A skylight needs to suit more than the room below it. The design of the roof can have just as much influence on which product is appropriate and how it should be installed.
Melbourne homes feature a wide variety of roof styles, including corrugated metal roofing, Colorbond and Zincalume steel, low-pitch extensions and contemporary flat roof designs. Understanding what sits above the ceiling is therefore an important starting point when planning a new skylight.
Start With the Roof
Before choosing a skylight, it helps to look at several features of the existing roof.
The roofing material, slope, sheet shape, available space and location of structural elements can all affect the options available. The ceiling below also matters, particularly where a shaft will be needed to bring daylight from the roof into the room.
A skylight that works well on a conventional pitched roof may not necessarily be the right choice for a roof with very little slope. Matching the product to the building from the outset can make the planning and installation process much more straightforward.
Skylights for Metal Roofs
Metal roofing is common across Melbourne, but not every metal roof is constructed in exactly the same way.
Colorbond and Zincalume are widely used steel products, while the sheets themselves can be formed into different roofing shapes, including familiar corrugated designs. These differences need to be taken into account when fitting a skylight into the roof.
Belle offers a range of VELUX skylights in Melbourne, including fixed, manual, electric and solar-powered models. Some VELUX pitched roof products are designed to work with corrugated iron roofing as well as tiled roofs, making them a practical option for many established Melbourne homes.
Belle also manufactures skylights locally. SelectoLite, for example, is suitable for a broad range of roof types and pitches and is available in Colorbond, Zincalume and galvanised finishes.
This gives homeowners options beyond choosing a skylight purely by size or appearance.
Low Pitch Metal Roofs Need Extra Consideration
A metal roof with only a gentle slope needs to be approached differently from a more steeply pitched roof.
The amount of fall can influence which skylight products are suitable and how the installation is detailed. Some skylights intended for pitched roofs have minimum roof angle requirements, so it is important not to assume that the same model can simply be installed on any metal roof.
This is particularly relevant to extensions and renovated areas, where the new section of roof may have a much lower pitch than the original house.
An assessment of the roof can help establish whether a standard skylight will suit the space or whether another product or a more tailored installation will be required.
Choosing a Skylight for a Flat Roof
Flat roofs call for products that have been designed with this type of construction in mind.
Belle Skylights VELUX range includes several velux flat roof skylight options specifically suited to flat and low sloping roofs. These include the FCM fixed skylight, the VCM manual opening skylight and the VCS solar powered opening skylight.
The choice between them largely comes down to what you want from the room.
If additional daylight is the priority and ventilation is already adequate, a fixed skylight may be sufficient. Where fresh air would also be useful, such as in certain kitchens or bathrooms, an opening model may provide an additional benefit.
Flat roof installations may also require a purpose made flashing arrangement rather than the flashing supplied with some pitched roof products. The exact requirements should therefore be established before the skylight is selected and the roof opening is prepared.
When a Custom Skylight May Be a Better Fit
Not every home can be neatly matched to a standard skylight size.
Older properties, architecturally designed homes, renovations and unusual roof layouts can sometimes call for something more specific. Custom skylights can be designed around the dimensions and character of the project rather than requiring the building to accommodate a standard product.
Belle manufactures a range of custom skylight options in Melbourne, including solutions for different roof forms, sizes and daylighting requirements.
A custom option may also be useful where the skylight is intended to become an architectural feature rather than simply a source of additional light.
The Installation Details Still Matter
Selecting the right product is only one part of achieving a successful result.
The skylight needs to become part of the existing roof without interfering with the way the roof is intended to perform. Its position, the surrounding roofing, weatherproofing details and the way the installation meets the internal ceiling all need to work together.
On a metal roof, the shape of the roofing sheets needs to be considered. On a flat roof, the available fall and the position of the skylight become particularly important.
These are good reasons to have the roof assessed as part of the skylight selection process rather than choosing a model based only on an online image or product dimensions.
Don’t Forget the Room Below
While the roof determines what can be installed, the room helps determine what will give the best result.
Think about where additional daylight is needed and whether ventilation would also be useful. A living area may benefit from a larger fixed skylight, while a bathroom or kitchen could benefit from an opening option.
The ceiling configuration also affects the finished result. With a flat ceiling, daylight may travel through a shaft before entering the room. Cathedral or raked ceilings can create a more direct connection between the skylight and the interior.
Finding the Right Solution for Your Melbourne Home
There is no single skylight that suits every metal, low-pitch or flat roof.
The right choice depends on the roof, the room below and what you want the skylight to achieve. Looking at these elements together can help narrow down whether a fixed, opening, flat roof or custom solution is the better fit.
Belle Skylights supplies and installs VELUX, Belray, custom, and Solatube skylights throughout Melbourne. If you are considering a skylight for a metal, Colorbond, Zincalume, low-pitch, or flat roof, contact Belle Skylights on 1300 168 374 to discuss the options for your property.
