Choosing velux windows and options

kabayiri

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone had direct experience in choosing velux windows and could offer their views.

Our extension is 8m+ wide and 3m deep, making 2 rooms bigger and longer.

The build includes 4 velux in the cost, but the question is which velux

The more I think the more I am steering towards :-

- a large 1.6m by .96m pair centred above the 2.8m glass door/window section

- reducing the velux pair in the kitchen to one large window (possibly same size)

- selecting the noise insulating dearer glass

- not bothering with electric opening

- choosing electrically operated blackout blinds on all windows. The blinds are a must I feel.

This would be my first experience of Velux windows, so any advice is welcome

MX5huggy

kabayiri wrote: »

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone had direct experience in choosing velux windows and could offer their views.

Our extension is 8m+ wide and 3m deep, making 2 rooms bigger and longer.

The build includes 4 velux in the cost, but the question is which velux

The more I think the more I am steering towards :-

- a large 1.6m by .96m pair centred above the 2.8m glass door/window section

- reducing the velux pair in the kitchen to one large window (possibly same size)

- selecting the noise insulating dearer glass, why? do you live over a flight path? the standard will be as good as your windows.

- not bothering with electric opening, can you reach them? or use a pole?

- choosing electrically operated blackout blinds on all windows. The blinds are a must I feel. standard blinds may be but why blackout? they are normally fitted to bedroom ones so it stays dark in the morning. why electric if you are not electric for opening?

This would be my first experience of Velux windows, so any advice is welcome

So message not in Quotes

Tucker

Have you checked how much glass you are permitted by Building Regs, to make sure you are within the overall limit?

You can only have a total m2 of 25% of your overall new floor space, so 8 x 3 = 24m2 divided by 25% = 6m2 of glass in total, plus any existing you are building over.

Your 2.8m door is going to use close to 5m2, so you won't have much allowance left unless you are building over a decent quantity of glass already in situ!

kabayiri

Thanks guys. I clearly need to think about my options.

Tucker, I will work out what we can have and discuss with the builder as a priority.

Thanks again

MX5huggy

The 25% rule is not set in stone there is an option to get round it, using SAP 2009 to prove that the new extension is more efficient than one built to regs with 25% glazing. It's normally done by just topping up the insulation in the loft or because the boiler is being updated.

Tucker

MX5huggy wrote: »

The 25% rule is not set in stone there is an option to get round it, using SAP 2009 to prove that the new extension is more efficient than one built to regs with 25% glazing. It's normally done by just topping up the insulation in the loft or because the boiler is being updated.

Yes, thats right it can be offset by insulation improvements within the existing build, but as I understood things it requires some sort of energy efficiency survey to show the overall outcome is one of improved heat loss.

Personally I had nowhere to go with this as I had a modern combi, cavity wall insulation and 300mm in the loft, double glazing so I couldn't gain elsewhere for it to be possible.

kabayiri

Based on the 25% rule, and using the existing window size calcs, I have worked out that I can accommodate 4 of the M04 type (980x780mm). These will be sufficient I hope.

Two of the windows will sit as a pair in the kitchen with the twin flashings extra you can specify.

kabayiri

Tucker, I was hoping the sound isolation glazing option would help deaden the sound of rain on the glass in the living room.

I think I will call Velux on Tuesday