We’ve had a remarkably wet July this year and for the past few weeks, it’s felt like the rain would never stop. When we saw the latest downpour outside the window, it reminded us of one of our most frequently asked questions; are roof lanterns noisy when it rains? 

Here at Whitesales, we know roof lanterns inside and out. We can understand why people might think they’re noisy, but rest assured, - despite having a large amount of glazing in them, they won’t get noisy when it rains. You might be concerned about decibel levels but before you rush out to buy ear defenders, read this first. 

Weatherproof Roof Lanterns

Roof lanterns have benefitted from centuries of improvements and while the earliest ones could get very loud when it rained, modern ones do not have this problem. They no longer have fragile, single-glazed panes and are all fitted with double-glazing as standard. The gap between the glass absorbs the impact and deadens the noise of individual raindrops, so it’ll sound more like a gentle drumming than an incessant, irritating rattle. To put this into perspective, if you have a glass-roofed conservatory, stand in it next time it rains. It’ll be louder in there than it will be beneath a roof lantern. 

Alongside this, the modern aluminium frames are thick enough that you’re unlikely to notice the rain hitting them, even on slimline roof lanterns. As there’s no timber in the structure, this has the added benefit of being far more durable. The water will run right off it and won’t absorb into it to cause rot or mould. Old roof lanterns could be vulnerable to weather damage, but nowadays that’s not the case. 

Noise Reducing Glazing

In short, roof lanterns are effective at minimising the sound of heavy rainfall. You’ll hear the shower of water on the roof, but it won’t be a constant, distracting noise. Even in the most severe storms, the volume would be comparable to having an air conditioning fan turned on. This won’t disrupt your home life and can even be quite relaxing. 

Thanks to advances in weather sealing, they won’t leak either. We get more than our fair share of dark, rainwater-swollen clouds in the UK, but you won’t need to worry; your home will remain dry and warm. 

We hope this puts a few minds at ease. Roof lanterns might consist mostly of glass, but even in severe conditions, your home will remain calm and quiet. If you’ve got any questions, you can email us for further clarification at sales@whitesales.co.uk. Our staff will be happy to talk and answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, if you’ve already got a project in mind and want to get started right away, you can request a quote online. We’d be happy to work with you and can’t wait to get stuck in.