Explore roof light and roof lantern systems for trade installers. Discover performance, fitting tips, and The Trade Village’s glazed roof range.
What You’ll Learn:
- The core differences between a roof light and a roof lantern
- How to choose the right roof light or roof lantern for each project
- The best trade systems for aluminium roof light and roof lantern install
- Why offering both roof lights and roof lanterns grows profit and customer appeal
(Estimated Reading Time: 4-5 Minutes)
Why Roof Lights & Lanterns Deserve a Place in Your Offering
You already fit windows, doors, bifolds, sliding systems etc. But glazed roofs — roof lights and roof lanterns — serve a different but complementary market. They:
- Make dramatic visual impact (sky above, natural light flooding)
- Solve design problems: dark corridors, single-storey rear extensions, island kitchens
- Help clients justify premium spend (glass is premium)
- Let you upsell from a standard side-glazed room to “make the ceiling transparent”
Because The Trade Village now carries a range of glazed roof products (roof lights, lanterns, flat glass systems) under a dedicated “Glazed Roofs” category, you can quote, supply, and install these with the same trade backing you use for windows and doors.
What Are Roof Lights, Roof Lanterns & Skylights?
To speak confidently to clients, and to avoid confusion, your definitions matter.
- Roof Light / Rooflight usually refers to a glazed unit set into an existing or new flat roof, often low-profile, minimal upstand, acting like a “window in the roof.”
- Roof Lantern is a more architectural structure: a raised glazed roof element (pyramid, square, multi-faceted) that projects above the flat roof, sometimes with its own frame, rafters, and glazing bars.
- Skylight is a broader term that can cover pitched or flat glazed roof units; for our purposes, we’ll use rooflight and lantern.
Roof lanterns are effectively stylised rooflights with more structural expression and often used in orangeries or spaces where the roof itself becomes a feature.
Trade Village’s Glazed Roofs Range (What’s On Offer)
Let me walk you through the main glazed roof products TTV currently promotes, and what’s exciting about them:
Atlas Flat Rooflight
- What it is: A premium, low-profile flat roof light with a fully thermally broken aluminium frame and slim internal sightlines for a clean, modern look.
- Why installers like it: Pre-glazed for quick fitting, hidden fixings, neat plasterboard pocket for a flush ceiling finish, and straightforward weather detailing.
- Performance: Thermally broken frame, high-performance glazing (self-cleaning/solar), strong weather seals; compliant with 2022 Building Regulations.
- Sizes & options: Bespoke to the millimetre; standard and large spans available; square or rectangular footprints to suit most flat roofs.
- Lead times: Fast—stock colours on ~5 working day turnaround for common sizes.
- Good upsells: Solar control or self-cleaning glass, laminated inner panes, dual-colour frames.
Korniche Flat Glass Roof Light
- Good upsells: Triple glazing for lower U-values, solar/tinted glass, marine-grade finishes for coastal sites, laminated security glass.
- What it is: A next-gen flat glass roof light focused on speed of install and lifecycle ease, with a sleek, minimal frame.
- Why installers like it: Re-glazeable design (rare in the category), intuitive assembly, consistent tolerances, and PAS24 security as standard.
- Performance: Thermally broken system with double or triple glazing options; robust seals for year-round comfort and condensation control.
- Sizes & options: Spans up to 3m lengths supported; square/rectangular formats; bespoke colours alongside popular stock finishes.
- Lead times: Competitive trade lead times with dependable scheduling.
Atlas Roof Lanterns
- What it is: Premium aluminium lantern with ultra-slim rafters and a clean ridge line for maximum daylight.
- Why installers like it: Pre-fabricated for quick builds, neat internal plasterboard pocket, tidy trims, reliable weathering.
- Performance: Thermally broken profiles, low U-value glass options, strong wind/snow load ratings.
- Sizes & options: Bespoke to the millimetre; square, rectangle, and Atlas Square Lantern format.
- Lead times: Stock colours on fast turnarounds for common sizes.
- Good upsells: Solar control / self-cleaning glass, dual-colour frames, integrated blinds (where specified).
