It's not always possible to admit sufficient daylight to the interiors of a house using standard, wall-mounted windows. In some rooms or areas of the house such as attics, corridors and store rooms, regular window units may not even be a practical option at all. That's why you may be considering adding skylights to your home.
Permanently fixed into the roofline of a home, skylights let in lots of natural light into dark or poorly-lit rooms or areas of the home, brightening up these spaces.
Before making a buying decision, it's important to know that not all skylights are created equal. Like other window products, they come in a range of shapes and sizes to meet the requirements of different projects.
Read this guide to learn what you should look at when choosing skylight systems for your home.
Do you require ventilation?
Unlike roof windows, which can be opened to provide ventilation, skylights are fixed units that generally do not open.
That said, some skylights may include venting features that make them let in both daylight and fresh air. These skylight versions can double as roof windows without taking up as much space—roof windows are typically larger than skylights. They also reduce nuisances such as outdoor noise and flying pests associated with leaving windows open to bring fresh air.
Ultimately, you'll need to choose between standard skylights that offer daylight only or go for vented units that can provide natural light and ventilation.
Does the performance and efficiency of your skylights matter to you?
Skylights introduce sunlight into the interiors of a home at different rates. The amount of natural light that gets admitted to the home through these windows largely depends on the type of glazing material used—this can be either glass or plastic. A skylight's glazing material also impacts the energy efficiency of the window itself, as well as the energy efficiency of the entire home.
With modern skylight systems, you do not have to sacrifice performance for efficiency. When choosing skylights for your home, consider products with a high energy rating. Although such products may cost more upfront, they usually lead to significant energy savings, thus paying for themselves in the long run.
Skylight installation is a home improvement project that requires an expert to do it correctly. Get in touch with a skylight window installation specialist today to get a free, no-obligation quote for your project.