Roof replacement offers a prime opportunity to transform your home with skylights, roof windows, or sun tunnels. These innovative additions not only enhance your home’s aesthetic appeal but also provide a multitude of benefits.
Natural light
Natural light, a precious commodity, offers far more than just illumination. Studies have shown that exposure to daylight can significantly improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being. By introducing more natural light into your living spaces, you can create a brighter, more cheerful atmosphere that positively impacts your daily life. Additionally, it has been linked to be aesthetically pleasing, increasing productivity, better sleep patterns, and even potential health benefits such as vitamin D synthesis.
Skylights come in various types, each with distinct features to suit different needs and architectural styles.
Fixed skylights offer a classic and elegant way to introduce natural light. They are ideal for areas where ventilation is not required, such as hallways, bathrooms, or kitchens.
Vented skylights combine the beauty of light with the functionality of fresh air. These skylights can be opened to allow for ventilation, making them perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, and home offices.
Tubular skylights are a compact and cost-effective option for bringing natural light into smaller spaces or areas with limited roof access. They consist of a reflective tube that captures sunlight and directs it into the room.
Combination skylights offer the best of both worlds, combining fixed and venting panes in a single unit. This versatile option provides both natural light and ventilation.
Installing skylights typically involves several steps:
Consultation: A professional roofer will assess your roof’s condition and recommend suitable skylight options based on your home’s architecture and your specific needs.
Permit Acquisition: Depending on local building codes, obtaining necessary permits may be required.
Roof Preparation: The roofing contractor will prepare the roof area for the skylight installation, ensuring proper flashing and waterproofing.
Skylight Installation: The skylight unit is carefully installed and secured to the roof, with proper flashing to prevent leaks.
Interior Finishing: The interior of the skylight is finished to match your home’s decor, and any necessary electrical or ventilation components are installed.
By carefully considering the type of skylight that best suits your home and working with a qualified installer for installing skylights.
Types of Skylights: A Closer Look
While we’ve touched on the primary types, let’s delve deeper into the skylight world:
Fixed Skylights
Fixed Skylight offer a constant influx of natural light without the option to open. They are available in various shapes, including rectangular, square, and even custom designs.
Pros: Cost-effective, low maintenance, and provide maximum light.
Cons: Lack of ventilation.
Vented Skylights
These skylights combine the beauty of natural light with the functionality of fresh air. They can be manually operated, electric, or solar-powered for added convenience.
Pros: Allow for ventilation, help regulate temperature, and bring in fresh air.
Cons: Higher cost than fixed, potential for water leaks if not properly installed or maintained.
Tubular Skylights (Sun Tunnels)
These innovative skylights are ideal for spaces with limited roof access or those that require focused light. They consist of a reflective tube that captures sunlight and directs it into the room.
Pros: Cost-effective, energy-efficient, and can be installed in various locations.
Cons: Less natural light than regular skylights, potential for light diffusion.
Combination Skylights
These versatile skylights combine the features of fixed and vented skylights in a single unit. They offer the best of both worlds, providing both more light and ventilation.
Pros: Flexibility, allows for both more light and fresh air.
Cons: Higher cost than fixed or vented skylights.
Other Skylight Types
Deck skylights: These skylights are designed to be installed in decks, patios, or balconies, offering a unique way to enjoy outdoor living while bringing light into your home.
Walk-on skylights: These large skylights can be walked on and often incorporate a glass floor, providing a dramatic view of the sky.
Curved skylights: These skylights offer a modern and stylish look, adding a unique architectural element to your home.
Tubular Skylights: Bringing Light to Dark Corners
Also known as sun tunnels, are innovative solutions for introducing sun into spaces where regular skylights are impractical or undesirable. These systems are particularly effective in brightening up interior rooms, closets, hallways, and bathrooms. It’s like a special tube that catches sunlight from the roof and pipes it down into your room.
How Tubular Skylights Work
How does it work? There’s a clear dome on your roof that collects the sunlight. This light then travels through a tube to a special cover on your ceiling. The cover spreads the light evenly around the room.
It consists of three main components:
Roof Dome: This transparent dome is installed on the roof to capture sunlight.
