Removing a Velux window?

[Joanna]

Hello, I'd be really grateful if anyone can help with my question. It may sound silly but I am new to building so forgive the question!! Im building a new house and there was to be a velux on house which would throw light into landing on stairs, however, it was put in 'off-centre' due to positioning of beams in the roof and it doesn't look right at all i.e. when you are know walking down stairs, the velux is only partly over the landing and from the front of the house, the velux, because of it being off centre, has now almost ruined the design of the front of the house (well, in my eyes anyways). As its my first and only time to build, I am so disappointed and never realised that veluxes couldn't be put in exactly where they were on plan i.e. that roof beams had to be considered. Oh, to have the hindsight! My question is: Can I take out this velux altogether now and put back in roof or is this an impossibility once the timbers had been cut out to fit the velux in? Also, I have several other veluxes in back of house and people are telling me they are (a) cold and (b) rain on them cause a lot of noise and (c) moss etc. gathers around them? Is this true too. And if so, should I cancel other veluxes that I haven't put in yet? Help! Advice really appreciated. Thanks a mill.

 

[Padraigb]

I gather that the roof is still being constructed. If that is the case, it's no big deal to omit the window from the plan.

But I would look at the issue another way. The builder is supposed to be building the house you want from plans and specifications supplied by you. It was wrong to change the location of the window.

In fitting a window like a Velux, it is convenient to cut as few rafters as possible in order to accommodate it. But it is generally a matter of convenience, not an insurmountable engineering challenge. I think your builder has gone for the simplest solution rather than the best one. I hope that it is not too late to go back and demand that the work be done in accordance with the plans and specifications.

On your new-found concerns about Velux: there is a bit of truth in each of them, but not so much as would cause me concern. The light is worth far more than the modest drawbacks.

 

[Joanna]

Thank you very much PadraigB for your helpful reply - yes, the roof is already in all around the velux - the roofers did that half of the roof the day they did that velux just before Christmas so if rafters already cut i.e. window already in..I take it that (a) it is too late to take it out altogether and cancel velux idea and cover over with slates or (b) take it out and fit it back in but centred correctly as per plan?? Thanks again lots.

 

[Lex Foutish]

Hi Joanna. Don't panic yet. A few years ago we converted our main attic and also a smaller attic over the garage. The two jobs were done at the same time but a year after the work was completed I realised that the Velux window we'd had put in at the front (south facing) of the main attic was too small. We'd had a north facing one installed also. In the small attic, we'd just put in a large north facing Velux window with no window facing south. I spoke to another carpenter and, to cut a long story short, he removed the small south facing one in the main attic and put in a bigger one. Cutting the roof timber wasn't a problem at all. He was able to remove the original one with all the bits and pieces intact and I got him to then put it in in a south facing position in the smaller attic and he had little or no problem doing so. The difference in both attics was amazing. I don't think cutting the roof timber is really a big deal to any good carpenter so the fact that the window is already in is not the end of the world at all.
With regard to the drawbacks you mentioned, I agree with Padraigb. I don't think you can ever have too much light. When people are having Velux windows put in, I believe they should always go for the maximum size possible instead of saving a small amount of money by going for a smaller one. (Our original builder saved himself less that €100 by putting in a smaller one than he could have). The modern Velux windows are very well insulated and you can further insulate them with black out blinds (Velux brand) which are quite thick and have a kind of foil back on them designed to retain heat. They work very well for us. Removing any moss etc. can be done in a few minutes as the windows rotate to facilitate same.
And finally, our north facing window is directly over our bed and there's nothing nicer than being tucked up in bed at night and hearing the rain pitter pattering against it overhead!
I hope you go ahead and remedy the situation. If you don't, you'll probably notice it and think about it every time you pass under the window and you'll be delighted in the long run.
Best of luck.

 

[Joanna]

LexFoutish - THANK you for your reply - it is so great to hear someone else's story and advice. I am very appreciative that you took the time to share your experience. My stress levels are kind off subisiding now!! I could hug you!!
Okay, so I've taken in all that you have said (I will be armed with lots of information for builder on Monday now!) but can I just ask, if you might know, in the case of wanting to remove a velux window altogether; is that then an impossibility i.e. if you want to remove a velux and slate over can this be done or because the timbers have been cut to make way for the velux, is it not possible to patch these timbers up again and slate over? Just so as I know...i.e. I take it that once the roof has been cut to take velux, that there is no reverting back to just roof again an no velux. Hope I am making sense. Best wishes

 

[Complainer]

As its my first and only time to build, I am so disappointed and never realised that veluxes couldn't be put in exactly where they were on plan i.e. that roof beams had to be considered.

Who drew up your plans? Was this a DIY job or was there an architect involved?

 

[Joanna]

Hi Complainer, Yes, plans drawn up initially by an architect who had a velux dormer window in place which would have thrown light on the stair landing but when engineer was doing up the structural drawings for builder, we realised that having this type of dormer velux would result in a drainpipe coming down right in the centre of the front of the house so to avoid this, dormer velux was changed to one normal window and one velux instead. So, that is what happened...it's this velux that is off centre!

