One of the questions we often get asked by our customers is: “what is the differe

nce between a skylight and a rooflight?” And what better way to answer than in a blog post for all to see.

Now, you can be forgiven for wondering if there’s a difference between a skylight and a rooflight. That’s because both of these terms are often used interchangeably across the Internet. As a result, different people have come to use different terms for what is, essentially, the same product.

Regardless of whether you call it a ‘skylight’ or a ‘rooflight’, the bottom line is that it’s ultimately designed to achieve the same purpose: maximise the amount of natural light entering a home or property (and ventilation too, if you’re talking about rooflights that open).

But whilst there’s essentially no difference between a skylight and a rooflight, the same cannot be said for roof windows. Confused? Don’t worry, we’re about to shed some light on the subject (pun intended).

Why roof windows are not the same as skylights and rooflights

Skylights and rooflights should never be confused with roof windows. That’s because whilst they are all very similar, there is actually a difference when it comes to form and function.

For a start, roof windows fall under British Standards regulation BS EN 14351-1:2010, which stipulates that roof windows must be fitted in the same orientation and ‘in plane’ with the surrounding roof, typically at a minimum pitch of 15-degrees.

Roof windows must be CE marked before they can be sold, meaning manufacturers must be able to provide a declaration of performance (DOP) to customers outlining how their units perform under rigorous test conditions.

Furthermore, roof windows are often seen as ‘off-the-shelf’ products compared to skylights and rooflights. That’s because they are usually only available in standardised sizes, shapes and specifications.