Even if you are otherwise quite fearless in all your hobby work: simply cut a hole in the rafter and batten structure of the roof area and install a window – you won't feel a little queasy?
Doesn't have to, we can reassure you: Everything went smoothly with our window installation. We chose a Velux roof window, dealt with the associated installation documents and got to work. We had previously determined the distance between the rafters and selected the window size accordingly, that we only had to cut through one rafter in the area of the installation opening. Across between the two neighboring ones, continuous rafters you have to make a change at the top and bottom, a squared timber in rafter thickness, move in, with which to absorb the static forces. This is best done with heavy-duty angles and nail plates. Also the protruding ends of the roof battens, between which the frame of the window is mounted, is underpinned with a batten of at least 4 x 6 cm thickness.
There is more to installing a roof window, than we can illustrate here, e.g. more detailed information, how the wind protection film is professionally attached or which roof tiles should be shortened when fitting. All of these questions are presented and answered in the assembly instructions in words and pictures. You will also find it described, How to remove the window sash from its hardware. That will be necessary, once you have screwed the frame to the roof battens.
However, it is no longer necessary in most federal states, apply for a permit to install a roof window. It is sufficient to send a written notification to the responsible building that such a loft conversion is not done in the blink of an eye, you probably already thought. The logical workflow has the order planning, insulation, window installation, wall paneling, Installation of the window reveal, floor laying. Of course only, if the attic already has a walkable unfinished floor (Screed, laying plates) is provided.
In the working photos on the right you can see, that the walls must already be covered with panels or plasterboard, before you can provide the window reveal with an inner lining. Velux, one of the manufacturers of roof windows, offers an inner lining kit, which leads to a perfect result, if you follow the installation instructions exactly. We have captured the most important steps for you in pictures.