Obscure glass in a roof lantern: clear or obscure?

Obscure glass in a roof lantern or clear glass

Clear glass lets through light and view. You see the sky, the clouds and sometimes the stars at night. Obscure glass also lets through a lot of light, but diffuses it. From outside you cannot see in, and from inside you only see a bright surface.

At DagLichtDesign you choose between clear, obscure and solar control glass for each roof lantern. HR++ is standard, triple glazing is an option. Obscure and solar control are separate choices, each with its own purpose. Discuss in your request which combination suits your situation.

Obscure glass for privacy

A roof lantern looks upwards, so privacy seems like a non-issue. Yet it can be. In a terraced house or in town, upstairs neighbours sometimes look straight down onto your extension. With a roof lantern against a terraced house, the neighbours' windows are often just above your roof.

On a roof extension next to a taller neighbouring building, obscure glass can also be the answer. In a bathroom, toilet or dressing room, it is the obvious choice.

• Bathroom, toilet or dressing room
• Extension overlooked by upstairs neighbours
• Roof extension next to a taller building
• Practice room where privacy matters

Soft, even light

Obscure glass has a second advantage: diffused light. Under clear glass, direct sunlight falls as a sharp patch on the floor, with hard shadows. Under obscure glass, the light is spread across the room. That means less glare and a calmer look, which is pleasant in a workspace or studio.

If you want to make a dark living room lighter, obscure glass works just as well as clear glass for getting light deep into the room. You only miss the view outside. Note: obscure glass is not shading. It diffuses the light, but does not automatically keep solar heat out. That is what solar control glass is for.

Safety and maintenance

Obscure glass in a roof is also safety glass to NEN standard, so it holds together if it breaks. Read more under safety glass and laminated glass. Cleaning follows the same rules as clear glass: lukewarm water, a soft cloth and no abrasive products. More tips under maintaining and cleaning a roof lantern.

Frequently asked questions