Answer · VELUX windows
Are There Cheaper Alternatives to VELUX?
The short answer
Yes, there are cheaper alternatives to VELUX, but the saving depends on what you give up. Other makers produce roof windows, and fixed rooflights, sun tunnels and flat rooflights can all bring daylight in for less than an opening pitched roof window. The right choice depends on the spot you want lit, whether the window needs to open and how the roof is built. This answer compares what each option does, and a survey gives you the fixed figure.
Other ways to get daylight into a roof, weighed honestly.
Where the saving actually comes from
When people ask for a cheaper alternative, they usually want to know what makes one rooflight cost more than another. It is worth separating the reasons, because some savings are sensible and some are not.
The size of the opening is the first factor. A larger window costs more to make, and a wider opening needs more structural work in the roof. The second is whether the window opens. A fixed unit has no hinges, no handle and no seals around a moving sash, so it is simpler. The third is the glazing specification, which covers the number of panes, any coating and the extras such as noise reduction. The fourth is the finish, including the lining, flashing and any blind. The last is the amount of work needed around the window, since a window going into an existing opening is quicker to fit than one in a new hole.
A cheaper product can lower the first three. It cannot lower the work of getting a watertight junction with your roof, so the saving is often smaller than people expect.
What brings a rooflight's cost up or down
- Opening or fixedA fixed unit has fewer moving parts than one that opens.
- Size of the unitLarger glass costs more and may need roof structure changed.
- Glazing specificationExtra panes, coatings and noise reduction add to the unit.
- New opening or swapReusing an existing opening takes less roof work.
- Blinds and electricsMotors, sensors and blinds are extras on top of the window.
The alternatives worth considering
Several options sit alongside a branded pitched roof window, and each suits a different spot.
Roof windows from other makers
Other manufacturers make pitched roof windows in a range of sizes. They do the same job, and some are made to be fitted in place of a like-for-like unit. A point to check is how the flashing and frame depth match your roof, since an unfamiliar make may not fit an existing opening neatly. If the aim is to swap one window in a roof that already holds several, a matching unit keeps the look consistent.
Fixed rooflights
A fixed rooflight is glass in a frame that does not open. It suits a stairwell, a hallway or any place where daylight is the aim and fresh air is not. Without the opening mechanism it is a simpler product, and it works well where you cannot reach a handle anyway.
Sun tunnels
A sun tunnel is a small domed cap on the roof with a reflective tube leading down to a diffuser in the ceiling. It brings daylight to a landing, bathroom or internal room where a full window would be out of proportion. It needs far less roof opening than a window, though it does not give a view out. Our page on sun tunnels sets out how they work.
Flat rooflights
Flat roofs take flat rooflights or lanterns, which suit extensions, while a pitched roof window does not apply. If you are choosing between a lantern and several pitched windows for a loft or an extension, see roof lantern or VELUX windows.
What to avoid giving up
A cheaper unit is a poor bargain if it does the wrong job. The common compromises are worth thinking through before you choose.
An opening window replaced by a fixed one saves money, but you lose the ventilation, and a loft room can become stuffy in summer. A smaller window than the room needs leaves the spot dim, so the saving buys little daylight. Glass with a weaker specification may fall short of the thermal limit that applies. Part L gives a replacement roof window a ceiling of 1.4 W/m²K (band B on the energy rating also passes), and a rooflight at 2.2 W/m²K. Any make has to reach those figures, so the figures are checked before anything is ordered.
Installation counts for more than the label on the glass. The flashing, the fixing to the rafters and the weathering of the junction decide whether the window stays dry. A well-fitted window of any make will outlast a poorly fitted one, so a lower price for the unit does not help if the fitting is rushed. If a leak history is behind the question, the leaking window page shows where the water usually gets in.
How we help you choose
We fit a range of roof windows and rooflights, VELUX among them, so the advice follows the spot and the roof rather than one brand. The free survey covers the room, the roof and the place you want lit, and we say which type gets you there. The quote that follows is written with a fixed figure, and our workmanship guarantee runs to 10 years.
Ask for more than one option to be priced and compare them side by side. The main page on VELUX roof windows shows how a standard installation runs. Begin with the survey form, or use WhatsApp, 07880 284133.
Choosing a roof window without the brand name
Will another make fit the hole my old window leaves?
Sometimes. The opening is sized for the old frame, and another maker's frame may differ in width, depth or flashing arrangement. We measure the opening at the survey and say whether a different make fits it as it stands or whether the roof needs adjusting.
Is a fixed rooflight always cheaper than one that opens?
A fixed unit is simpler to make, so it usually costs less than an opening one of the same size. The saving is partly offset by the work of fitting it. You also lose ventilation, which matters in a loft bedroom.
Do cheaper windows still meet Building Regulations?
They have to. A replacement roof window must meet the window limit under Part L, and a rooflight must meet its own limit. Whatever you choose, the installer should confirm the figures before ordering, and notifiable work is handled as part of the job.
Is a sun tunnel a sensible replacement for a window?
It depends on the spot. A sun tunnel suits a landing, bathroom or hallway that needs daylight but not a view or ventilation. It is not a like-for-like swap for a bedroom window, which also needs to open and, in some roofs, serve as an escape route.
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