Rooflite

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Rotate the window up to 165 degrees to bring the external pane inside for cleaning.
• ✓Clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge.
• ✕No abrasive cleaning materials on the glass.
• ✕No metal scrapers, razor blades, or sharp tools.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning to remove all soap residue.

Pine Wood Frames

• ✓Clean with hot soapy water.
• ✓RoofLITE+ notes that frequent cleaning of pine frames may increase the need for re-lacquering.
• ✕Re-lacquer the window frame annually using a water-based lacquer, applied evenly.
• ✓No solvent-based products on pine frames.
• ✓Inspect the timber finish regularly - any cracking or peeling should be addressed promptly.

PVC Frames

• ✓Clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✕No solvents on PVC - these degrade the surface and the damage is permanent.
• ✓No abrasive products.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.

Hardware and Hinges

• ✓Grease the centre pivot hinges annually to maintain smooth rotation.
• ✓On electric opener models: grease the drive chain once a year.
• ✓Use a light machine lubricant suitable for window hardware.
• ✕Do not use water or cleaning solution on the electric motor.

Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Wipe weather seals with a damp cloth every six months to remove tree debris, sap, dust, and dirt.
• ✓Do not use harsh chemicals on gaskets or seals.
• ✓Inspect seals annually for cracking or compression loss.

Drainage and Gutters

• ✓Clear the gutters around the roof window regularly.
• ✓Remove twigs, leaves, moss, and debris from the top gutter and drainage channels.
• ✕Blocked drainage channels lead to leaks at the window head. This is one of the most common maintenance failures on roof windows.

Blinds (where fitted)

• ✓Wipe with a damp cloth as needed.
• ✓No regular maintenance required for blinds.

Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol

The Orloffs Protocol

Pro Tools

My daily tool list. This is what I carry to every job.

Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last. This is the same sequence I use on every Rooflite installation.

1. 1

   Clear the drainage channels first

   Before touching the glass, use a soft brush to clear leaves, debris, and moss from the gutters around the window and the drainage channels at the frame perimeter. If these are blocked and you apply cleaning solution, the water has nowhere to go and backs up into the frame joints.

   On roof windows, this step is not optional. Blocked drainage is the primary cause of leaks and is entirely preventable with two minutes of attention before each clean.

2. 2

   Rotate the window

   On RoofLITE+ centre-pivot models, open the window and rotate it to the 165-degree cleaning position. This brings the external pane inside, where you can clean it safely without working on a ladder on the roof. Lock the window in position before starting to clean.

   Wipe the pivot area, hinges, and frame edges with a damp cloth before you start on the glass. Remove any grime sitting on the frame edges - this prevents the squeegee picking up dirty residue from the frame surface as it reaches the edge of the glass.

3. 3

   Agitate the glass

   Apply your soapy water solution using the T-bar applicator with overlapping strokes across the whole glass surface. The goal is to dissolve and lift the dirt before the squeegee removes it.

   On a roof window, the glass is tilted rather than vertical. Solution runs faster and collects at the lower edge of the pane more quickly than on a vertical window. Work in sections if the window is large and squeegee each section promptly before the solution starts to dry.

   Never clean in direct sunlight. On a roof window facing the sun, the glass surface heats up fast. The soapy solution dries in seconds, leaving a baked-on residue that is harder to remove than the original dirt.

4. 4

   Detail the frame edge before squeegeeing

   Run a dry corner of your cotton rag along all four edges of the glass where it meets the frame. This removes the pooled solution sitting on the frame surfaces. When the squeegee reaches those edges, it will not pick up dirty residue and drag it back across the clean glass.

   This step takes fifteen seconds. It prevents most streaks.

5. 5

   The three squeegee turns

   Side to side: start at the top edge of the glass with a dry rubber. Work across in a straight horizontal line, tilting the squeegee slightly so water spills from one side of the channel only. Wipe the rubber dry after each line. Overlap slightly into the next line down. Repeat to the bottom.

   Top to bottom: the same principle working in vertical lines. Start at the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water to the lower side of each pass. Wipe the rubber dry after each pass. Overlap into the next vertical line across. Repeat to the far edge.

   The J tune: a continuous motion from top to bottom with no stops. Your thumb guides the rotation as you reach the end of each horizontal pass - the squeegee rotates and continues downward. At the bottom, rotate back and return across. When this is in your muscle memory, it is the fastest and most consistent method for any size of roof window.

6. 6

   Edge detailing

   After squeegeeing, there is always a thin line of water along the bottom edge and at the sides where the glass meets the frame seal. Take a dry cotton rag, fold it to a clean corner, and detail these edges in one smooth pass.

   Get your finger into the edge where the glass meets the seal. Any pooled soap water left there will dry to a visible residue mark when the sun hits the glass. Rotate the rag to a clean section after each pass.

7. 7

   Return the window and inspect the seals

   Rotate the window back to the closed position. Before latching, inspect the weather seals around the perimeter. If you see sap, debris, or cracking, clean the seals with a damp cloth now. On pine frame models, run a visual check on the lacquered timber surface while you have the window open.

   On electric opener models, apply lubricant to the drive chain and wipe any cleaning solution away from the motor housing before closing the window.

Pro Tips

• ★ Clear drainage channels before every clean - blocked drainage is the primary cause of roof window leaks and is entirely preventable.
• ★ Rotate to 165 degrees and lock in position before cleaning the glass. Never clean the external pane from outside on a ladder if the window can be rotated.
• ★ Solution runs faster on sloped glass - squeegee each section promptly before the soap dries, especially in warm weather.
• ★ Pine frames need annual re-lacquering with water-based lacquer - cleaning alone is not enough to maintain the protective finish and the warranty.
• ★ On electric opener models, keep all water and cleaning solution away from the motor housing. Dry the pivot area after cleaning before closing.
• ★ Never use solvent-based products on pine frames - water-based lacquer only for re-lacquering. Never use solvents on PVC frames - the damage is permanent.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Inside and out.). Drainage channels and gutters: Before every clean, or whenever debris is visible (In tree-lined locations this may mean monthly checks.). Weather seals: Wipe with a damp cloth every 6 months. Pine frames - re-lacquering: Once per year (Water-based lacquer applied evenly after cleaning.). Centre pivot hinges: Grease once per year. Electric opener chain: Grease once per year. Seal and gasket inspection: Once per year, or after heavy storms or hail events

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year inside and out. Drainage channels and gutters: clear before every clean; monthly checks in tree-lined locations. Weather seals: wipe with a damp cloth every six months. Pine frames: re-lacquer annually using water-based lacquer. Centre pivot hinges: grease once per year. Electric opener chain: grease once per year; keep motor housing dry. Seal inspection: once per year, or after heavy storms or hail events.”

Justin Orloff