It is difficult to open/close the sash - is something wrong?

Please check the alignment of the sash in the frame. The sash must be perfectly aligned during installation to ensure a smooth rotation of the sash. Please see the installation instruction for more details.

What type of under-roofing should I use?

Any type may be used but take care that it is not perforated during the course of the installation to ensure a watertight installation.

The distance between the rafters is too wide for the window. What should I do?

In this case, you should frame out around the window by packing out the rafters. If the distance to the frame is still too wide (more than max. 30 mm on either side of the window, horizontal beams should be placed between the rafters - and a vertical rafter should be inserted between the beams.

My sash will not stay - is something wrong?

The sash is only designed to stay in a little less than horizontal position. If your window will not stay at all, you should contact your dealer.

When cleaning the surface of the wood, what type of detergent should I use?

Hot soapy water is good for surface cleaning. Please note, however, that frequent cleaning may increase the need for re-lacquering of the wood.

How do I get rid of snow on the outside pane?

By opening the window, you can brush off the snow. We also recommend that you install a heating element directly under the window, ensuring not only that snow slides off more easily, but also that the risk of condensation on the interior of the pane is minimized. We also highly recommend that you install snow guards outside above the window to avoid the damages of the roof window under the heavy snow load.

Do the hinges need lubrication?

We recommend that you lubricate the hinges from time to time, in order to ensure a smooth rotation of your window.

My pane is broken. What should I do?

Please contact your point of purchase.

How do I clean the outside windowpane?

You clean the outside of the window by rotating the sash through 165 degrees, which gives you easy access to the outside pane. You should make sure to periodically clean the flashing as well for leaves to ensure the free flow of rainwater around the window.

Can I use any type of lacquer for my roof window?

You can use any type of water-based lacquer available on the market. When applying it, ensure that the lacquering is put on evenly.

Do I have to re-lacquer the wood?

We recommend that you re-lacquer the wood annually. However, the need for re-lacquering depends on the humidity of the room in question.

Can a roof window leak?

If correctly installed, using the original waterproof flashing system, your roof window will not leak. For correct installation, please see the Choosing your roof window and flashing sections as well as the installation photos and videos.

Is it necessary to have a heating element near the window?

We recommend that a heating element be placed underneath the window in order to minimise condensation on the pane.

How should I shape the interior finishing around the window?

Over the window, the interior lining should be horizontal (parallel with the floor) whereas it should be vertical below the window (perpendicular to the floor surface). These precautions should be taken to ensure optimum flow of air and maximum light. Be careful that a windowsill placed directly underneath the window does not obstruct the flow of air by leaving an air gap between the sill and the wall. For more information please see the Planning for roof windows section.

How deep should I install the window into the roof?

The pre-grooved frame helps to position the mounting bracket of the frame. The fixed brackets determine the installation depth. For more information please see the installation instruction.

Where should I place the brackets on the window when installing?

Since the frame is pre-grooved, placing of the bracket is obvious. Position the bracket 10cm measured from the corner of the frame. For more information, please see the installation instruction.

The distance between the rafters is too small for the window. What should I do?

You can solve this problem by trimming the rafters in order to create the correct space. Note that rafters should have a distance of max. 30 mm on both sides of the windows.

Is it easy to install a roof window?

Installing a roof window is quick and easy. The window comes with an easy to follow installation instruction. For a step-by-step guide, see the photo-guide or the video on this web site.

Will sunlight make my carpet and curtains fade?

Due to the low-energy glazing unit of the roof window, fading will be negligible. To avoid too much sunlight, we recommend that you check our sun screening products in the “Planning for blinds” section.

Why do the panes of my roof windows fog up on the outside?

Fogging occurs when the air outside condenses when the temperature falls.

There is condensation on the inside of my pane. What should I do?

You should ensure that the room is adequately ventilated. Also, be aware that condensation on the inside of the pane often comes from not having a heat source underneath the window. Furthermore, the interior lining should be horizontal over the window and vertical under the window, thereby ensuring optimum flow of air and maximum light. Please see the “Planning for roof windows” section for more information

There is condensation inside my pane (between glass). What should I do?

There should be no condensation between the two pieces of glass. Please contact you point of purchase to arrange for a replacement.

My window is installed too high and I can't operate the window. What should I do?

If there are electrical openers available on your market, we suggest that you buy one of these. If not we can recommend to buy and opening rod called ZAR 108 or ZAR 112.

My roof window faces south and sometimes lets in too much light. What should I do?

We recommend that buy a blind for sun protection. Please see the Planning for blinds section to get more knowledge of our sun screening products

Has the wood received any treatment?

The wood has been treated with BASE treatment, a basic impregnation of the wood in order to minimize the risk of fungus. Furthermore, the wood has been varnished with BaseFinish, a water-based lacquer, which provides for an aesthetical appearance as well as a more fungus-resistant surface. We highly recommend to apply one more water based lacquering layer after the installation.

What is the life span of a roof window?