Korniche Roof Lantern
- What it is: Installer-favourite aluminium lantern known for speed of install and crisp sightlines.
- Why installers like it: Intuitive assembly, excellent fit-and-finish, consistent tolerances that reduce snagging.
- Performance: Thermally broken system with strong thermal glass choices; PAS24 options typically available on the range.
- Sizes & options: Broad span capability for kitchens/orangeries; popular stock colours plus bespoke RAL.
- Lead times: Competitive — strong for trade scheduling.
- Good upsells: Triple glazing for U-value wins, bespoke colours, coastal/marine finish upgrades.
Key Decision Factors: What You Must Consider (Installer, Customer & Profit View)
When proposing roof glazing, you can’t wing it. Here are the big levers to weigh in your quotes and your pitch.
The Fitter’s Angle (Installation Realities)
- Upstand / upstand height: higher upstands give better waterproofing, lower ones look better — pick systems that balance both.
- Pre-glazed / factory glazed: reduces site glazing time and risk. Atlas comes pre-glazed.
- Ease of re-glazing / maintenance: Korniche’s re-glazeable claim is important — means future glass replacement can be easier.
- Weight and structure: glazed roof sections can be heavy. Lanterns require structural strength (rafters, support).
- Sealing and drainage: such installations must manage water run-off smartly so leaks don’t kill your reputation.
- Thermal breaks and condensation control: proper aluminium systems must have thermal breaks and condensation paths built in.
Customer Satisfaction
- Natural daylight and visual wow: when the client looks up and sees sky, that’s a strong emotional reward.
- Thermal comfort and regulation: clients expect these glass roofs to perform in cold and heat, not turn the room into an oven or cold trap.
- Low maintenance and durability: homeowners want something they set and forget.
- Design match: whether lanterns, slim rooflights, or bespoke shapes, matching the style of the home is a sell.
The Money Maker (Margin & Upsell)
- Roof glazing is a premium item — big ticket, high perceived value.
- Upsell glazing options: solar control glass, triple glazing, self-cleaning glass, variable opacity or shading systems.
- Bundle with roof lanterns, bifolds, skylights, internal joinery to grow the order size.
- For projects where clients already budgeted for a ceiling feature, you can pitch “let’s see the sky instead.”
- Using fast-turn products (like Atlas 5-day stock) lets you move faster, less holding cost.
Roof Light vs Lantern Features
| Factor | Roof Light (Flat / Minimal Upstand) | Roof Lantern / Raised Structure |
| Visibility of sky | Excellent — minimal frame overhead | Excellent + architectural expression |
| Structural demand | Lower — lighter load, fewer rafters needed | Higher — needs ridges/rafters, bracing |
| Cost | Lower per m² (less frame, simpler install) | Higher (more frame, complexity) |
| Lead time | Usually faster / simpler | Slightly longer due to complex fabrication |
| Maintenance / re-glazing | Simpler glass replacement gives advantage | More complex, though design can include maintenance access |
| Thermal control | Must have proper thermal breaks, insulation around frame | Similar needs but more exposure to solar gain |
Final Thoughts: Roof Lights & Roof Lanterns for Trade Wins
Roof glazing is a high-impact, high-margin category — and offering both roof lights and roof lanterns lets you meet almost any brief.
- Reach for flat roof lights when the spec calls for a clean, low-profile finish with straightforward fitting, fast lead times, and easy re-glazing.
- Propose roof lanterns when the client wants architectural presence, a brighter feel, and a hero feature above an island or dining space.
From an installer’s perspective, the Atlas and Korniche ranges give you:
- Speed on site (pre-fabricated/installer-friendly designs)
- Reliable performance (proper thermal breaks, proven weathering)
- Confident upsells (solar/self-cleaning/triple glazing, colours, blinds)
The Trade Village backs that with live trade pricing, spec guidance, and UK-wide delivery, so you can quote quickly, fit cleanly, and move on to the next job. Add glazed roofs to every relevant window/door quote — you’ll lift project value, boost client satisfaction, and grow profit without adding complexity.
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