Author: Will

Skylights or Sun Tunnels

Transform your home with Skylights (roof windows) or Sun Tunnels

Adding windows or tunnels to the roof of your home will add fresh air and natural daylight to your living space and improve indoor climate and ventilation.

Adding a Skylights to your roof will allow a lot more sunlight into your home, naturally reducing the need for artificial lightly holding benefits of reducing electricity bills and creating a natural setting.

There are a variety of Skylights & Sun Tunnels on the market and those which can open will allow fresh air flow, naturally helping ventilation and air quality within your home. Particularly useful in kitchens and bathrooms. Improving ventilation will also contribute to a better temperature control, opening during summer and allowing light to heat the room during winter.

Why is roof ventilation important? This will prolong the life of your building, saving costly repairs due to mould, rot or damp which will occur with the absence of adequate ventilation. Average household routines can create up to14 litres of water vapour within 24 hours, this can cause a significant growth of mould in a short period time if not ventilated sufficiently.

Skylight vs Sun Tunnel

Skylights are available in larger sizes than what Sun Tunnels are, however, Sun Tunnels have a much smaller footprint so can bring light into a space that a larger Skylight cannot be accommodated.

Skylights offer direct access to sunlight through a window in the roof therefore, letting in much more natural light than a Sun Tunnel. Whereas a Sun Tunnel is made up of an acrylic dome, on the end of a pre-fabricated tube with a light diffuser on the other end (magnifying the light and sending into down the tube into the diffuser).

Skylight will require more construction work (internal and external) than what a Sun Tunnel would, therefore the cost will be reflected in this.

A popular supplier of Skyights and Sun Tunnels used across Bath and surrounding areas are Velux.

If you are considering the installation of a Skylight or Sun Tunnel please arrange an appointment with one of our experts for a consultation.

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📧 roofing@noadroofing.co.uk

🏠 Bolwell buildings, 1 Claverton Street, Widcombe, BA2 4LE

SOLAR ENERGY

Solar panels capture the suns energy and convert it into electricity in your home. Installing solar panels allows you to use renewable energy, clean electricity to power applications and sell/store electricity.

How does it work?

Solar energy is absorbed by individual PV cells within a solar panel, made from layers of semi conducting material. These PV cells produce electrical charge as they are energised by sunlight. This electrical charge creates a direct current of electricity, which passes through an inverter to create alternating current electricity to run your household appliances.

Did you know?

Solar energy can still work on cloudy days and do not require direct sunlight.

FAQ

Do I have enough space?

Is my roof facing the right way?

Do I need permission to install the solar pv system?

Where can I install the solar panels?

Can I put solar panels on a flat roof?

How many solar panels do I need?

 

Speak to our experts to discuss your solar energy needs, and work with ourselves and our partnering businesses to carry out a detailed quotation and professional installation. We can also work collaboratively with any chosen installer of solar energy of your choice.

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📧 roofing@noadroofing.co.uk

🏠 Bolwell buildings, 1 Claverton Street, Widcombe, BA2 4LE

Health and Safety on the roof

The law says you must organise and plan all roof work so it is carried out safely.

All works on roofs’ are highly dangerous, even if the job only takes a few minutes. Therefore, we must take health and safety seriously and control risks sufficiently for our staff members and customers. Your roofing operative must be trained and competent.

A risk assessment and method statement is the common way to help manage work on roofs and communicate the precautions to those involved.

The key areas for consideration with roof works are; safe access to the roof, roof edges and openings and fragile surfaces.

Many accidents can be avoided if the most suitable equipment is used and the individuals doing the work are given adequate information, instruction, training and supervision.

Noad Roofing pride ourselves in the safety of our staff members and customers.

Our staff members have completed their health and safety training in:

First aid and fire

Manual handling

Health and Safety Awareness

Asbestos awareness and Cat B Asbestos including face fit testing

Working at heights

Abrasive wheel

Roof Tiles

Your roof tiles are a great way to customize a home and they can vary in budget, weight and appearance. Below is a breakdown of the most popular roof tiles installed across Bath so you can have a great understanding of what sets each material apart.

SLATE

A natural stone, with unique appearance. Can provide dramatic colour variations that only mother nature can product. This is a fire resistant roofing material which is durable and long landing. One of the classiest roofing materials on offer, however this can be a costly solution to roof tiles. Slate is extremely heavy and requires sufficient roof structure to support its use as well as an experienced installer. See our post on July 2024 for a breakdown on alternatives to natural slate.

CLAY

This material has always been readily accessible. They were shaped by hand, sundried and then used on the roof. Nowadays the process the process is machine driven but the finishing product is just as beautiful. They usually come in a barrel shape tile or flat rile shape and a variation of colours to your preference, and sealing to resist absorbing water. Clay tiles are heavy, and require installers with experience. As with slate tiles, due to their weight you will require sufficient roof structure to support their use.

CONCRETE

Concrete roof tiles are one of the least expensive options on the market and maintain a modern look with a variation of colours available and a long life span (50-100 years). They are made to look like wood shakes and are very attractive. Concrete tiles are also heavy so require sufficient structure to support their use. The come in a variety of shapes including,  flat, barrel, interlocking, French, Spanish, and mission or double Roman.

Slate Roofing

Contact our specialist installers to discuss your Slate Roofing projects. Noad Roofing Ltd are experienced installers of Slate roofs’, most commonly natural slate across the beautiful City of Bath. 

 

There are many unique types of Roofing Slate, just a few:

 

Natural Slate

Fine grained foliated natural slate easily splits into thin slab, making it an attractive roofing product. Homeowner and architects value Natural slate as it comes in many colours and textures, and when well maintained, provides fire, pest and moisture resistance. High cost of materials and installation can deter from using natural slate and other type of roofing slate may then be explored.

Fibre Cement Slate

Manufacturers use sand, cellulose fibres and cement to produce this type of slate. A A cheaper alternative to natural slate in a variety of colours and formats. Fibre cement slates are water, fire and insect resistant.

Concrete slate

A cheaper alternative to natural slate manufactured with cement, sand, water and oxide. Energy efficient, permitting air to circulate under and through the roof, decreasing heat transfer. When installed professionally can withstand severe weather and impact for a life span of 50 years. Requires routine inspection and maintenance.

Composite slate

Lightweight, do not require additional structural support. Durable against UV rays, moisture, foot traffic, temperature shifts and impact. Limited breaking, cracking, denting and shrinking, less maintenance and repair costs. An elegant, beautiful colour for its lifetime.

Bituminous Slate

Manufactured using bitumen. For homeowners looking for an inexpensive way to achieve a slate design.  Bituminous slate will overtime dimmish its integrity and life span through exposure to wind, rain and changing temperature.

Felt roof covering

The majority of roof structures are underlaid with felt as a second line defence in the event of water ingress. The felt channels the water down the felt and into the gutters in the event it gets under the tiles.

Over years where edges are exposed the felt begins to perish and will require replacement, usually at the bottom layer (felt bottoms).

Overtime you will find the entire covering is beginning to degrade and breakdown, particular in those older properties with bituminous felt.

Patch repair? Whist patch repairs might provide a temporary solution this is unlikely to fix your ongoing issues and is likely to be an expensive means to an end, considering the majority of properties will require scaffolding to be erected to carry out such repairs each time.

If this repair is not carried out, then your roof timbers could be at risk of rot and decay.

Our specialists can carry out a roof survey to advise on the quality of your felt covering and whether any imminent action is likely to be required.