Conservation Rooflights

[michael]

Can anybody advise which company produces the most authentic looking cast roof lights i.e. those most resembling original cast iron rooflights? I've been looking at the products produced by "The Tuscan Foundry" They originally produced two types of conservation roof light , a Cast Aluminum model and a Pressed steel model called the Lumen. The cast Aluminum model looked the most authentic having quite a deep upstand when viewed from the side but a very narrow frame and glazing bar when viewed face on. The pressed steel model on the other hand was the complete opposite being very thin and flush to the roof line but with quite wide, flat frame sections when viewed face on and looking altogether much more modern than its cast aluminum counterpart. Unfortunately
“The Tuscan Foundry” are no longer producing the cast Aluminum range and can only provide the latter pressed steel models. I also need to check "Clement windows" aka "The Cast Rooflight Co" who produced a similar range but I believe they too are now only producing a less convincing pressed steel version.

 

[geoff]

I just used the ordinary Velux 'conservation' style (they call it that - black pressed steel with a central glazing bar, approx 24 inch x 15 inch). They have a high upstand on the roof but look ok (on a 200 yr old stone cottage, slate roof). They do give a few condensation problems, though, and can drip on you in bed....
Remember they will be on the roof and therefore not looked at close up - you can get too pernickety in choosing, or do you have a particularly sensitive listed property?.

 

[Nemesis]

Is this any help?

http://www.therooflightcompany.co.uk/html/products.html

Sad about the other two companies, whose products I recall were good.

 

[michael]

Thanks for the replies. I’ve contacted The Rooflight Company and I'm awaiting their catalogue however speaking to them they advise that their conservation rooflights are also made of pressed steel. Alas there appears to be no manufactures left in the country who produce authentic looking CAST replicas

 

[NT]

Casting your own ali or pot metal is not really difficult. Google for ways to make a very simple furnace.

NT

 

[Gervase]

Most small foundries will do the work for you. I worked in one a few years back, and we were always doing one-offs in bronze or aluminium for clients; copies of cracked engine parts, bits of archaic lighting, lumps of statuary, you name it...
You'll need a pattern (a life-sized model of the cast you're after) but any decent foundry should be able to do the rest, Ring around for prices - you'll be surprised how easy the process is.

 

[Nemesis]

We bought second hand from a roofing yard - taken from a demolished factory (of no architectural merit) they had been lying around rusting.

Blasted and double glazed (although that's failed in one area - grrrr) they were cheap and look right, although condensation can be a problem.

 

[michael]

All sounds a bit drastic - Are there really no manufactures of cast roof lights left? i.e with a variety of off the shelf sizes ? The new pressed steel models being offered by the more well known companies are really NOT a good alternative if your trying to match up with old originals.

 

[Nemesis]

Not very drastic really - very cheap!

The places you mention were the ones I knew of - it would be useful to find out why they no longer produce. Possibly cos rather too many want modern Velux, sadly.

 

[andrew gayton]

use the velux conservation lights; they actually have a flashing kit, the others don't.

 

[Nemesis]

A flashing kit??

Don't tell that to Gareth Hughes or Penners... it will just excite them.
Still don't look like originals though, do they?

 

[andrew gayton]

no; but perhaps it is best that they don't?? new/later intervention/s and all that??

 

[Nemesis]

Maybe. I hate modern Velux in old buildings - and it's such a cop-out in so many barn conversions.

Our second hand ones match others existing we have and were cheap so I'm happy with them! They can be a bit 'drippy' though in cold weather.

I have a pic I took recently which I must upload and post of a beautiful barn roof ruined by an abundance of roof lights. They do need such careful consideration before being shoved in everywhere.

 

[andrew gayton]

I agree that the non-conservation ones are the pits............... I have used 4 of the velux conservation lights in both pantiled and tin roofs.... they look fine......... but they are the very small ones... 450x600mm

 

[Nemesis]

I think in these cases size matters, I agree! As does splitting the expane up with glazing bars.

 

[michael]

I really don’t understand why these new pressed steel so called “conservation” roof lights are allowed. Conservation they are not. All of these models have a 30 or 40mm wide exterior steel frame around the glass and putty line, which does not replicate the cast originals. Their only saving grace is the central glazing bar. The strength of the original cast roof lights was in their depth, up to 4inches or so deep, which left a very narrow frame, only a few mm wide when viewed face on. I think it’s tragic that these are no longer available. I understand that the Tuscan Foundry’s casting moulds were inexplicably destroyed a while ago but the good news is they are having the moulds remade. Unfortunately this means that cast roof lights won’t be available for at least six months, maybe longer.

 

[Nemesis]

Well that is good news at least.

 

[MattJ]

I have two conservation rooflights from TheRoofLightCompany and they are definitely cast and have a beautiful set of brass fittings with them. Highly recommended.

Chairman of that company is Peter King, a conservation architect.
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/rooflighting/rooflighting.htm

Matt

 

[Geoff Flegg]

I also need to replace my rooflights (plus add another) - Velux conservation are no good for me (right size not available), MattJ praises "The RoofLight Company" (http://www.therooflightcompany.co.uk) for their "Conservation Rooflight" - they now have a cheaper option, "The Replica Rooflight" - anyone got any experience of these?

Also, has anyone used "The Cast Rooflight" from Clement Steel Windows(http://www.thecastrooflight.com)? I don't believe it's actually cast (I'm not too worried on this one) - it appears to be similar to The Rooflight Company's product but a bit cheaper. Interestingly the rooflights currently available from the Tuscan Foundry on their website appear to have very similar wording - plagerism or the same product I wonder????

 

[michael]

I believe that Clement windows used to supply the Tuscan Foundry with their cast rooflights and then Tuscan bought the rights to these windows from Clements, which left Clements only producing the pressed steel variety. Unfortunately as explained before, Tuscan, allegedly lost the original casting moulds some while afterwards meaning that they too were only able to produce the pressed steel variety. Yes I think the cast rooflight literature from both Clements and Tuscan is exactly the same i.e same photos etc however Tuscan no longer hand out their cast rooflight brochure unless you are interested in buying the smallest model where they still have a few left in stock.
Clements have now produced a new catalogue with new engineering diagrams of their pressed steel model but I find this very deceiving in that they still call it “the Cast rooflight” and some of the photographs of roof light installations are still showing their old cast model.
I have recently received a very classy catalogue from the Rooflight Company. I must admit that their conservation rooflight looks pretty convincing or are their photographs inaccurate as well?