Reflective Tube: A highly reflective tube connects the roof dome to the ceiling diffuser. This tube efficiently transfers sunlight from the roof to the interior – sun tunnels
Ceiling Diffuser: The diffuser is installed on the ceiling and distributes the incoming light evenly throughout the room.
Advantages
Cost-effective: Generally less expensive to install than traditional skylights.
Energy efficient: Giving more natural light, reducing reliance on artificial lighting.
Versatile: Can be installed in various locations, including flat roofs.
Quick installation: Typically requires less time to install compared to traditional skylights.
Low maintenance: Easy to clean and maintain.
Considerations
Light intensity: While this skylight can significantly improve light levels, they might not provide the same amount of light as a commercial skylights.
Tube length: The length of the tube can affect light intensity. Longer tubes may result in some loss.
Diffuser size: The size of the diffuser influences the area covered by the light an how much light gets in the room. There are more diffuser options on the market.
VELUX SUN TUNNEL skylights bring light into even the darkest and most isolated space through a specially designed tunnel that passes from roof to ceiling. The attractive ceiling diffuser blends unnoticed, spreading a soft and restful light throughout the space.
Sun Windows: Bringing the Outdoors In
Sun windows on roof are another fantastic way to brighten up your house. These are like regular windows, but they’re specifically designed to let in lots of light. They come in all shapes and sizes, and can be placed almost anywhere in your home.
Unlike tubular skylights, sun windows give you a view of the outside world while letting in light. They’re perfect for rooms where you want to enjoy the scenery while still getting plenty of natural sunshine.
Types of Sun Windows: Let the Sunshine In
Sun windows come in many different styles, each with its own unique look and function. Here are a few popular options:
Picture Windows
These are large windows that don’t open. They’re perfect for enjoying a beautiful view and letting in maximum sunlight.
Casement Windows
These windows open outward like a door, offering great ventilation and a wide view.
Double Hung Windows
A classic choice, these windows have two sashes that slide up and down. They’re easy to operate and offer good ventilation.
Slider Windows
These windows slide horizontally, saving space and offering a modern look.
Bay and Bow Windows
These are larger window combinations that create a cozy nook in your room. They offer plenty of light and a spacious feel.
Choosing the right sun window depends on several factors:
- The size and shape of your room
- The direction your windows face
- Your personal style
- Your desired level of ventilation
By carefully considering these factors, you can select the perfect sun window to brighten up your home.
Choosing the Perfect Sun Window
Selecting the right sun window for your home involves considering several factors:
1. Room Size and Orientation:
- Small rooms: Consider smaller windows like casement or slider windows to avoid overwhelming the space.
- Large rooms: Bay or bow windows can create a focal point and offer ample light.
- Room orientation: If your room faces south, you might want to prioritize energy efficiency with options like double-pane glass.
2. Desired Light and Ventilation:
- Maximum light: Picture windows are ideal, but consider the potential for heat gain.
- Ventilation: Casement, double-hung, or slider windows offer fresh air options.
- Balance: Combination windows like bay or bow windows provide both light and ventilation.
3. Style and Aesthetics:
- Traditional: Double-hung or casement windows offer a classic look.
- Modern: Slider or picture windows create a contemporary feel.
- Unique: Bay or bow windows add character and dimension.
4. Budget:
- Cost: Consider the price of the window, installation, and potential energy savings.
- Material: Different materials like wood, vinyl, or aluminum have varying costs.
5. Energy Efficiency:
- Climate: Choose windows with appropriate insulation for your region.
- Glass type: Low-E coatings and double or triple panes can improve efficiency while saving money
6. Maintenance:
- Time and effort: Consider the ease of cleaning and maintenance for different window types.
Remember: It’s often helpful to consult with a professional window installer to get personalized advice based on your specific needs, home, and roof so you can make an informed decision.
VELUX “Fresh Air” skylights or roof windows (available in manual, electric, and solar models) enable your family to enjoy the best of what nature has to offer. Opening for maximum fresh air, this venting skylight contributes to a home’s proper moisture balance and comfort level by allowing stale, humid air to be released.
