The Project

Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands
Contractor: Wood v Wood
Client: Homeowner

When a characterful coach house in the West Midlands was stripped back as part of a full renovation, one challenge became clear from the outset: how to introduce more daylight into the large floor plan.

The solution came from above, with four Infinity framed rooflights from TuffX specified to draw natural light deep into the building, transforming the feel of the space while fitting neatly within the constraints of a tight programme and challenging winter-build conditions.

Read the Interview with Rich

THE BRIEF

This converted coach house is set to become home to a multigenerational family who have a vision to create a spacious, modern downstairs living space and a connection to the garden beyond. With properties such as this, thick masonry walls and limited original openings can often restrict opportunities to add vertical glazing, so rooflights become the ideal and often the most efficient way to introduce high levels of natural daylight into the space below.

For this project, the brief focused on creating two contemporary, open‑plan kitchen, dining and living spaces on the ground floor – one for the main property and another for a self-contained annex – while retaining the substance and character of the original structure. From the early architectural design stages, natural light was a priority, with four rooflights positioned across the expansive flat roof to distribute daylight evenly throughout the space.

TuffX Specification

Four framed Infinity Rooflights
Bespoke sizes with the largest at 2305mm x 1490mm
Double‑glazed units
Centre‑pane U‑values of 1.2 W/m²K.
Enhanced acoustic performance

project challenges

Timing soon became just as important as design, as prolonged wet weather throughout early 2026 delayed roof preparation and pushed back the final roof covering installation. Once the roof was ready, there was no room for further delay, so it became essential that the rooflights be manufactured and delivered as quickly as possible to stay on plan.

In a full renovation environment, where multiple trades are often working to a tightly sequenced programme, this reliability mattered. The roof was made watertight on schedule, allowing the build to progress without further disruption after an already difficult winter.

TUFFX Manufacturing Highlights

TuffX designed and supplied four bespoke Infinity rooflights for the customer, with the largest measuring 2305mm x 1490mm. Factory-assembled as single units, the Infinity system is engineered to deliver strong thermal performance alongside a clean, contemporary appearance, while reducing installation time on-site.

Despite the complexity of the shapes involved, TUFFX delivered the finished glass panels within seven days of template collection, demonstrating both manufacturing precision and efficient turnaround.

When installation began, the practical advantages of the system quickly became clear as each rooflight arrived on site fully assembled and ready to fit. In readiness, four timber upstands were constructed at a minimum pitch of 5° to ensure effective water run‑off. On installation day, the process was swift and simple.

Each rooflight was unpacked and a continuous bead of silicone was applied around the upstand to create a secure, weather‑tight seal. Then the powder‑coated aluminium frames were carefully lowered into place, with the same straightforward process repeated across all four openings.

the results

The completed installation has transformed the interior of the coach house. Daylight now floods the open‑plan living space, bringing warmth, depth and a strong visual connection to the outdoors that the original building couldn’t offer.

In performance terms, TuffX’s double‑glazed Infinity rooflights achieve centre‑pane U‑values of 1.2 W/m²K. In comparison, the triple‑glazed option delivers approximately 0.7 W/m²K – up to 30% better than standard double glazing – alongside enhanced acoustic performance.

For glazing contractors working on refurbishment and conversion projects, this coach house installation demonstrated what can be achieved with a well‑specified rooflight system and a responsive manufacturer – bespoke sizes and a hassle-free installation process, allowing the build schedule to stay on track.

See the Infinity Rooflights Range