Perspex Dome Replacement in Richmond

Two new flat glass rooflights side by side on a felt flat roof in Richmond, between yellow brick walls

Where: Richmond, London
The job: Rooflight replacement
Fitted: 2 triple glazed flat glass rooflights
Roof: Flat, felt
Replacing: 2 Perspex roof domes

This flat roof in Richmond had two old Perspex domes, side by side. We removed them both and fitted two triple glazed flat glass rooflights in their place.

The old domes

Both domes had clouded over the years, and each sat on its upstand with a ring of capped fixings around the edge.

An old cloudy Perspex roof dome on a felt flat roof, held down with capped fixings around its edge — The first of the two Perspex domes, clouded with age.

The second cloudy Perspex roof dome on the same flat roof — The second dome, before we took it off.

Upstands and glass

With the domes off, we prepared both upstands for the new glass. Each sealed unit was then bedded down onto its upstand and fixed, one after the other.

One new flat glass rooflight fitted on the flat roof, beside the second timber upstand waiting for its glass — The first rooflight on, with the second upstand ready for its glass.

Finished

The two rooflights now sit side by side where the domes were, with slim dark frames and clear, flat glass in place of the clouded plastic.

If you have old domes or skylights of your own to replace, see our flat glass skylights.

Questions about this job

Can a Perspex dome be replaced with a flat glass rooflight?

Usually, yes. The new rooflight often goes into the same opening, with the upstand adjusted to suit the size of the glass unit. Where the opening is a different size, we trim it and rebuild the upstand to fit.

Why replace an old plastic roof dome?

Plastic domes cloud and turn brittle in sunlight over the years, so they let in less light and look worse every year. A sealed glass unit stays clear, insulates far better and gives a clean, flat look from inside and out.

Is triple glazing worth it in a rooflight?

Glass in a roof loses more heat than the same glass in a wall, so the extra pane makes a real difference. Triple glazing keeps the inner pane warmer, which cuts condensation, and it softens the sound of rain on the glass.