Korniche Roof Lantern in Woking

New dark grey Korniche roof lantern fitted on a flat roof at the back of a brick house in Woking

Where: Woking, Surrey
The job: Roof lantern replacement
Fitted: 1 Korniche aluminium roof lantern
Roof: Flat, felt
Replacing: An old uPVC roof lantern

The flat roof at the back of this Woking home had an old white uPVC roof lantern. We took it out and fitted a new Korniche aluminium roof lantern in its place.

Taking out the old lantern

The old lantern stood on a glazed uPVC base, with white glazing bars rising to a ridge. We stripped out its roof glazing first, then took the frame apart and lifted it off the roof.

The old white uPVC roof lantern on the flat roof, with its roof glazing being stripped out — The old uPVC lantern, partly stripped, with its roof glazing coming out.

The opening and upstand

With the old lantern gone, the opening was framed in timber, with an upstand around it ready for the new lantern.

The empty roof lantern opening on the flat roof, framed in timber with an upstand around it — The opening and its timber upstand, ready for the new lantern.

The new Korniche lantern

The Korniche lantern sits lower on the roof than the old one, with slim dark grey aluminium bars and large panes of glass. The roof covering was made good around its upstand.

The new dark grey Korniche aluminium roof lantern fitted on the flat roof, with sky reflected in its glass — The new Korniche lantern, fitted where the old uPVC one stood.

If your extension has an old lantern of its own, or none yet, see our roof lanterns.

Questions about this job

Can an old uPVC roof lantern be replaced with an aluminium one?

Yes. The new lantern usually goes over the same opening, with the upstand adjusted or rebuilt to suit its size. The roof covering is then made good around the new upstand.

Why choose aluminium over uPVC for a roof lantern?

Aluminium is much stronger, so the glazing bars can be slimmer and the glass larger, which lets in more light. It does not yellow with age, and the powder coated finish comes in a range of colours.

Does replacing a roof lantern need planning permission?

Swapping a lantern for one of a similar size on a house usually does not. Listed buildings and homes in conservation areas have their own rules, so check before work starts, and we will tell you what your job needs when we come to see it.