Roof Lantern Blinds Ultimate Guide - (Tips & Advice On Purchasing A Roof Or Skylight Blind In The UK) 

A roof lantern blind is a retractable screen and is really neat looking. Nothing is hanging down when they are not being used. They are available in a surprising number of options, sizes and colours.

Roof lantern blinds aren’t just about controlling light levels either. They also help to regulate the noise and temperature present in a room.

How Effective Are Roof Lantern Blinds?

Provided you pick a well fitted and good quality roof lantern blind, they can be really effective. The key to getting it right is to ensure that your roof lantern blind perfectly fits the aperture underneath the roof lantern.

That way, all of the light entering through the roof lantern is blocked out when you need it a little darker.

There are other ways a roof lantern blind can be effective as well...

By their nature, skylights and roof lanterns are located in the highest part of the room. Heat rises and may escape. The solution is a good quality blind. The blind can block the heat from escaping, keeping your room temperate.

It isn’t just about keeping the heat in, either. Sometimes you might want to keep the heat out. While skylights and roof lanterns let light in, direct sunlight can cause a room to become warm.

A skylight blind is a really effective way to prevent your room from becoming uncomfortably hot.

So do you actually need a roof lantern blind? We absolutely recommend you do have one and this article tells you more as to why.

Roof lantern blinds are effective for light regulation and thermal properties

What Sizes Do Roof Lantern Blinds Come In?

Roof lanterns come in all shapes and sizes, and as a result, you will need to find a blind supplier that can cater for this. As a general rule, you’ll find that blinds are available in sizes ranging from 1000mm all the way up to 5000mm in length and are available from 1000mm to 3000mm in width.

There are solutions that can cater for a longer roof lanterns, however. The best solution is the use of 2 roof lantern blinds that meet on a central bar. This solution limits the complexities that can arise from the weight of a single roof lantern blind longer than 5000mm.

Check out one of these double roof lantern blinds in action in the following video:

All these solutions, however, are only effective if the blind fits really well.

So, what’s the solution?

Custom sized blinds. Here’s how it works...

You measure the area where you intend to fit the blind and then round up to the nearest size. You specify the exact measurements in your order, and then your blinds are provided exactly cut to size.

We have a page here that explains the process really well. You can also see the various general sizes available.

 Looking for ideas? After reading this article, you’ll have plenty!

How To Measure For A Roof Lantern Blind?

You could pay to have someone come and measure your room for a skylight blind. But there is an easier option...

Do it yourself!

Here’s a quick guide as to how to measure for a skylight blind.

You will need: -

• A tape measure
• A ladder (if you have a higher roof lantern)
• A pencil
• A piece of paper

Here’s how to do it: -

1. From the top of the recess on which your roof lantern is situated, measure down by 25mm.
2. At this 25mm point, using your tape measure, first, measure the width of your recess. This needs to be done at three points, at either end and in the middle.
3. Now it is time to measure the length. Be sure to measure the length of your recess on both sides.
4. Make a careful note of all of the dimensions.

Hints For Measuring for A Skylight or Roof Lantern Blind

• Be careful when using ladders. Ensure that your ladder is directly under the area you are trying to reach, and don’t be tempted to stretch over.
• Ensure you measure the correct point to point without allowing the tape measure to slope from one end to the other.
• We like to place a very small pencil dot at the 25mm point under the recess on either side. This technique ensures you measure from the same point every time.
• The motor for your skylight blind tends to sit on one of the short edges. Be sure to specify which end this is in your order. (we normally pick the end that is hidden from view)

Checkout the following quick guide on measuring for your roof lantern blind...

How Do You Open and Close Roof Lantern Blinds?

There are a few different methods to open and close roof lantern blinds. In the past, you were limited to just one option. Manually moving the blinds by hand.

This could be achieved through using a hooked pole or sometimes a screw-jack located on the blind. However, this was cumbersome and inconvenient.

Today there are far more technologically advanced solutions that allow you to move the blinds without ever having to leave your seat. You can even use your mobile phone with certain options and don’t even have to be in the room.

There are several motorised control options available to you: -

Should I Choose Automatic Or Manual Roof Lantern Blinds?

With changing light levels throughout the day, it can be expected that you may want to open and close your blinds often. It can soon become a chore if you have to get up and down, along with flailing with a pole, every time the weather says ‘sunny spells’.

Automatic roof lantern blinds are by far the superior option.

Aside from convenience, they also add a touch of class to any home.

Here's a quick video of an automatic roof lantern blind in use... 

Are Automatic Roof Lantern Blinds Noisy?

