"RJH" wrote in message
...
I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying they
can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate stripping
back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see his point
looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before . . . any
comment?

I have installed several.
It is a PIA (time consuming) but not difficult.

If it's near the crest of the roof then slates can be removed all the way
up, you would need a ripper to get them off undamaged.
If it's lower down, it's not practical to remove a large number of slates.
So the top ones/rows you took out; can be refitted with a wire latching
device instead of nails (the slates are just shoved up under the ones above
until the wire things engage.)

You need to allow plenty of time and be prepared for the unexpected. (Eg rot
in roof timbers/battens too.)
And have a good tarpualin and means of securing it.
And maybe a few spare slates and the means of cutting them.

You might be able to do a lot of the work from inside, ie working through
the window hole/frame.

I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying
they can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate
stripping back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see
his point looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before .
.. . any comment?

--
Cheers, Rob

RJH wrote:
I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying
they can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate
stripping back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see
his point looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before .
. . any comment?


Don't take any risks.

Bill

On Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:06:51 +0100, RJH wrote:

I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying
they can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate
stripping back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see
his point looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before .
. . any comment?
When I fitted some Velux roof lights into my clay tiled roof some
years ago I was able to do everything from inside, including breaking
through and then opening up the hole to the right size, fitting the
frame, flashing and then replcing tiles (had to cut some to fit).

About a days work for each one.

Assuming that the opening window in both the Velux and the Rooflite
are removable from the frame you ought to be able to do the whole lot
from inside without climbing onto the roof.

Bill Wright wrote:

Don't take any risks.

How can one exist without taking risks?

--
Chris Green
·

On Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:06:51 +0100, RJH wrote:

I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying
they can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate
stripping back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see
his point looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before .
. . any comment?

The generic ones from Travis Perkins seem O.K.
We have three of them in our extension roof.

No advice about fitting them into an existing roof.

Cheers

Dave R

--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

wrote:
Bill Wright wrote:
Don't take any risks.

How can one exist without taking risks?


I suppose you are right. I risked a stupid response.

Bill

On 11/04/2015 09:56, Davidm wrote:
On Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:06:51 +0100, RJH wrote:

I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying
they can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate
stripping back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see
his point looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before .
. . any comment?
When I fitted some Velux roof lights into my clay tiled roof some
years ago I was able to do everything from inside, including breaking
through and then opening up the hole to the right size, fitting the
frame, flashing and then replcing tiles (had to cut some to fit).

About a days work for each one.

Assuming that the opening window in both the Velux and the Rooflite
are removable from the frame you ought to be able to do the whole lot
from inside without climbing onto the roof.


Exactly my experience fitting a Wickes clone to a concrete tiled roof.
Easier than I expected. But I can see that slates might be much more
awkward.

On 10/04/2015 14:35, harryagain wrote:
"RJH" wrote in message
...
I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying they
can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate stripping
back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see his point
looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before . . . any
comment?

I have installed several.
It is a PIA (time consuming) but not difficult.

If it's near the crest of the roof then slates can be removed all the way
up, you would need a ripper to get them off undamaged.
If it's lower down, it's not practical to remove a large number of slates.
So the top ones/rows you took out; can be refitted with a wire latching
device instead of nails (the slates are just shoved up under the ones above
until the wire things engage.)

You need to allow plenty of time and be prepared for the unexpected. (Eg rot
in roof timbers/battens too.)
And have a good tarpualin and means of securing it.
And maybe a few spare slates and the means of cutting them.

You might be able to do a lot of the work from inside, ie working through
the window hole/frame.


Thanks for that. I'm in two minds whether to give it a go. A couple of
additional details that might be relevant - it's nowhere near the crest,
I can access the inside of the roof (room gutted and awaiting
boarding/plastering) so that might make removing tiles easier, and I
have no intention of getting out on the roof.


--
Cheers, Rob

On 11/04/2015 05:01, Bill Wright wrote:
RJH wrote:
I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar
and flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying
they can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate
stripping back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see
his point looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before
. . . any comment?


Don't take any risks.


To life/limb? No chance - just watching people on roofs makes me feel
dizzy!


--
Cheers, Rob

On 12/04/2015 13:51, newshound wrote:
On 11/04/2015 09:56, Davidm wrote:
On Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:06:51 +0100, RJH wrote:

I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying
they can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate
stripping back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see
his point looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before .
. . any comment?
When I fitted some Velux roof lights into my clay tiled roof some
years ago I was able to do everything from inside, including breaking
through and then opening up the hole to the right size, fitting the
frame, flashing and then replcing tiles (had to cut some to fit).

About a days work for each one.

Assuming that the opening window in both the Velux and the Rooflite
are removable from the frame you ought to be able to do the whole lot
from inside without climbing onto the roof.


Exactly my experience fitting a Wickes clone to a concrete tiled roof.
Easier than I expected. But I can see that slates might be much more
awkward.

Yes, it's the slates. I need to do a bit of reading and a closer
examination of the roof. it looks quite tatty to my eye - 100 year+ slates.

--
Cheers, Rob

"RJH" wrote in message
...
On 10/04/2015 14:35, harryagain wrote:
"RJH" wrote in message
...
I need to replace an old Velux window set in a pitched slate roof. The
frame's rotten,something leaks and the glass has blown.

Velux replacement (SK06, 114x118cm) is about £600, including collar and
flashing.

A Rooflite Nito of the same size is about £270, including collar and
flashing.

As I'm not intending to stay here more than a couple of years, any
cautionary tales relating to the choice of Rooflite?

Also, I was going to have a go at fixing it - it looks simple enough at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYr4d4vBWc

But a joiner/handyman mate wouldn't quote for fitting. He was saying
they
can be a world of pain, often needing many courses of slate stripping
back, and wouldn't be a job he'd consider. I can sort of see his point
looking at that video, but I've not worked on a roof before . . . any
comment?

I have installed several.
It is a PIA (time consuming) but not difficult.

If it's near the crest of the roof then slates can be removed all the
way
up, you would need a ripper to get them off undamaged.
If it's lower down, it's not practical to remove a large number of
slates.
So the top ones/rows you took out; can be refitted with a wire latching
device instead of nails (the slates are just shoved up under the ones
above
until the wire things engage.)

You need to allow plenty of time and be prepared for the unexpected. (Eg
rot
in roof timbers/battens too.)
And have a good tarpualin and means of securing it.
And maybe a few spare slates and the means of cutting them.

You might be able to do a lot of the work from inside, ie working through
the window hole/frame.


Thanks for that. I'm in two minds whether to give it a go. A couple of
additional details that might be relevant - it's nowhere near the crest, I
can access the inside of the roof (room gutted and awaiting
boarding/plastering) so that might make removing tiles easier, and I have
no intention of getting out on the roof.

Well so long as it can be "dehinged" ie the opening bit removed from the
frame there should be no problem.
The thing you may not have is the ripper.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004QHEN1...linkCode%3Dasn