Velux spacing – pedantic git content

Loft conversion is underway and there are going to be two Velux windows in the pitched roof side facing the road. The architect’s drawings only showed one and I asked the builder to add another. Looking at the studwork this evening I’ve noticed that the two windows aren’t evenly spaced, they are over towards the side away from the bedroom door with two rafters gap between them, 400mm IIRC. I would assume that he’d have spaced them evenly, can’t find anything on google or in the Velux installation manual but Google images shows quite a few lofts with two windows laid out similar to this.

Before I start moaning at him tomorrow morning does anyone know if there are Building control or fire regs relating to this, or any other practical reason?

has he left the “original” one as drawn and squeezed the other in beside it ?

No, the original was drawn central, he knew we wanted two before he started

Is he having to cut rafters? If so, he’ll probably have to double up either side, which may restrict where they can go.

or any other practical reason?

it could be dictated by where the rafters actually are if its a fit into an existing structure

or it could be because you’ve asked him to do something other than whats on the drawing so that he’s now working without a drawing for that aspect.

He is but can’t see how that makes a difference although I guess moving them over so that one is in the area with new rafters top to bottom (gable end has been added) might incur using a bit more timber. Will find out in the morning

He’s a very competent builder so I would expect him to either space them evenly or let me know why it isn’t possible before doing it. He knows I’m a fussy bastard, one of my riding mates does his plastering!

erm…. speak to the Architect?

I vaguely recall there being a rule about not cutting adjacent roof timbers, so it may just be that he has to leave two in between? Do the veluxes fit between timbers, or did they get cut and doubled up?

Cut and doubled up but spacing them evenly would move them further apart.

No point talking to the architect, he has taken his money (for doing a pretty poor job) and is now not at all interested. Tried to get other info out of him to no avail. He came recommended but can’t see why. The builder and the structural steel guy had to work a few things out due to lack of info on the drawings.

Anyway, the builder has make the decision on the positions so he’s first port of call.

maybe it looks right from the outside?

Did you tell him you wanted them evening up?

Hmmm, you might be right. Might be spaced evenly over the bay window gable but I think I’d rather it looked right from the inside.

davosaurus – is the extre velux on the plans that were submitted for planning permission? If not they will need changing

TJ – it’s under Permitted Development so I’m 99% sure it’s not notifiable.

I don’t sort final positions until I’ve cut a hole in the sarking, stuck my heid out and worked out exactly where the Velux goes relative to the tiles or slates (ok, we’re only talking a couple of inches up/down and left/right).

Hard to guess why he might of done it without pictures..

Yeah I know, forgot to take any. I shall update this exciting saga tomorrow after I’ve spoken to him! Try to control the excitement.

The reason he has kicked them over is so that they are clear of the area that the bedroom door opens into and to leave the wall area opposite in case we decide to add built in storage in the future. Also puts them over the main living area of the bedroom. He thinks it’s better like that, I’m not 100% convinced but will go with his experience.

Trust him. He’s done this dozens of times.
Whereas you are a mind changer. Changes of mind cost money!

Like I said, I am trusting him. I work in S/C management so I know all too well about scope creep!

Do you need building control for them? Might be different in England, but in Scotland, cutting roof timbers means a building warrant is required IIRC

Like I said, I am trusting him. I work in S/C management so I know all too well about scope creep!

Fair enough, but it’s your money and your house, so really it’s a question of whether his explanation makes sense to you. If it’s just his personal preference rather than a valid reason, then you have every right to ask for the job to be done as you want unless there’s a good reason not to.

I had a similar experience recently over the size of a set of beams in a loft, which boiled down to me wanting larger cross-section ones and the builder- also a mate – preferring to use smaller ones. It was all about aesthetics rather than structure and after some calm discussions, we went with my preference.

There was a little grumpiness, but ultimately we’re the ones who have to look at those beams every day and it would have irked me if they’d been ‘too small’.

I’m not saying you should insist because you’re the client btw, but if you do have a preference and you think it’ll irk you if it’s not done that way, you have every right to say so in a grown-up, non-confrontational sort of way 🙂

we have a couple of Velux windows in our loft conversion that we got done 10 years ago (Scotland). They are on rear of a detached modern house, and required Building Warrant. Anyway, they are set to be equidistant internally – we converted whole loft, but one end quarter of it is stairwell, hall and walk-in cupboards, rest one big bedroom, where the windows are. They look right from inside, and offset from outside, which is what we wanted and builder suggested.

BWD – I appreciate all that and you’re 100% right. A large part of my job is telling S/C to change things that aren’t to spec or sometimes just that I don’t like – preferential engineering! I am slightly in two minds about it – I think the way he has them laid out will give a better view of an expanse of the sky when lying in bed, less wall interrupting the view. Only one thing to do then – consult the wife this evening! I’m no fool.

Her indoors is a different matter altogether – if she’d wanted narrower beams, things would have ended differently 🙂