Hipped roof lantern on an extension: daylight from every angle

When should you choose a hipped roof lantern on an extension?

A hipped roof lantern stands free in the roof, with a slope on all four sides. Light therefore falls all around the room, not just to one side. On an extension 6 metres wide and 4 metres deep it becomes the centrepiece, for example above a long dining table.

There is one trade-off that is often missed. Because a hipped lantern needs an upstand all round, it cannot sit tight against the old rear wall. That is usually exactly where it is darkest. If you mainly need light at the transition to the old house, a lean-to or wall-abutting lean-to against the wall works better. The difference with two slopes is explained in gable or hipped roof lantern.

• Large, wide extension with a clear centrepiece
• Light from every angle, no dark side
• Cannot be placed tight against the old rear wall
• Less suitable on an extension under about 3 metres deep

What size and pitch does a hipped lantern on an extension have?

As standard a hipped lantern takes up to 9 m² of glass in one piece, for example 3 by 3 metres or 2.5 by 3.6 metres. Larger is possible with segmentation and concealed mullions. Keep at least half a metre of solid roof around the lantern for finishing and lighting.

The hipped lantern has a standard pitch of 8°. On a lantern 3 metres wide, the top therefore rises only about 0.2 metres above the upstand. That keeps the total height of the extension low.

Connection and drainage without visible gutters

On a hipped lantern the drainage is concealed in the mullions and hip profiles. So no gutters hang on the lantern itself. The water lands on the flat roof and runs along the fall to the existing outlet. The upstand all round is taken into the roof covering, whether EPDM or bitumen. Read more about the upstand of a roof lantern.

A hipped roof lantern has no moving parts. If you want to air the extension well, plan it through windows, doors or a vent in the wall. That way the lantern stays one sealed, calm whole.

Glass, delivery and installation

HR++ double glazing is standard, triple glazing optional. On a south-facing hipped lantern, solar control glass is worth considering, because you have glass in every direction. Delivery is from 2 weeks after approval, up to 8 weeks for complex bespoke work. Your builder installs it with the manual, which also includes the safety instructions for lifting. For an estimate of the whole project, see the cost of an extension with a roof lantern.

• Width and depth of the extension and the preferred position
• Preferred glass size or maximum height of the lantern
• Frame colour inside and out, bicolour possible
• Roof covering and orientation to the sun

Frequently asked questions