Although UltraLight and polycarbonate glazing really works wonderfully well together and can offer some considerable advantages over more traditional glazing solutions, we fully understand that when it comes right down to it, for many of our clients (and indeed their clients), there really is only one serious glazing option for them... and that’s glass.
Of course the idea of letting sunlight in through the roof of a building to provide light is not exactly a new one!
Once a magnificent Roman temple but now both a church and major tourist attraction which welcomes
visitors from all over the world, The Pantheon was built circa 120 A.D. by the Emperor Hadrian on
the site of two earlier temples, both of which burnt to the ground.
Today, The Pantheon is one of Rome’s best preserved ancient buildings and still features one of the largest
unreinforced, concrete domes ever built... spanning an amazing forty three metres, at the centre of which
is an approximately eight metre diameter opening or oculus. Unfortunately although its oculus is this stunning
temple’s only source of natural light, there is one slight problem: a problem which means that, even today,
whenever it rains visitors to The Pantheon still tend to get rather wet, whilst at the same time, the cleverly
designed and original, slightly convexed marble floor immediately below the roof opening sometimes has to be0
cordoned off whilst twenty-two, discreetly positioned integrated drainage holes do their job.
Thanks to the dedicated work of learned historians who have a real passion for their subject, we now have, perhaps rather surprisingly,
solid evidence which proves that by the time Tutankhamun had become their Pharaoh, ancient Egyptians had already been making glass
(mostly small decorative items) for at least one hundred and fifty years... and also that (and this is of even more significance), by
the time the Romans were expanding their vast Empire, not only were they capable of making exquisite glass beakers, cups and vases... some
of their wealthier citizens had already started to install small panels of rather thick, spun, translucent glass (which they then framed
in bronze) as early windows for their villas and bath houses.
The Pantheon, Rome
However, it was not until the middle of the eighteenth century before man’s knowledge and
ingenuity, together with major advancements in design, manufacturing and construction skills
had reached the point whereby it was possible for royal palaces and highly important centres of commerce to be ’crowned’ by magnificent vaulted glass roofs or ‘ribbons’ of glass rooflights...
as could be seen (and in some cases still can today) at La Galerie des Batailles in
the Palace of Versailles and La Halle aux Blés (Corn Exchange) in Paris and of course at
Italy’s oldest shopping centre, the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, which was
designed and built over a period of sixteen years before being opened in 1877.
La Halle aux Blés, Paris c.1782
It originally featured a timber cupola complete
with twenty five large glass rooflights
Background Photo:-
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan
A Self Supporting
UltraLight Max Glass Ridgelight…
almost 19 metres long
Available in a range of popular sizes up to 1200mm x 1200mm, our
TopLite VISTA range cleverly and securely harmonizes the clarity of
glass with the superb thermal insulation properties of uPVC to achieve
some excellent U values.
Each of these non-fragile rooflights comes complete with its own dedicated,
white uPVC upstand and these contemporary styled rooflights can also
incorporate a choice of effective ventilation solutions.
For larger sized energy saving, self cleaning glass rooflights
please refer to our range of PRISM Rooflights
Can Achieve
U Values of
0.95 W/m²K
TopLite VISTA with Optional Security Frame
UltraLight Glass Ridgelight with Optional Ventilation
From a five degree pitch to vertical
UltraLight
is designed to be safely installed
almost anywhere
UltraLight Glass Monopitch Rooflight
with Electrically Operated Ventilation
Limited only by the thickness of the glass required and the amount of interim support available (if any), UltraLight and glass are, for many of our clients,
the perfect solution for their roof glazing needs.
Engineered to the tightest of margins and frequently required to be
self supporting, your AutoCAD designed rooflight can be fabricated to any
length at all and with a cornucopia of RAL colours to choose from, (which are mostly all available for the same price), we are confident that the structural polyester powder coated and thermally broken aluminium glazing bars, which are such an inherent feature of the UltraLight roof glazing system, can meet even the most challenging aesthetic and performance demands.
In fact it is now perfectly possible to have the glazing bars finished in
two different colours, so that they will simultaneously co-ordinate with
both the roof finish and the internal décor.
In addition, UltraLight can fully incorporate plenty of optional ‘state of the
art’ ventilation and be glazed with some of the best specialist performance
glass that is currently available in the U.K. for example self cleaning and
solar control.
And of course, with its integral drainage channels,
UltraLight is ideally suited to being installed in either
flat or pitched roofs.
Custom Designed Steeple
Continuous UltraLight Rooflight with Hipped End Glazing
For more information about
UltraLight Glass Rooflights
or if you just want some
assitance with your current project
and think we could be of some help
just call 01253 827633
We will be pleased to help you
in any way we can.
Technology, just like fashion is constantly evolving and
rooflights are no exception to this.
That is why with its minimalist framework, contemporary clean
styling and super smooth flush glass, the recently introduced
PRISM is a very important addition to our extensive range of
rooflights and roof glazing systems.
Whilst the majority of these thermally broken, aluminium
framed rooflights are specifically designed to be installed on to a
flat roof, two styles within this range, the flat pane and a
specially designed, unventilated Ridgelight are ideal solutions to
let the light into pitched roofs as well.
PRISM’s elegantly simple flat glass rooflight is also available
with a hinge… allowing plenty of ventilation or even secure access to the roof.
Available as either double or triple glazed, these minimalist,
contemporary styled rooflights have excellent thermal
performance… with even just a double glazed rooflight achieving
an impressive overall rooflight U Value of 1.6 Wm²/K.
As well as the flat pane and ridge light designs, the PRISM range also includes a true 40⁰ pyramid as well as an elongated, rectangular version (from which this range actually gets its name) all of which are custom manufactured to suit your
specific project requirement, up to the maximum sizes of
3000mm x 1000mm or 2000mm² or 3000mm x 1500mm
downslope.
PRISM with a Light Oak Inner Liner in a Pitched Roof
Given that one of the design concepts for this range was to be
as unobtrusive as possible, all PRISM rooflights are
usually supplied with either a Black or Slate Grey polyester
powder coated, aluminium external framework. However, if you
have a particular colour scheme in mind for your project
(corporate colours perhaps?), then please tell us and we will
do our very best to accede to your request.
Similariy, when it is to be installed in a pitched roof, PRISM is
normally supplied with a solid light oak inner liner, but if you
believe that this would present a problem with the planned
internal décor, if you let us know what timber you think would
work in better for your project, we will be pleased to see what we
can do to provide it.
Solar Control, Self Cleaning Glass
As Standard
40º Slope
PRISM Glass Pyramids...
Available Up To 3000mm Long
PLEASE NOTE THAT PRISM FLAT GLASS ROOFLIGHTS ARE NOW ALSO AVAILABLE AS
CIRCULAR OR SILICONE JOINTED CONTINUOUS ROOFLIGHTS
With uninterrupted ‘crystal’ clear outlooks PRISM glass rooflights bring 'a touch of class' to any home, office or just about any
other type of building you can think of.
To discuss your glass rooflight or roof glazing requirements in complete confidence
just call 01253 827633 or email us at sales@mercuriglazing.co.uk and we will be
pleased to help you make the right choice.