Roof windows on Downs villas
Large villa roofs have plenty of slope to place a window on, but the roof is also exposed to wind, so flashing and fixing need to be done properly. A poorly sealed window on an exposed slope will be found out by the first hard storm. You will know what we have found and why before any work is agreed.
Many villas here have had their lofts converted over the years, sometimes decades ago. Old roof windows can be tired, with failing seals or misted glass, and replacing them is often a straightforward swap into the existing opening with a new flashing kit. A proper look at the roof tells you far more than a guess from the ground.
Mature trees close by shade the roof and drop leaves around the window. We position and flash the window so that debris does not lodge against the frame, and we check the surrounding covering because leaks often start there instead of at the glass. A proper look at the roof tells you far more than a guess from the ground.
Roof window work around The Downs
- Installing new roof windows. A new opening is framed, the window fitted with its matching flashing kit, and the inside lined and insulated.
- Replacing old VELUX windows. Tired windows are removed and replaced in the same opening where possible, with a fresh flashing kit suited to the roof.
- Loft conversion windows. Roof windows for converted villa lofts are placed for light and headroom, with rafters trimmed and doubled up as needed.
- Leak tracing around windows. We check the flashing, seals, condensation and surrounding covering before blaming the glass, since that is usually where the fault lies.
- Misted double glazing. When moisture sits between the panes, the sealed unit has failed, and we replace the unit or the whole window.
- Lining and insulation finishing. The inside of the opening is lined and insulated with vapour control, so condensation is reduced and the finish is neat.
How we install a roof window in The Downs
The first visit is about the roof and the room below. We check the rafter spacing, the pitch, the covering and what sits underneath, then confirm on site whether any rafters need trimming and doubling up before we cut. Where there is a choice of approach, we set out the differences in ordinary language.
On a villa the work is usually done from scaffold, and we plan the sequence so the opening is never left exposed. A new opening may need planning or Building Regulations checks — we advise before work starts. We also explain how the flashing kit suits your tiles or slates.
