Are you looking for a way to incorporate more natural light into a specific space in your home? Perhaps you’re looking for something that allows for ventilation as well. Have you given any thought to skylights?
Having a few strategically placed skylights is the easiest way to add natural light to your home. Natural light has substantial benefits for your health and general well-being. In addition, skylights also increase the value of your home. However, to experience the full effectiveness of the skylights Sydney vendors can offer, it’s important to consider a few strategic points.
Skylights – An Easy Way to Add Natural Light and Ventilation
There are many benefits to adding skylights to your home. Some of these include better ventilation, more natural lighting, and a reduction of energy costs. Let’s look at the important points to consider optimising the outcome.
Domed or Flat—Which Is Better?
The first point to consider is whether you want domed or flat skylights. You might think it doesn’t matter, but experts believe domed skylights are generally the better choice. There are a few reasons why domed is the better option to go for here:
- Domed skylights generally add more light to a room because of the curvature in the design. This bends the sun’s light, adding more light to the room.
- Domed skylights are more weather-durable. Rain and snow can easily slide off the domed sides, whereas a flat skylight will result in a build-up that will need to be cleaned off.
- These skylights can be made from acrylic, which means you’ll have the option of adding an extra layer for insulation or a tinted layer to block out some of the sun’s harsh rays.
On the other hand, flat skylights add a more modern aesthetic to the home. Just remember that leaves and snow won’t slide off as they do on a domed skylight and it will have to be cleaned off manually.
Does Placement Matter?
It’s very important to decide exactly where in your home you’d like to install your skylight. You might even consider adding one to every room to create an even distribution of natural light. Even so, you’ll still need to decide exactly where in each room you’d get the most effective result.
A popular example of choosing the correct placement would be in the middle of a room. This allows the whole room to benefit from the light. The professional contractor that you use will be able to help you make the best decision based on the direction your house faces in relation to the sun.
What Are the Energy-Efficient Options?
Many skylight vendors offer energy-efficient options that would prevent too much heat from the sun filling the room. For instance, opting for a tinted glass option will easily reduce the amount of heat entering through the skylights. It’s important to note that it’s not the actual skylights that produce the heat, but rather the way the material absorbs heat from the sun.
Vented or Fixed – What’s the Difference?
If you’re on a tight budget but still want the benefits of skylights, the fixed option is perhaps more tangible. Vented skylights are generally more expensive but allow you to open them to introduce more air circulation into the home. Homes situated in hot climates will benefit from the extra ventilation. A disadvantage of vented skylights, other than the cost, is that they can sometimes become prone to leaks.
Is Glass Better Than Acrylic?
In general, acrylic sheeting, also known as plexiglass, is the preferred material choice for skylight domes. Not only does acrylic provide exceptional light transmission but it’s also UV stable, so it can withstand a lot of the sun’s harsh rays before becoming discoloured.
Flat skylights are usually made of glass. Glass panes with added insulation last longer than single-layered panes. Usually, glass panes have E-coatings and argon gas between two layers, that easily cut out excess heat penetration in the summer and reduce harmful UV rays. Noise from the rain is also not as loud on these types of skylights.
When Is The Best Time to Install?
Although the dry seasons of the year are the best time to install skylights, a professional installer will be able to install them year-round. Installing during dryer periods will eliminate the possibility of delays due to weather. The last thing you want is to have an open hole in your roof with pouring rain!
A Final Thought About Installing Skylights
Making the decision to have skylights professionally installed will not only illuminate your space but add a touch of luxury as well. In addition to the aesthetic value, you’ll also be getting much better ventilation in your home. Another plus point is the addition of natural light works well toward making a smaller room look slightly bigger.
There are other benefits as well, such as regulated sleep patterns and mood improvement for all of you using the space. Both of these can be attributed to the introduction of natural light. With all these plus points, the only question left to ask is how many skylights will you be installing to improve your home?