A roof window, like most other building materials, has a long life. If normal maintenance is undertaken, the life span may be vastly prolonged. There are many windows which have been made by our group which have been around for 3 or 4 decades.

Something was damaged in the packaging when I opened it. How can I get a replacement?

Please contact your dealer, who will in turn contact us to get the replacement

There was something missing in the packaging. How can I get a spare part?

Please contact your dealer, who will in turn contact us to get the spare part

Can I install two roof windows "back-to-back" on the top of my roof?

No, it is unfortunately not possible to install our roof windows in this way.

Can I install one roof window right above the other?

No, unfortunately we do not have a flashing available with which you can install one window above the other. Instead we can recommend a side-by-side installation.

Can I place two roof windows right next to each other?

In some market you can buy a combi flashing called a UCX, which is designed to allow for side-by-side installations. Please contact your dealer to see if this is available in your area.

What type of wood is the roof window made of?

The roof window is made of kiln-dried Nordic pine wood sourced from sustainable forests.

What is the guarantee on my roof window?

We always offer 10 year guarantee on our windows - on the pane as well as on the entire window. The guarantee is conditional on a correct installation with a compatible flashing.

Can I get different colours of flashings?

No, the flashing is available in umber grey, which is the colour most suitable for all types of roofs. It is also the colour used by most roof window manufacturers in Europe. In some market you can also buy black flashing which is designed for the conservation windows. The covering elements of the conservation windows are also black.

Is it possible to buy a special size of roof window?

In Europe most roof windows are standardised and all these windows fits to all types of roofing constructions. It is therefore not necessary to pay extra to have a special size of roof window.

What kind of sun screening and other accessories are available for my roof window?

You can buy various types of blinds for your roof window. Please see more about this in the Choosing for blinds section.

In some markets you can also buy roller shutters and electrical accessories for your roof window.

Please consult your dealer about this.

I have a counter at the bottom of my window.

Can I still install a roof window?

Yes, but to ensure the best airflow and avoid condensation you should cut a hole in the top right below the window.

You can use a grid to close the hole.

What minimum distance should be kept between two roof windows?

If you are installing individual roof windows you should aim to put two tiles in between, which is approx. 40-60 cm. Alternatively you can buy a combi flashing (UCX). This allows you to install two side-by-side roof windows. Please see more in the Choosing your flashing section.

Can I install a roof window in all types of rooms?

Yes. You can install it in all types of rooms, including living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms. The room must be heated! For rooms with high humidity, ensure adequate ventilation and be prepared to re-lacquer the roof window when needed.

How high should I install the roof window?

You should position the window so that it best meets your needs for having an view of the outside when sitting down while at the same time offering ease of operation. Depending on the roof of the pitch, this is normally between 90 and 130cm. Please see the Planning for roof windows section for more information.

I have no membrane on my roof. Can I install my roof window anyway?

Yes, you can fix the L brackets directly onto the rafters. However, please note that a membrane is highly recommended to protect your interior wall against condensation.

How can I ensure a watertight membrane connection?

Please go into Installation sequences and find the section called Making the frame watertight. Here you can find all about making a watertight membrane connection.

What size roof window should I choose?

That depends on the function and orientation of the room, the size of the floor space, and of course your personal preferences. Generally, we recommend that rooms used during the day should have more light than bedrooms. Furthermore, you should take into consideration that roof pitches facing south generally get more light than those facing north due to the orientation of the sun. As a general rule, you should have combined glazing area of at least 10% of the floor area. Please see the Planning for roof windows section for more information.

Can I use the window with all types of roofing material?

You can use the roof window with the roofing materials most commonly used in Europe, e.g. concrete, ceramics and metal up to 120mm profile height.

What type of flashing should I use?

You should choose the type of flashing which corresponds with the type of roofing material on your roof, i.e. flashing type SFX for flat roofing material up to 16 mm (typically slates), flashing type TFX for roofing material between 16 - 50 mm (typically tiles) and flashing type UF for roofing materials between 16 - 120 mm (monastery tiles). Please see Choosing your flashing for more information.

What is the flashing for and is it necessary?

The flashing is necessary as it ensures a watertight connection with the roof, thereby removing the risk of water penetration. Please see Choosing your flashing for more information.

Is it easy to install a roof window?

Installing a roof window is quick and easy. The window comes with an easy to follow installation instruction. For a step-by-step guide, see the photoguide on www.rooflite.com. You can also download video footage there if you have a suitable Internet connection

My roof pitch is only 20 degrees. Can I install a roof window?

Yes, you can install a roof window on roofs with a pitch of between 15 and 90 degrees for flat roof material (use flashing SFX) and between 20 and 90 degrees for roofs with profiled roofing material (more than 8 mm, use flashing TFX). This covers the vast majority of sloped roofs in Europe.

There is condensation on my pane. What should I do?

You should ensure that the room is adequately ventilated. Also, be aware that condensation on the inside of the pane often comes from not having a heat source underneath the window. Furthermore, the interior lining should be horizontal over the window and vertical under the window, thereby ensuring optimum flow of air and maximum light.