01Straight answer
Why an opening rooflight is a modest target
Opening rooflight security comes down to three things: how it locks, how high it sits and how you use it.
A rooflight is above head height and on the roof, so it is harder to reach than a ground floor window. Burglars tend to look for the easy way in, which is a door or a low window, not a climb across tiles. That does not make an opening skylight a fortress, so it is sensible to choose one with proper locking and to use it with a little thought.
We say this plainly and without alarm. A well fitted opening rooflight is a sound part of a house. What matters is that you pick a model with a good lock, sit it where it makes sense and keep to a few habits.
- 1locking point is the minimum on a simple opening skylight, with more on larger units
- 2panes in a double glazed unit, with the option of a laminated inner pane
- 1.7mthe height below which a side facing opening unit must be obscure and fixed for planning
02Locks
Locking, restrictors and vents
The lock is the part that does the work, so it deserves a look at the survey.
Manual opening rooflights come with a handle that locks the sash to the frame. Some allow a small ventilation position, where the sash opens a crack on a restrictor, so you can have fresh air without leaving a gap a person could use. Electric models are held shut by the motor and its drive, and a wall switch or remote controls them, so a stranger on the roof cannot simply lift them.
A lockable handle or key operation adds another layer. If you want the extra step, ask for it at the quote, and tell us who will use the rooflight, because a child or an older person may prefer an electric control to a pole and key.
Manual with a lock
The handle locks the sash, and a ventilation catch holds it slightly open on a restrictor. Keep the key out of sight from the room window.
Electric with a controller
The motor drives it open and shut. Keep the remote with you and the wall switch inside, and a stranger cannot work it from the roof.
03Glass
Laminated inner panes as an option
The glass can be made tougher if that gives you peace of mind, though it is a choice and not a requirement.
Laminated glass is two sheets bonded either side of a clear plastic layer. If it is struck, it cracks but stays held together, rather than falling out in pieces. It is a common choice for the inner pane of a rooflight, because an inner pane that stays in place keeps the opening closed even when the outer pane is damaged, and it also holds together if something heavy lands on it.
Laminated glass is a choice, not something you have to specify. It is good practice over a bed, a staircase or a children's room, and some people choose it just for the extra assurance. It adds a little weight and cost, and it can improve sound dampening, but warm-edge glazing stays our standard whichever way you go. Our page on VELUX laminated glass goes into that choice for that maker's units.
04Everyday habits
Sensible use, day to day
The best lock does little if the rooflight is left wide open and unattended.
- Close and lock the rooflight when you go out, and at night if it is within reach from a flat roof or an extension.
- Use the ventilation catch for air when you are home but not in the room.
- Keep ladders, bins and garden furniture away from the wall below a flat roof, since they act as steps.
- Keep remotes and keys out of sight, and fit a rain sensor so the electric model closes itself in a shower.
- Tell us if a particular rooflight is easy to climb to, and we will discuss the glass and lock choice.
Think about the whole route in, too. A thief wants speed, privacy and cover, and a rooflight over a lit garden or a busy road offers little of the three, and the ladder alone takes time. One hidden behind a high fence is a better candidate for a laminated inner pane and an extra lock. We would rather talk through your own roof than hand you a generic answer, so mention any worries at the survey and we will say what we would choose.
A rooflight over a flat roof extension that backs onto a lane is a different case from one on a steep pitched roof, so we look at the place, not just the product. For the controls themselves, see rain sensors and rooflight controls, and for fresh air, ventilating with opening rooflights.
If you are choosing between a fixed and an opening unit for that reason, read fixed against opening flat rooflights. When you are ready, ask for a free survey and written quote. One team fits it, the work meets current Building Regulations and carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee. The range lives on our electric opening rooflights page.
Can someone get in through it, and will it stay shut in a gale?
Can someone climb in through a rooflight?
It is much harder than through a ground floor window, because of the height and the roof surface. A locked unit with a restrictor and sensible use keeps it a poor choice for a break-in.
Do I need laminated glass in a rooflight?
No, it is not a requirement, but it is a good option above beds and stairs and where you want extra reassurance.
Can I leave an electric rooflight open overnight?
You can use the ventilation position, but we would suggest closing it when the house is empty and keeping the remote with you.
