Your complete guide to centre pivot roof windows

Looking to add a window to an existing room or planning to add a loft conversion or extension to your home? You may want to consider maximising wall space by installing centre pivot roof windows. Centre pivot roof windows are a great option to allow more natural light into your space. They can also help improve air quality and ventilation, making them ideal for loft conversions and kitchen extensions. They can make your room appear more spacious and utilise the often wasted roof space rather than occupying wall space. In this complete guide to centre pivot roof windows, we'll provide all the information you need to choose the right windows for your home. We will explain the best types of glasses for centre pivot windows and help you discover how to measure for first-time installation and replacement windows.

How to choose the right centre pivot roof windows

Centre pivot roof windows are operated from the top of the window, which increases safety and makes the window easier to open – even if there’s furniture underneath. This type of roof window also provides excellent views, whether standing or sitting, making it a popular choice with Roof Windows 4 You customers.

The style, finish and size of your centre pivot roof windows will largely depend on your preferences and the needs of your space. At RW4Y, our range of Fakro centre pivot roof windows are available in a range of finishes, including any external RAL colour. So, you’re sure to find your perfect style that matches your property’s interior and exterior aesthetic.

You’ll also need to factor in how you use the room, such as whether it’s a bedroom, an office or a kitchen. Consider the ventilation requirements and size of the room to ensure you install the right number of windows to allow maximum natural daylight to flow through your home.

The best types of glass for centre pivot roof windows

The glazing you chose for your centre pivot roof windows can give your windows extra properties such as anti-burglary or energy saving.

Most glazing options are double, triple or quadruple glazed, the higher the glazing properties, the better the sound and energy efficiency for your home. Here are some of the most popular glazing options for centre pivot roof windows:

P2 anti-burglary

P2 is our most popular glazing option as it offers good insulation for habitable rooms and has an anti-burglary class of laminate and a U-value of 1.3W/m²K.

P5 triple glazed anti-burglary

P5 is also a very popular choice for those who prefer a more insulated option, with its triple glazing offering a U-value of 1.01 W/m²K.

U3 double glazed energy saving

With a thicker warm spacer, the U3 glazing keeps the room warmer than other glazing options, saving energy and money on utility bills. It has a U-value of 1.3W/m2K.

U6 triple glazed highly energy saving

A step up from the U3 glazing, U6 offers three panes to keep the warm in and the cold out to help save money on utility bills. U6 provides a U-value of 0.8 W/m²K.

U8 quadruple glazed Passivhaus

This is the king of all glazing. Passivhaus-certified U8 glazing offers one of the lowest U-values on the market at 0.58 W/m²K. This means that heat transmission is extremely low, which helps keep your spaces warm while saving you money.

At RW4Y, we offer all of these glazing options across our Fakro centre pivot roof windows range, with a 10-year warranty on all roof windows.

How to measure centre pivot roof windows

When measuring your centre pivot roof windows, it’s crucial that you leave a 10mm gap all around the window when fitting. This allows the correct amount of space for flashing and insulation. It’s essential that you understand the position of your roof rafters when measuring your windows to ensure they will not affect the installation and use.

For example, for new installations, if your window were 78x98cm, the opening would need to be 80x100cm. Likewise, if you’re replacing a roof window with an opening of 80x100cm, your window should measure 78x98cm.

When choosing your windows, consider your space. Think about the height of the room, the height of your roof window will depend on the roof pitch. The lower the roof’s pitch, the greater the window’s height should be.

You may also find it’s better to install multiple smaller windows rather than one or two larger ones to ensure maximum daylight throughout the day. The correct amount of natural light in the room is calculated by the proportion of the surface of the window’s glass area to the total floor area.

Get in touch with the RW4Y team

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our Fakro centre pivot roof windows, please get in touch with us. A friendly member of our team will be happy to help.