Sun shading for a roof lantern: screen, pleated blind or solar control glass

Sun shading for a roof lantern can go in three places: outside on the glass with a screen, inside below the glass with a pleated blind, or in the glass itself with a solar control coating. Against heat, external shading works best, because the sun is stopped before it passes through the glass. A pleated blind mainly tames glare and overlooking. Solar control glass always works, without any operation. A combination is often the best solution.

Why sun shading for a roof lantern matters

A glass roof catches far more sun in summer than a window in the wall. The sun is high and shines almost straight onto a horizontal or gently sloping glass surface, while it only grazes a vertical window. Facing south and west, the temperature under a roof lantern rises quickly without measures. How this happens is explained in overheating under a roof lantern.

External screen: the most effective against heat

A screen for a roof lantern is a fabric that runs over the glass on the outside, in side guides, usually motorised. The fabric stops the solar heat before it reaches the glass. That is why a screen is the most effective form of sun shading against heat.

Have the screen measured once the roof lantern is in place, so it is made to the actual size. Think in advance about where the cassette goes and about the power supply. More in screen for a roof lantern.

• Keeps heat out before it passes through the glass
• Partial view through remains, depending on the fabric
• Motorised, often with sun and wind sensors
• Visible on the roof and exposed to wind and weather

Internal pleated blind: against glare and overlooking

A pleated blind for a roof lantern is a folded fabric tensioned inside below the glass, in guides or on tension wires, so it stays in place on a slope or horizontally. It softens glare, prevents overlooking from the neighbours' upper windows and looks calm.

Against heat a pleated blind does less: the sun has already passed through the glass and the heat stays inside, between fabric and glass. A double honeycomb pleated blind does insulate a little, which helps in winter. See pleated blind for a roof lantern.

Solar control glass: always on, no operation

Solar control glass is insulated glazing with a coating that reflects a large share of the solar heat while most daylight passes through. Ordinary HR++ glazing lets through roughly 60 percent of the solar energy; solar control glass can reduce that to around 30 to 40 percent, depending on the coating. It works all year, with no motor, fabric or maintenance.

The downside: it also reduces free solar heat in winter and can have a slight tint. So choose it mainly for south and west. At DagLichtDesign you choose it directly when ordering, see solar control glass for a roof lantern.

Which sun shading suits your roof lantern?

The orientation and the use of the room determine the choice. Decide on the glass before you order, because a coating cannot be added later. A screen or pleated blind can still be added afterwards. If in doubt, call us via advice and service.

• South or west above a living room: solar glass, possibly a screen
• Lots of overlooking from neighbours: internal pleated blind
• As cool as possible in summer: external screen
• North or east: often no sun shading needed

Frequently asked questions