The factory
Our factory in Norfolk, England, is the heart and soul of the business...
“Consultation and design
All our products are built to order following detailed discussions with the customer – whether they come from one of our standard ranges or they're made-to-measure. Dimensioned scale drawings are prepared for every project, and the customer is often sent photographs of their lantern during construction.
“Timber selection
Our timber is from Forest Stewardship Council-certified sources. We use sapele, a mahogany-like sustainable hardwood – which is durable, offers superb paint adhesion, and is resistant to both rot and fungal attack. For mouldings, our principal wood is accoya – also sustainably grown and FSC-certified.
“Wood preparation
After sourcing the best quality raw material the timber is cut to size, planed and moulded in our well-equipped mill. The construction of each lantern becomes the responsibility of a single, skilled craftsperson – ensuring every component is carefully sized, shaped, sanded and checked.
“Joinery and pre-assembly
Each lantern is fully pre-assembled in our workshop. Rafters are drilled for fixings and numbered according to their location. Precise measurements are then taken for the glazing panels. After disassembly the woodwork receives a final fine sanding ready for the paintshop. And all is overseen by 'supervisor' Willow.
“Aluminium fabrication
Aluminium section fabrication and welding is undertaken in-house by our skilled specialists. Our unique aluminium profiled weather cappings are used to protect the external woodwork and clamp down the glass. We also fit an aluminium extrusion on the lower end of the glass to help preserve the panel's seal.
“Paintshop
All the components of our lanterns – woodwork and aluminium cappings – are painted individually. Aluminium sections are powder-coat painted and oven-cured, while woodwork gets several coats of microporous spray-paint in our booth. Standard colours are white and slate-grey, although other finishes are available.
“Boxing and transport
Following disassembly and painting, components are individually wrapped and securely packed in our special wooden transport crates. They are despatched as a kit of parts with detailed assembly instructions – including screws, bolts and sealant. We can even supply you with your own crate for shipping worldwide.
“Optional installation
We can supply only, or supply and fit our roof lanterns. Installation nationwide in the UK is undertaken by one of our experienced teams. All we require from our customer are an internal working platform and the prior construction of a lead-dressed kerb or upstand to which the lantern will be attached (see Products menu).
