Mono-pitch roof lantern in the kitchen: above the worktop or island

Where does a mono-pitch roof lantern go in the kitchen?

A kitchen in a rear extension often has a dark worktop on the side of the old house. That is where a mono-pitch roof lantern in the kitchen helps most. If the worktop runs along a wall, lay the lantern parallel to it. Position it so the light falls on the worktop and not behind you, or you will stand in your own shadow.

With a kitchen island, the lantern goes above the island, but not where the cooker hood has to hang. An island hood or ceiling unit needs fixed ceiling space and a duct. So plan the two together. General tips are on roof lanterns for kitchens.

Mono-pitch or hipped lantern above an open kitchen?

A mono-pitch lantern is the logical choice for a kitchen with a worktop along the wall or an island a few metres long. It can be made in one panel up to 5 metres wide, with no bar in your view. The 1, 2 and 3 metre stock sizes fit above most kitchen runs.

Is the kitchen large and open, with the island in the middle? Then a hipped lantern fits better, as it brings in daylight from four sides. See hipped roof lantern in the kitchen.

• Worktop along the wall: lantern parallel to it
• Kitchen island: lantern above it, beside the hood
• Large open kitchen with a central island: hipped lantern
• Up to 5 metres wide without an intermediate bar

How do you prevent condensation and glare in the kitchen?

Cooking and washing up put a lot of water vapour into the air. That vapour condenses first on the coldest surface, which can be the inside of the glass. A good cooker hood and ventilation of the room therefore matter more than the glass itself. Why it happens and what helps is covered in condensation on a roof lantern.

For an open kitchen, HR++ double glazing is more than enough, certainly facing south. If strong sun falls on a glossy worktop, obscured glass gives softer light with fewer hard shadows and reflections. Solar control glass keeps the kitchen cooler if it catches the afternoon sun.

Finishing, delivery and your quote

In a kitchen you see the inside of the lantern every day. Have your builder finish the upstand neatly inside, perhaps with an LED strip for the evening. Ideas are in finishing the inside of a roof lantern. Collection in Barneveld and delivery are both possible. An indication of the total budget is on costs of a roof lantern in the kitchen.

• Kitchen plan with worktop, island and cooker hood
• Dimensions of the roof above the kitchen
• Orientation to the sun and the feel you want
• Frame colour to match the kitchen

Frequently asked questions