Velux rooflight or local window company?

salsadiscodancer

We are building a rear single storey extension and installing a non-opening roof window into the flat roof to provide light. Our builder says the window company he deals with can supply one at 90x120cm for about £400, whereas the Velux fixed rooflight costs about £1,000 from an online supplier. If you buy direct from Velux it's more like £1,500. My husband wants to save the money and go with the local supplier, saying it's a simple product to make. I've looked up the window company who have the usual mix of google reviews, mostly good but the bad ones say no follow up to problems. 
I'm wondering, does £400 sound too cheap and likely a poorer quality product? Or is it just because they're dealing directly with the builder and don't have a big brand name? 
Also I'd like to potentially add a Velux blind later on to reduce the heat, which we couldn't do with the local version. But saving £600 also appeals! 

Grumpy_chap

salsadiscodancer said:

We are building a rear single storey extension and installing a non-opening roof window into the flat roof to provide light. Our builder says the window company he deals with can supply one at 90x120cm for about £400, whereas the Velux fixed rooflight costs about £1,000 from an online supplier. If you buy direct from Velux it's more like £1,500. My husband wants to save the money and go with the local supplier, saying it's a simple product to make. I've looked up the window company who have the usual mix of google reviews, mostly good but the bad ones say no follow up to problems. 
I'm wondering, does £400 sound too cheap and likely a poorer quality product? Or is it just because they're dealing directly with the builder and don't have a big brand name? 
Also I'd like to potentially add a Velux blind later on to reduce the heat, which we couldn't do with the local version. But saving £600 also appeals! 

For a non-opening roof window, it is probably quite simple in so far as it is installed and either leaks (not OK) or doesn't leak (OK) from the outset.  Whether it leaks or not is probably down to the flashing around the window join from the roof - so an installation issue rather than the actual window itself.

We have an actual Velux roof window and the blinds are absolutely fantastic.  Ours is a manual blind and was good value but, if I recall correctly, there is an electric blind version also available.  That might be worth considering if the window is above easy reach and consider getting the electric cabling installed as part of the build even if the actual blind follows later.

If you go for the non-Velux window, what solution will you use for the blind?  How does that solution compare cost-wise?  Consider this as the cost for the window and the blind, not just the window.  Hope that makes sense.

ritz55

We recently had the same fitted by a local company and have had no issues. Due to our size velux wasn’t an option. 2000mm by 1800mm

silvercar

Many companies make blinds to fit your window. I wouldn’t feel obliged to go with velux just because of the window size.

ive recently ordered from blinds2go and they make to measure at reasonable prices.

Albermarle

Maybe worth noting that if you have a Velux window, you can buy either;
Velux blinds from Velux ( most expensive)
Velux blinds from an official distributor ( about 20 % cheaper)
Non Velux blinds ( 20% cheaper again)

In all cases you only need to know the codes for the Velux window you have. No need to measure anything.

HHarry

That seems 3xpensive for a Velux.  This is £470 + £120ish for a flashing.

https://www.roofgiant.com/velux-pitched-roof-windows/velux-polyurethane-centre-pivot-70-pane-roof-window-ggu-pk06-0070-94cm-x-118cm/

salsadiscodancer

HHarry said:

That seems 3xpensive for a Velux.  This is £470 + £120ish for a flashing.

Ah yes, that's not the same kind of window - we're looking at a rooflight for a flat roof, which I think are more expensive. 

gzoom

We had x3 flat rooflights, and multiple manual/powered Velux windows fitted in our build. The largest rooflight is 3x1meters, they were supplied by local windows company, triple glazed and came in far cheaper than Velux ones.

Builder however recommended still going with Velux for the windows as they are very reliable, including the powered one which has build in connectors for powered blinds too. As the builder pointed out for the high roof spaces you really don't want the hassle of installing something cheap which than requires fixing, the Velux ones are pricy but are reliable.

However for a simple flat roof glazing, any decent windows firm should be able to supply/fit at a much cheaper cost than Velux.