Maintaining Your Timber Roof Lantern

“Looking after your timber roof lantern – important maintenance”

Posted by: Laura Wakeham. on the 16th June 2015

The maintenance routine for a timber roof lantern is similar to other timber furnishings and windows. Ultimately, timber roof lanterns are really easy to maintain!
In this article, we’ll explain how to maintain your timber roof lantern and how this compares to the maintenance of UPVC (Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride) and aluminium roof lanterns.

How to Maintain Your Timber Roof Lantern

A timber roof lantern should last several decades when properly maintained.
At Roof Lanterns UK, we use a powder-coated aluminium capping system on the outside of our lanterns so there is a minimal amount of timber exposed to the elements.
That said, it is advised to check the exterior of your roof lantern once a year. When you do this survey, it is also a good idea to clean the glass with glass cleaner and the lantern with a mild detergent.

In addition, you can inspect the external paintwork for flakes or chippings, as well as inspecting the joints (or mitres). If you see any need for touch-ups in the mitres of the roof lantern, you can rub down the area and apply an acrylic master to seal any unwanted gaps to prevent leaks.

The timbers will require sanding and repainting periodically (about once every five years). The sanding will only need to be a light sanding though, just to allow fresh paint to stick. You may wish to clean the roof lantern with a mild detergent.
If you have purchased your timber roof lantern from an alternative company that does not provide such a high-quality powder-coated aluminium capping system, you may need to have timbers, such as oak timber, professionally treated every four to five years to keep the frame strong. The company where you purchased your roof lantern should be able to inform you about the maintenance required.
It is clear then that timber roof lanterns are fairly easy to maintain and can actually last for decades when properly cared for. UPVC and aluminium roof lanterns, however, cannot be maintained in this way and often need replacing when the finish fades or becomes damaged.

Our Hardwood Lantern Range

Timber roof lanterns are one of the most popular choices due to the strength of timber as well as its appearance and cost. Although timber is one of the cheaper hardwoods, at Prestige Roof Lanterns, we only use timber that is of very high-quality to ensure our roof lanterns reach the highest standards.

As well as being easy to maintain, the timbers from Prestige Roof Lanterns are sourced by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). This means that the timbers are from healthy trees and have a long lifespan.
For more information about maintaining your timber roof lantern, call Prestige Roof Lanterns on: 0843 886 7949.