Skylights are high windows that allow for higher natural lighting. Skylights have different shapes and models for every home. Learn all about them here!
Skylights are a kind of window that is placed within the ceiling or on top of a wall. They could seem unusual to have in homes, but there are increasingly wide and adaptable varieties, and their installation is sort of reasonably priced.
Any such window allows for the entry of natural lighting in a much larger percentage than a typical window. As well as, it adds style and distinction to the environment, because it gives a sense of spaciousness to a room. Its models vary in accordance with shape, size, materials, and placement.
Some great benefits of skylights
The installation of such a window might be complex to perform along with your own hands. Nevertheless, their investment brings numerous advantages that usually increase the worth of a property.
Natural light
One in all the primary benefits of skylights is the increased entry of natural light. As they’re placed within the upper parts of the home, the sun’s rays enter with more intensity and for an extended time frame. This implies energy savings, because it results in lower consumption of electricity and heating.
Privacy
When open, peculiar windows have the drawback of leaving the inside of the home exposed. To cover it, curtains might be placed, but they affect the doorway of sunshine and air. Skylights allow everlasting illumination without compromising privacy, since they’re situated in hard-to-reach places.
Decorative aspect
It could appear to be skylights can only be seen in older constructions, equivalent to religious temples or architecturally designed buildings. Nevertheless, they’re increasingly utilized in homes, attributable to their number of sizes and adaptable materials. When chosen judiciously, they add decorative aesthetics and a particular style to the property.
Spaciousness and a view
One other advantage is that a skylight gives the sensation that the room where it’s situated is more spacious. However, the direct view of the sky is a possibility that common windows would not have.
For instance, if placed in a bedroom, a starry night is nearby. If you will have outdoor scenery, you’ll be able to take higher advantage of your view.
Ventilation systems
Some skylights have manual ventilation and electrical control systems. They’re dearer, but can prevent problems later. Any such window helps to ventilate humid environments and warm colder ones. As well as, by placing screens or blinds, it’s possible to filter the extent of incoming light.
Suggestions for selecting skylights
There are lots of kinds of skylights, classified in accordance with size, material, and installation method. Regardless of the alternative, it’s idea to hunt advice and installation from a specialist.
It’s advisable to keep in mind the kind of roof and the gap of the supporting beams from the middle, as they could require reinforcement. On the whole, skylights are grouped into three models.
- Fixed skylights are probably the most common variety available on the market. They’re ideal for illuminating gloomy spaces in the home. Inside this model, it’s possible to differ between rectangular, polygonal, or dome shapes, and in addition the standard of materials, equivalent to glass or acrylic.
- Vented skylights. These are much like fixed skylights, but with manual or remote-controlled opening and shutting systems. Although they’re dearer, they permit for higher ventilation in humid spaces. On the whole, it’s advisable that they’ve additional frames to forestall water infiltration.
- Tubular skylights. It is a special model for small places, where others don’t fit. For instance, they might be placed in corridors or bathrooms. Although they’ve a diameter of between 10 and 14 inches, they permit entry of sunshine.
Size
On the whole, to decide on the scale, it’s calculated that a person skylight should never exceed 5% of the ground area where it’s going to be installed. One other way is to match it with the amount of the room, during which case it needs to be around 15% of the overall.
Location
There are some features to keep in mind when choosing the situation of the skylight. For instance, it shouldn’t coincide with electric or water installations. As well as, it must be in harmony with the remaining of the decoration of the room and, above all, receive as much sunlight as possible.
Advice
Although you’ll be able to do the installation yourself, this can be a task that’s quite complex. Working on roofs also carries a risk, you will need to have experience and the mandatory tools.
It’s advisable that a contractor or roofing specialist carry it out, because the primary problems with skylights derive from poor installation.
Frames and sealings
Some kinds of skylights, due to the way in which they’re installed, require additional waterproofing frames. This prevents leaks and water seepage, which may result in future structural damage.
That is an item that involves drilling holes within the roof, so the manufacturer normally includes each frames and flashing to assist seal. It’s idea to concentrate that ultraviolet rays don’t hit the furniture directly, as over time they grow to be marked and ruined.
Roof types and materials
The alternative of skylights is subject to the materials on which the home is built. The installation equipment is different for drywall, masonry, or wood shingles. Mounting forms vary between people who include a platform, those which are placed on the curb, and people often known as flashing.
House environments
Just as tubular skylights – that are smaller – fit well in hallways or bathrooms, vented skylights are best utilized in kitchens to advertise air renewal. Due to this fact, to decide on the best model, the type and size of the room must even be taken into consideration.
Quality
Materials vary in accordance with budget and desired quality. For instance, acrylic domes are more budget-friendly but less aesthetically pleasing; subsequently, they’re advisable for workshops or garages. Glass or crystal are higher suited to lounge decoration.
Others, with the next budget, include thermal insulating glass, which prevents heat loss in winter and cools more in summer. This also depends upon the climatic conditions of the world. Skylights are exposed, so regions with frequent hail falls require more resistant materials.
Security and cleansing
They could appear to be secondary considerations, but security is essential, as skylights also represent an access path to the house. This have to be taken into consideration on the time of installation, in addition to the cleansing system.
Because they’re elevated, accessing them for cleansing also presents some difficulty. One other possible complication is the doorway of insects. To do that, there are protective screens or blinds that prevent their entry.
What to recollect about skylights
In brief, in case you know how you can select the best environment for installation, skylights are a wonderful alternative to supply natural light to the house. It’s at all times advisable to seek the advice of an authority in these cases and judge in your skylight in accordance with the characteristics of your space.