The motor used to drive automatic roof lantern blinds is relatively small. In fact, it is so small that it can even be powered using solar energy alone.

Automatic motorised roof lantern blinds work by the motor winding in a series of chords hidden with the rails. Because blinds are relatively light and offer little resistance if properly fitted, the motor doesn’t need to be big.

Smaller motors don’t make a lot of noise at all. The loudest they’ll ever go is a gentle whir while the blind is opened or closed.

If there is ambient noise in the room, such as people talking or the television, it can often be unnoticeable, and it certainly isn’t intrusive.

Here’s a great article on how to motorise skylight blinds.

Can You Self-Fit Roof Lantern Blinds?

It is absolutely possible to self-fit roof lantern blinds. In fact, it could become the preferred option.

Hiring a professional service can start to become costly. Not only do you have to pay for the measuring and fitting, but you will probably have to arrange a visit during your free time, both for the measuring and the fitting.

By measuring and fitting your blinds yourself, you save both time and money.

Provided you have some basic DIY tools, you will easily be able to fit your own roof lantern blinds. It is surprisingly simple, and the blinds we provide come with detailed step-by-step instructions. Telephone support is also available should it be required.

As a result, you can install a roof lantern blind that will be identical to that fitted by a professional service at a lower cost to yourself!

What Colours Do Roof Lantern Blinds Come In?

No two rooms are the same. Some prefer a clean and modern minimalist look with lots of light colours, whereas others are based on a cosier feel.

Whichever room style you have, there will be a colour to suit. Your roof lantern blind is actually a feature in its own right, so you are going to want to pick a colour that matches the style of your room.

The good news?

There is an extensive range of roof lantern blind colours to suit any style of room.

You’ll tend to find that white is by far the most popular choice. This is because most ceilings are painted white, or a variation thereof. That said, contrasting colours can work really well to break up a larger room and make it feel slightly cosier.

Here are some of the colour options available for you to choose from...(Please note that our blinds are cellular pleated and the pictures are two shades to show the pleat effect. The actual colour is the lighter shade.)

Often it can be difficult to visualise how a colour will actually look in a room and whether it will match your décor.

There is a solution, however. Often, sample packs are available with a small section of each fabric to help you choose. If this is something you are interested in, you can order a sample pack here.

How Much Do Roof Lantern Blinds Cost?

The short answer? It can vary.

The cost of your roof lantern blinds depends on the options you select. However, remember that by fitting yourself, you are going to be making a really substantial saving.

Why?

When you choose to use a good quality online blind provider, you should see the price you will be paying upfront. There are no ‘hidden’ charges, no fitting fees, and you certainly won’t be paying for a quote!

You will be able to select the blinds that are absolutely 100% to your own requirements. You get to decide what you want (and don’t want) without the fear of being recommended something that you don’t think is suitable by a ‘pushy’ salesman.

Some online providers require you to submit details and then patiently wait for a quote (if they ever get back to you).

It is far easier to select your options and see what you are getting, upfront and all costs included. You’ll find a great example of this here.

As we have said, the cost of roof lantern blinds can vary, as you would expect. Here are some of the areas that will influence the final price: -

Size:

As a general rule, the larger the blind, the more it is likely to cost. This is because it uses more fabric, and the rails used to guide the blind will be larger too.

Power Source: 

How your automatic roof lantern blind is powered will affect the price. The cheapest option is mains power.

While the initial outlay on solar-powered blinds is more expensive, it must be borne in mind that they will have an infinite (and free) power source once installed, so they could pay for themselves over time.

The following pictures show some power options for roof lantern blinds...

Control Options: 

How you choose to control your blinds can influence the cost. The cheapest option is a wall-mounted switch; however, it doesn’t cost too much more to opt for wireless remote control.

Smart controllers are a luxury choice, but there is no nicer feeling than sitting on the couch controlling your light levels purely by giving a voice command.

For more information on how much roof lantern blinds cost, check out our dedicated article here.

Final Thoughts

Lantern blinds should be simple to choose and fit without costing a fortune. Using an online provider will allow you to uniquely customise your choices to ensure that you have got the perfect roof lantern blind for your property.

Easy Lantern Blinds offers a great service with all of the features described in our article above.

With easy ordering, fitting and excellent customer support, we are the go-to choice when choosing skylight blinds you can fit yourself. Why not contact us to see what we can do for you?

Thanks for reading and we hope you find the perfect roof lantern blinds for your needs.

If you are on the look out for some more electric blinds for your home you may want to check out our guides on conservatory roof blinds, and bespoke blinds for apex windows.