Velux Solar Window and Light Shaft in Lewisham

A homeowner in Lewisham asked us to solve a common problem in terraced homes: an upstairs hallway with no natural light and no fresh air. Our answer was a Velux solar powered roof window fitted into the pitched roof, paired with a bespoke light shaft built through the loft space, working like a large sun tunnel to carry daylight straight down into the hall below.

Framing the shaft

The first job was structural. With the new Velux window fitted into the roof, we built a timber frame in the loft to form the shaft, linking the window opening at rafter level down to a new opening cut in the hallway ceiling. Everything was levelled and squared so the finished shaft would sit crisp and true when viewed from below.

Timber framing for the light shaft built in the loft, connecting the new Velux roof window to the hallway ceiling opening below — The timber shaft framing taking shape in the loft, linking the new roof window to the ceiling opening below.

Boxing in and boarding

With the frame complete, the shaft was boarded out with plasterboard on the loft side, sealing it off from the rest of the loft space. This keeps the shaft insulated and draught free, and gives the light a clean, enclosed channel to travel down.

The light shaft boxed in with plasterboard inside the loft space — The shaft fully boxed in with plasterboard, seen from inside the loft.

View up through the boarded light shaft to the new Velux roof window and blue sky — Looking up the boarded shaft from the hallway to the new Velux window.

Plastering and finishing

The inside of the shaft and the surrounding ceiling were then plastered for a smooth, seamless finish. Once decorated, the shaft reads as a natural part of the hallway ceiling, with a bright square of sky at the top.

The finished, painted light shaft seen from the stairs, flooding the hallway with natural light — The finished shaft from the stairs. A hallway that had no natural light now has its own patch of sky.

Light and fresh air on demand

Because the new window is a Velux solar powered unit, it is fully motorised with no wiring needed. The homeowner can open it by remote control to ventilate the landing and let warm, stale air escape up the shaft, and the integrated rain sensor closes it automatically if the weather turns. The client has more jobs lined up with us, and we look forward to sharing those here too.

Talk to us about bringing light into your hallway

Frequently asked questions

How does a light shaft bring daylight to a hallway?

A light shaft (sometimes called a sun tunnel) is a boxed, plastered channel built through the loft space, connecting a roof window at the top to a ceiling opening below. Light entering the roof window travels down the shaft and spills into the room underneath, so even a landing or hallway with no outside wall can enjoy genuine natural daylight.

Do Velux solar powered roof windows need mains wiring?

No. Velux solar powered windows run on a rechargeable battery that is topped up by a small photovoltaic panel built into the window itself. There is no cabling to chase through ceilings or walls, which makes them ideal for positions like this one, high above a stairwell where running mains power would be disruptive.

Can a roof window be opened if it sits out of reach?

Yes. Because the window is motorised and remote controlled, it can be opened and closed from the hallway below at the press of a button. The built-in rain sensor closes the window automatically if the weather turns, so it can safely be left open to ventilate the space.

If your landing, hallway or stairwell is stuck in the dark, take a look at our Velux pitched roof windows and sun tunnels, or browse more of our recent installations across London and Surrey.