A more comfortable home environment is always a plus, and a skylight can help to deliver on that front. When installing one, you will have a range of customisation options letting you choose the right configuration for your environment.
They Let More Light In
The main benefit of a skylight is that because it directly faces the sky, obstacles are unlikely to block its path. On the other hand, the light that enters through vertical windows primarily reflects from other buildings, trees, fences and the ground. Thus the amount of light that comes from a vertical window is typically less than from a roof opening.
A skylight can let in three times as much light as a same-sized vertical window. And the light that enters from a roof source will typically disperse more uniformly around the room as well. Thus skylights can reduce the reliance on artificial lighting and lower energy consumption. Especially if you spend a lot of time indoors, getting enough daylight inside is essential for well being, and it helps to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
They Allow for Ventilation
Ample daylight and fresh air both contribute to a comfortable indoor environment, and a skylight can help to achieve both. A venting skylight is an efficient way to aerate your home using the stack effect. Hot air rises and cold air drops, and skylights and vertical windows can work together to make use of these tendencies. Fresh air enters through vertical windows, while warm air, toxins and odours rise upwards towards the ceiling. An open skylight allows them to flow out the roof. This natural circular air flow helps to generate fresh air inside.
They Come with Material Options
Skylights come in a wide variety of models so you can customise them to your home. Typically, they consist of either glass or acrylic materials. Though both allow in a similar amount of light, acrylic can sometimes discolour over time or become scratched. Tempered glass, however, is more robust and durable. Dome-shaped skylights are usually acrylic rather than glass because manufacturing is more complicated with moulded glass. But both dome and flat-panel style skylights are often available in both materials.
They Come with Glazing Options
You will also have glazing options, allowing you to get the optimum effect from your skylight. It can be either frosted or transparent. Frosted glazing distributes a more diffused lighting, while transparent can allow for more heat transfer. However, other choices significantly impact a skylight's thermal performance. Double glazing can help to insulate your home by blocking solar radiation from entering, and also lessening inside winter warmth from escaping through the skylight. Low-e glass reflects heat, and so can also reduce heat transfer and cut glare.
When it comes to house windows, you probably never give them more than a second glance to ensure they are closed and locked. However, when I renovated my house last year, I learned a lot about windows and the type of maintenance they need. For example, when not sealed correctly, a window lets out a lot of that beautiful cold air-conditioned air that you pay for. I began this blog to help other people who need help when it comes to window renovations. From the different types of glass to how to identify leaking windows, my blog posts are written to help you keep that treasured cold air inside your home.