Gable or hipped roof lantern: which suits your room?

The gable: two surfaces and a ridge

A gable roof lantern has the classic shape of a roof with two sloping surfaces. As standard it goes up to 6 metres long and 4 metres wide per roof surface, and larger is possible modularly. It can be symmetrical, or asymmetrical if the room calls for it.

Water runs through a self-cleaning drainage system in the bottom rails to the existing gutter or downpipe. Prices start at €2,399.

• Up to 6 m long and 4 m wide per roof surface
• Symmetrical or asymmetrical
• Self-cleaning drainage in the bottom rails
• From €2,399

The hipped roof: four surfaces, light from every side

A hipped roof lantern has four surfaces sloping all round. Light therefore enters from every side. As standard that goes up to 9 m² of glass in one piece. Larger is possible with segmentation and concealed bars.

The standard pitch is 8°. Drainage is concealed in the bars and hip profiles. The hipped version suits a large extension, an open kitchen, a studio or a practice room. Prices start at €3,481.

• Daylight from every side
• Up to 9 m² of glass in one piece
• Drainage concealed in bars and hip profiles
• From €3,481

Gable or hipped roof lantern: the shape of the room counts

An elongated room, such as a deep extension or a kitchen along the wall, suits a gable well. The ridge follows the length and light falls evenly along the whole strip. A wider, squarer room, such as a large extension, a studio or a practice room, gets light all round under a hipped roof lantern.

Your budget matters too: a hipped roof lantern has more surfaces and hip profiles, and therefore a higher starting price. With large sizes, the layout of the glass also plays a role: read with or without an intermediate bar.

Drainage and maintenance

With both types, water runs to the existing gutter or downpipe. On the gable it goes through the self-cleaning bottom rails, on the hipped version concealed through the bars and hip profiles. With the standard pitch of 8°, water runs off quickly, which saves cleaning. Tips are in maintaining and cleaning a roof lantern.

Frequently asked questions