 

[Lex Foutish]

LexFoutish - THANK you for your reply - it is so great to hear someone else's story and advice. I am very appreciative that you took the time to share your experience. My stress levels are kind off subisiding now!! I could hug you!!
Okay, so I've taken in all that you have said (I will be armed with lots of information for builder on Monday now!) but can I just ask, if you might know, in the case of wanting to remove a velux window altogether; is that then an impossibility i.e. if you want to remove a velux and slate over can this be done or because the timbers have been cut to make way for the velux, is it not possible to patch these timbers up again and slate over? Just so as I know...i.e. I take it that once the roof has been cut to take velux, that there is no reverting back to just roof again an no velux. Hope I am making sense. Best wishes

Hi again Joanna. I'm far from a roofing expert but I would imagine that removing the window and doing a bit of woodwork and slating shouldn't be a big problem for a good carpenter.
However, if it were my case, given my love of light and brightness in a house, I think I'd prefer the off-centre Velux window to no window at all. Since I wrote earlier, I went out for a walk and noticed two houses in our neighbourhood with off centre Velux windows and I don't think they're as bad as one might think.
Is there any chance of centring the window? If so, that would be my first choice. My second would be leaving it as it is and having a valuable source of light. The final option would be the removal of the window and replacing of the slates but personally, if it were my house, I wouldn't do this. I reckon that the off-centre ones I saw earlier probably went for light ahead of looks.
I think losing the light would get to me a lot more than having the window off-centre. However, that's just me. Did you think of looking at houses on sites like daft.ie to see if there are any there with off-centre windows? There probably are.
I hope things work out for you, regardless of what you decide to do. At the end of the day, it's your house and you should have the house you want and shouldn't have something like the off-centre window occupying your mind last thing at night and first thing again when you wake in the morning. I have been that soldier!
Best of luck, whatever you decide to do.

P.s. Thanks for the hug. It's the first one I've ever got on aam.com!

 

[woodbine]

And finally, our north facing window is directly over our bed and there's nothing nicer than being tucked up in bed at night and hearing the rain pitter pattering against it overhead!
.

have to agree with this. i sleep directly under the velux in our bedroom and it's just so snug and cosy listening to the rain on the window.

I haven't gotten round to buying the blind for the window but the only reason i would do it is to block the light when i'm trying to get a lie in.

we have six veluxes in total and have absolutely no problems with cold. i think that the 'moss' that the OP mentioned is probably that green scum that builds up on the glass if there are tall trees near the house. we get this on ours but to be honest it takes a long time to build up on the pane and (as mentioned) can be easily cleaned.

it took me no more than fifteen minutes to clean five veluxes.



just a word of warning if you or the neighbours have cats: they can open a velux and come in even if it's only open an inch. So make sure you close them fully if the cats aren't allowed inot the house.

 

[Joanna]

Lex Foutish and Woodbine - thank you to you both for your replies - so helpful. I am gonna ask builder on Monday can I take velux out and center it and see what happens - it will be a nice start back for him after his Christmas break!! Thanks again to you both - I really appreciated your help and advice that you gave here. I never knew that the roof could be put back in place if I decided on taking out velux altogether - I'll be so armed with info now for builder next week.

(and you are very grateful for my online hug Lex Foutish - when I am in a muddle with house building items like this, it is such a tremendous help to be able to ask stuff online here and ease one's mind - this house building can drive one bananas, really!! There are so many things to be keeping an eye on all at the same time as the building progresses so it's great that people like you take time out to help others in dilemma's. Thanks again).

 

[Complainer]

Hi Complainer, Yes, plans drawn up initially by an architect who had a velux dormer window in place which would have thrown light on the stair landing but when engineer was doing up the structural drawings for builder, we realised that having this type of dormer velux would result in a drainpipe coming down right in the centre of the front of the house so to avoid this, dormer velux was changed to one normal window and one velux instead. So, that is what happened...it's this velux that is off centre!

So did the engineer screw up in moving the window without taking account of the roof plans?

I'd suggest that you find a way to keep the Velux, as the light and view does make a huge difference. It's amazing to see a full moon lighting up the room. I'd also recommend that you get the Velux with automatic opening, ideally with the wall-mounted control (instead of the remote control - who needs yet another remote?). Several of the neighbours have Velux's with manual opening poles, but they just never bother finding the poles to open them up. We open up hours via the automatic control anytime the kitchen gets hot or steamy.

 

[Joanna]

Hello Complainer, yes, engineer just inserted a velux in the plan and never at all mentioned anything about needing to check roof plans to see if velux would be exactly over the landing (oh, to be starting the house design again - I have learnt so much so far - wish I had all this building knowledge before..). Anyways, yes, I think I will leave in this velux for the light etc. but hoping to get a hold of builder tomorrow to discuss possibility of taking it out and putting it in correctly i.e. centered. I'll see what happens. Thanks for telling me re the wall-mounted control - I never knew about that! It's one with a remote control that I put in - builder or fella in local hardware store that builder is buying all my veluxes from never mentioned this wall mounted option and it would be much better. Oh, maybe I am too late as velux that is (plus two others in house) all have remote controls. Another item to discuss with builder. The list gets longer! Must look through the velux brochure I have again to see if it mentions it and cost over remote control. Thanks so much for your advice and help. Greatfully appreciated to novice builder here.

 

[Complainer]

I guess you should be having a hard conversation with the engineer letting him know the mess he left you in! Best of luck with the project.

 

[Joanna]

Thank you Complainer - I will talk to engineer today too!