Roof Lanterns

Why choose an Akeley roof lantern?

A roof lantern should look as though it belongs to the building, not as though a standard unit has been dropped onto the roof. We design every Akeley lantern around the finished upstand dimensions, the proportions of the room, the preferred bay layout and any opening vents or decorative details.

Design and manufacture stay under one roof. Our team develops the lantern in CAD, machines the components accurately in our workshop near Milton Keynes and completes the product with skilled hardwood joinery. That gives us control over the details and gives you a direct route back to the people actually making the product.

A hardwood interior, protected externally

Our roof lantern system gives you the warmth and character of hardwood internally with powder-coated aluminium capping externally. The result is a traditional timber appearance from inside the room with a durable external weathering detail over the glazing bars.

Choose the timber that suits the project

We manufacture roof lanterns in sapele, oak or Accoya. Sapele is our standard hardwood and gives a stable, high-quality base for painted finishes. Oak is available where the grain and natural character are an important part of the design. Accoya is available as a high-performance modified timber option where its durability and stability are preferred.

Made to measure — not made to fit a catalogue

Your lantern is designed to the finished external upstand dimensions. We consider pitch, ridge length, bay spacing, symmetry and vent positions together. Where the opening has not yet been built, we can often recommend small adjustments to the upstand dimensions to achieve cleaner and more even rafter spacing.

High-performance roof glass

Glazing has a major effect on comfort, appearance and maintenance. We can discuss the full current TuffX Ambience conservatory and roof-glass range, including options for solar control, neutral or coloured tints, glare reduction, improved insulation, privacy and self-cleaning performance. The appropriate specification is selected around pane size, orientation and how the room will be used.

Typical specifications can include toughened safety glass, Low-E coatings, argon-filled cavities, warm-edge spacers, solar-control coatings and self-cleaning outer panes. Enhanced thermal and specialist glazing options can be considered where required.

Opening vents and ventilation

Manual or electrically operated opening vents can be designed into suitable lanterns. Vent position and size are coordinated with the bay layout so the finished roof remains balanced. Electric vent arrangements can also be specified with suitable controls and sensors.

Architectural details

• Finials, pendants and decorative bosses where the design suits them

• Internal cornice or panelling options for a more finished ceiling transition

• Plant-on glazing bars and other glazing details where appropriate

• A wide choice of paint colours and natural timber stain finishes

• Powder-coated external aluminium caps in complementary colours

• Made-to-measure bay layouts designed around proportion and symmetry

Colour and finishing

We use Teknos water-based coatings and can match a very wide range of opaque colours, including RAL, Farrow & Ball and Dulux references. Natural timber stain finishes are also available where appropriate. If you are trying to coordinate the lantern with existing windows, doors or kitchen finishes, send us the colour reference and we can advise.

Energy efficiency

A roof lantern is a large glazed element, so the complete specification matters. We combine insulated glazing with careful timber detailing and warm-edge spacer options, and can offer upgraded glass specifications where lower centre-pane U-values or stronger solar control are required.

Supplied nationwide

We manufacture near Milton Keynes and supply projects throughout the UK. Roof lanterns are frequently supplied direct to homeowners, builders, developers and trade customers. We coordinate delivery around the product size and your project programme.

Why our manufacturing approach matters

• Designed specifically for your project rather than selected from fixed standard sizes

• 3D CAD used to resolve proportions and details before manufacture

• CNC machining for repeatable accuracy, completed with traditional bench joinery

• Sapele, oak and Accoya available

• Broad choice of specialist roof-glass specifications

• Direct access to the team designing and manufacturing your lantern

• Nationwide supply from our workshop near Milton Keynes

• 10-year structural guarantee, subject to the supplied maintenance guidance

Maintenance advice

Roof lanterns are exposed to rain, airborne dirt and debris, so periodic inspection and cleaning are important. Follow the maintenance guidance supplied with the product and use safe access methods or a suitable professional when exterior cleaning is required. Self-cleaning glass can reduce routine cleaning, but it does not remove the need for inspection and maintenance.

Ironmongery for the wider project

If your project also includes windows or doors, we can offer a broad selection of coordinated ironmongery, including suitable ranges from From The Anvil and Hardwick. This allows the lantern and surrounding joinery to be specified as one considered package.

What we need to quote

Send us the proposed external upstand size, your drawings or a simple sketch, the project postcode and any preferences for pitch, vents, timber, colour or glazing. If the opening has not yet been built, tell us — we may be able to optimise the dimensions for a cleaner bay layout before construction starts.

Send specifications to sales@akeley.co.uk or call 01908 464554.