Although their modern colleagues have only been with us since the middle of the 20th century, skylights have been around for a long time. The oldest examples of roofs with openings to the sky can be found in ancient Roman architecture.
Although it was completely exposed and was not known as a skylight, the Pantheon’s oculus is an example. In the middle of the ceiling, it provides just the right lighting for the impressive interior of the building.
While the first glass skylights appeared in France between the late 17th and 18th centuries – for example in the Halle aux blés in Paris – they only became common after the industrial revolution.
These days, skylights are commonplace and available in most large retail outlets like bunnies. They can be found in a number of commercial and residential uses. There are many types of skylights; Consumers and planners can choose from simple fixed skylights, square skylights, ventilated skylights, tubular skylights, dome skylights and much more.
Regardless of their design, and regardless of whether they are specified for a bedroom in Perth, a bathroom in Brisbane, a kitchen in Adelaide, a living room in Melbourne, or a commercial area in Sydney, skylights all perform the same basic functions. They offer interiors that would otherwise be too dark or have no air, with lighting and ventilation.
Advantages and disadvantages of skylights
The positive
Some say that well-planned skylight ideas can be brought to life by illuminating dark or gloomy rooms. This is true in several ways. The right amount of light is an inexpensive way of supplying a room with energy and expanding the design options.
Also, when optimally positioned, they can provide three times as much natural light as a vertical window of the same size. Good skylight ideas have aesthetic benefits, energy benefits, and environmental benefits (in terms of lower power consumption for lighting), and even mental health benefits.
It is known that well-lit environments improve the mood of the occupants. They help the body produce more serotonin and less melatonin, so they help reduce the severity of conditions like depression and anxiety.
All of this results in a better, more livable home (or office), which in turn means better property value.
The negatives
Skylights have disadvantages, but most are associated with poor skylight ideas, such as: B. the indication of an unsuitable product for the respective application or the incorrect installation.
In winter, a skylight saves energy thanks to its lower energy consumption and can waste energy through heat loss. Conversely, in summer it could lead to hot air entering and energy consumption and costs rising again. Therefore, caution should be exercised before choosing a skylight.
Likewise, poor selection or installation by inexperienced contractors or DIY enthusiasts can damage roofs or simply fail to seal the unit properly. Both problems can be costly to fix.
What are skylights made of?
Skylights are typically made of acrylic, which is translucent but not transparent. However, in some cases they are made of a polycarbonate material (which can be either translucent or transparent).
Insulated skylights usually have a double-glazed window with an inert gas (generally argon) that absorbs the heat from the light but does not affect the surrounding chemicals.
How to install skylights
Choosing the right skylight (one that lets in the right amount of light, but no more) is just as important as its installation. DIY projects, while not entirely out of the question, are not recommended for those who do not have the experience and skills. Caution is required and a high level of competence is required.
The size and spacing of the product are important. In terms of size, a floor-to-skylight ratio of 3 to 5% is optimal for regular skylights, and a ratio of 1 to 2% is recommended for high-powered appliances.
In applications with multiple skylights, the distance between the skylights should be approximately 1.5 times the height between the floor and the roof to optimize lighting.
What do skylights cost?
Given the wide range of skylights to choose from, prices vary significantly. An inexpensive acrylic skylight can cost $ 350, while a top-quality tubular skylight costs up to $ 1,200. The list of skylight types below gives the price ranges for each style.
Skylight Ideas – How To Choose
With so many types of skylights available, choosing the right one for your application can be difficult. It comes down to a number of factors including how much skylights cost and what you are trying to achieve. For example, is lighting the main objective or are ventilation and aesthetic benefits also part of the decision.
The size of the room and the placement largely determine the decision. For example, tubular skylights cannot be installed on flat roofs. Then the question arises of the operability and the choice between manual and electronic skylights and of course the type of glazing. Here is a list of the different skylight ideas.
Types of skylight
1) Custom skylights
Sometimes roofs have an unusual shape or are in a condition that makes it difficult to install a standard skylight. In other cases, the owner or specifier might just be looking for something special. For these and many other reasons, some choose custom skylights.
Custom Skylight Price Range: $ 2,500 +
2) Fixed skylights
In the case of the most popular Sklylights, fixed spotlights remained sealed and are therefore only suitable for lighting. They do not provide ventilation. Materials generally include glass or plastic with a frame made of steel, aluminum, or wood. They are usually square lights.
Price Range: $ 260 +
3) Ventilated skylights
Ventilated skylights are simply skylights that can be opened either electrically or manually. In addition to improving ventilation, they are also especially welcome in rooms prone to excess moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Price: $ 1,000 – $ 4,000
4) Round skylights
The term round skylights (also known as circular skylights) simply refers to the shape of the product. They are suitable for most roof profiles and cladding and can be mounted on a square or circular base if necessary.
Price: $ 300 +
5) dome skylights
Dome skylights are generally made of durable, flexible plastic. Their main advantage is that they can be used to illuminate entire rooms. This is due to their shape, which ensures even light distribution.
Price: $ 350- $ 740
6) Solar skylights
Given the fact that natural light is not always available, solar skylights have their own solar panel that charges when the sun shines and then provides its own artificial light when it disappears.
7) Flat roof skylights
Flat roof skylights offer an additional opportunity not only to illuminate interiors, but also to improve ventilation.
Price Range: $ 250 +
8) Blinds for skylights
Skylight blinds are meant for those moments when you don’t want any light at all. Maybe even more than windows, these must have items because without them it can be very difficult to block a skylight.
Price Range: $ 200 +
9) Open the skylights
Unlike ventilated skylights, which stay in a fixed open position, opening skylights can be opened and closed with a mechanical device. If necessary, they offer the advantages of ventilation and can easily be closed when the weather changes.
Price: $ 825 +
10) LED skylights
Sometimes solar powered LED skylights are recommended when standard skylights are not possible. They have their own solar panel on the roof and high-quality LEDs for lighting.
11) Tubular skylight
A tubular skylight is recommended for applications where there is insufficient roof space for fixed or ventilated skylights. It consists of three components: a light collector on the roof, a reflective tube and an interior lamp that provides the light.
Price range: $ 200- $ 500
12) Skylight of the barrel vault
Barrel vault skylights are most commonly used in commercial buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, etc. and can be recognized by their distinctive shape and size compared to other skylights.
13) Ridge skylight
As the name suggests, ridge skylights duplicate the shape of the roof ridge and can therefore sit on the same. Alternatively, they can be mounted to the curb on flat roofs with a variety of skylight pitch options.
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