Issue 47 JUNE - Flipbook - Page 35
Every detail, from the slim glazing bars that echo
19th-century ironwork to the hand-finished putty-effect
silicone, is designed to honour traditional aesthetics while
delivering 21st-century performance.
This is especially evident in The Conservation Rooflight
from the Pitched Roof Collection. The company’s
production team works from architectural drawings and
digital models, considering structural and environmental
performance, planning requirements, ventilation, aesthetics, and heritage detailing. The manufacturing process
begins with frames fabricated from steel, which are then
shot-blasted, primed and powder-coated to exacting
standards.
Projects such as the restoration of the Derby Roundhouse,
where 48 bespoke trapezoidal rooflights were installed,
illustrate the company’s bespoke capabilities. More
recently, The Rooflight Co has contributed to the
conservation of Blenheim Palace and proudly features
The Conservation Rooflight on The Cowshed by Design
Storey, winner of the RIBA South West Conservation
Award 2025. In each case, the approach is consistent: to
collaborate closely with conservation architects, planners
and heritage bodies to deliver rooflight solutions that
respect, enhance and protect the historic fabric of the
building.
Glazing is crafted in-house to ensure every unit meets BSI
Kitemark standards. Each insulated glazing unit is
constructed with a desiccant-filled spacer bar, argon gas
cavity fill, and low-e coatings to optimise thermal
performance. For heritage applications, a hot-melt edge
seal is used; for contemporary installations, a structural
silicone seal is preferred. These choices reflect the
company’s nuanced understanding of the differing
demands across building types and periods.
Precision and Craft
Every rooflight that leaves The Rooflight Co's workshop
in Bourton-on-the-Water bears the hallmark of
craftsmanship. While advanced manufacturing plays an
essential role, from CNC-cutting aluminium extrusions
to powder coating steel frames, the process remains
resolutely human. The company’s philosophy is rooted in
doing things “the right way”, which means hands-on
design, rigorous inspection, and fastidious hand-finishing.
Below, Craftsmanship in action, working on a Conservation Rooflight
At its core, the process goes beyond performance. Each
rooflight must have the visual and tactile finish that you
would expect from such a premium product. Decorative
glazing bars are applied for aesthetic authenticity, both
internally and externally. Each silicone joint is carefully
hand-trimmed to emulate the character of traditional
putty, celebrating the handcrafted nature of every
rooflight.
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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