cover the entire surface of the window. It should be highlighted that FAKRO grants a lifetime warranty for the glass in the event of hail. It is enough to report such damage to our Service Dept. and the damaged glass will be replaced.

Depending on the window installation slope, solar radiation can be very intense and excessively heat the attic room on hot sunny days. How to protect roof windows from sun? During hot weather, it is best to leave roof windows closed as protection from excessive heat is also affected by their proper tightness.  Roof windows can also be protected from sun by means of external screens such as already mentioned roller shutters or awning blinds. 

When it comes to internal blinds, they have a different function. Internal blinds equipped with a fabric serve primarily as protection from excessive and intense sun by shading  the room and creating a pleasant space for relaxation during sunny days. Moreover, they diversify the interior in the attic, enhancing the aesthetics of the entire room. Blinds are usually models attached on hooks or guide rails, which can be made of a room-darkening fabric that can be easily stopped at any height of the window. FAKRO internal accessories in the form of blinds made of movable aluminium slats superbly match modern interiors. They perfectly adjust the amount of sunlight entering inside. The ARP internal roller blinds are made of a special fabric that effectively diffuses sunlight to result in a gentle partial darkness inside. The ARF blackout blinds are covered with a layer of silver material on the outside, which enables accurate shading of the interior. In turn, pleated blinds provide each room with a subtle and characteristic design while effectively protecting from sun. Colourful standard ARS roller blinds can be matched to any interior and come with a three-level setting system, which makes it possible to adjust the blind to achieve the required shading.

External screens such as awning blinds and roller shutters ensure much better protection from intense sunlight. Awning blinds secure a pleasant temperature in the room during hot weather and allow visual contact with the outside environment. They also let natural light inside, so there is enough of it in the attic rooms. Awning blinds absorb solar radiation before it reaches the glazing, keeping warm air outside. Windows equipped with external awning blinds are a very good solution for people working at the computer as they completely eliminate the presence of light reflections.

Cold and snowy winter is usually a challenging period for windows situated in the roof. Such winters rarely appear in our climate anymore. However, in mountainous areas, heavy snowfall may result in snow deposits limiting the ingress of natural light inside. The amount of snow staying on the window largely depends on the slope of the roof where windows are installed. If the roof window is fitted more vertically, then we can say with great certainty that snow will not remain. As far as roof windows installed nearly horizontally are concerned, snow can last longer. Good news is the fact that snow remaining on the window melts quickly under the influence of warm sun rays and the heat coming from the interior of the attic. A big help in protecting roof windows from snow is the installation of external roller shutters. The window covered by such a shutter is protected from snow, but it must be manually removed from the shutter or we have to wait until snow melts on its own.   

Roof windows are particularly exposed to changing weather conditions, that is why the best solution to protect from excessive solar radiation, snow and hail is applying external roller shutters or awning blinds. Due to their location, windows are faced with various adverse factors and it should be noted that the durability of roof windows translates into their longer use. It is also worth paying attention to the comfort of using such solutions. Top hung windows, usually fitted lower, can be easily approached when opened, allowing direct contact with the surroundings. It is also useful to install internal blinds, which not only protect from sun, but also decorate the interior, giving it a distinct character.

2 BENEFITS OF SKYLIGHTS

Installing skylights in your home is certainly fashionable, but what else can it do for your house apart from being part of a trend?

AMAZING WALKABLE SKYLIGHT

FAKRO's latest and most innovative skylight yet, the walkable skylight DXW is perfect for anyone with a flat roof that wants an amazing upgrade.