NEWS

Improving the air quality of your home

July 19th, 2018

The level of pollutants and allergens in our homes is increasing, with a long list of factors contributing to the problem, including cooking and heating appliances, paints, solvents, carpets, furniture, cleaning products, electrical appliances, toiletries and pets.

It is commonly accepted that outdoor air pollution is harmful to human health and we know to avoid breathing in toxic car fumes or smoke emitted by industry. However, how many of us are aware that the air we breathe indoors has the potential to be just as harmful? According to the British Lung Foundation, in the UK, we spend about 90% of our time indoors. As modern homes are becoming more energy efficient and securely built, it is often these airtight environments which are increasingly a cause for concern as they trap the allergens and toxins inside.

Fresh air can boost energy levels, aid better sleep, brighten your mood and increase overall health and wellbeing, so what better way to let it in and help in the fight against indoor air pollution than installing a rooflight in your property?

Exterior shot of rooflights on slate roof

Better air circulation

Installing a rooflight in the rooms that you use most often will not only introduce natural light into a space, but, if it is an opening rooflight, the fresh air that will be introduced will obviously also be a huge benefit. Opening rooflights contribute to better ventilation in a building by removing excess heat, moisture, odours and pollutants.

Most rooflights are positioned at high points in a building, for example in a loft or in the roof of a kitchen extension. As the hot, musty air rises and escapes through a rooflight, fresh air is drawn in. It is this system of air circulation that is most successful in combatting the air pollution in a building.

Most Clement rooflights are top hung, meaning that they are hinged and open from the top. Our rooflights come with different opening options, such as a standard manual opener, or pole winders and winding cranks to help you stretch to those harder to reach spots, and electrical openers are available too. Please speak to a member of our sales team for further information.

Fight condensation

The use of modern technologies to heat our homes and stop draughts sometimes results in condensation, leading to a build up of damp and mould which is bad for human health. Firstly, make sure that your rooflight is installed properly, as a poorly installed rooflight will result in air leakage and condensation.

Opening your rooflights often will also result in better air circulation and prevent the formation of mould spores. By keeping your blinds open you will encourage the warm air to come into regular contact with the colder glass of your rooflight, meaning condensation is less likely to occur.

Bringing the outside in

Installing large amounts of glazing through the use of rooflights and other doors and windows won’t blur the boundaries of what is outside and what is inside, but views of the outside are proven to improve wellbeing and may even remind you to fling open the windows and doors to enjoy more fresh air! Adding potted plants to your scheme will also help to purify the air in your indoor environment.

Steel framed rooflights, such as those manufactured by Clement, come with slender frames which allow a larger glazed area. As modern reproductions of Victorian originals, our Conservation Rooflights come with a glazing bar down the middle of the window, although our bespoke rooflights can be manufactured without this if required.

Conservation Rooflight

Remove barriers

Once your rooflight is installed, try to avoid obstructing the movement of the air with drapes or curtains, where possible, or by placing heavy furniture near the windows as this can also disrupt the air flow. Luckily, Clement rooflights look so good they don’t need to be adorned in any way, so you can leave them as they are and improve the quality and circulation of the air in your building at the same time!

The right fit

Purchasing a high quality rooflight and above all, ensuring that it is fitted correctly, will mean that the air circulation system referred to above will operate correctly.

All Clement rooflights are premium products and, when you purchase one of our rooflights, you will be issued with a full installation guide. However, we recommend that a certified builder or surveyor is consulted prior to appointing a roofing expert to complete the installation.

If you have any questions about our rooflights, get in touch with a member of the team today and we will be happy to help.

Interior shot of light flooding into a room through the roofight

Photography by Paul Ecclestone at Arthouse Limited ©