The Benefits of Skylights and Sun Tunnels

After buying a new house, or even after living in a house for a long period of time, some people decide that they just don’t have enough light in one room or hallway in their home.  Of course, natural light is better, more cost-efficient, and can provide much more light than some artificial lighting.

Before you can decide to install natural lighting in your home, you should first know the difference between a skylight and sun tunnel and decide which is best for your needs.  A skylight is the one that most people tend to be the most familiar with:  a window that mounts directly on the roof to bring in natural light and ventilation.  These provide a large amount of natural light on days when it’s bright outside since the light is coming straight down into the home through a fairly large amount of glass.  A sun tunnel, on the other hand, is a tubular skylight which extends from the roof through the ceiling.  A sun tunnel can usually be installed to bring natural light to a dark hallway, closet, or any room that cannot have a window added to it.

Both skylights and sun tunnels are great for adding extra light to the home, but they must be installed properly.  When a skylight isn’t installed properly, it can be easy for leaks to come through from the roof.  This is why it’s important to use a contractor who is experienced in installing skylights and uses a good quality skylight, such as Velux.

Sun tunnels add light to rooms without the added cost of a skylight.  Some excellent places where a sun tunnel would be more fitting than a skylight are hallways, bathrooms, and closets.  It makes more sense to put a sun tunnel in these types of rooms since the size is more fitting, and the cost of a skylight is not necessary in these rooms.  The other benefit of adding a Sun tunnel is the convenience of also having a light inside the tunnel in place of your existing light.

Solar skylights are another option for those homeowners looking for natural light and fresh air added to a roof, not to mention the added benefit of energy efficiency in the home.  These skylights use sunlight to charge a battery that opens and closes the skylight, which allows for the perfect amount of ventilation and energy efficiency.  These skylights may seem like an unnecessary cost since the cost is higher than that of regular skylights, but with the laws put in place in 2008 and 2009, the purchaser of a solar skylight is eligible for 30{b8a7eb75cd62c2c4ab664ffbf981e225b24f5910ac196c80569e23ef03d55ab2} Federal Tax Credit on the labor and materials.  Adding in a solar blind to a skylight also gives the buyer an eligibility for this tax credit, and after the tax credit, it ends up being just $200 for a solar blind and window when compared to a fixed skylight.  A solar blind absorbs heat and blocks out solar rays while giving you a transparent or light blocking advantage.

Velux adds further benefits to using a contractor like Triple Peaks Roofing & Construction, Inc. who installs their products by including a 10-year no leak warranty (Velux flashing required) with their skylights.  Triple Peaks Roofing is one of these contractors who installs Velux skylight products.

If you’re looking to add a skylight – traditional or solar – or sun tunnel or add solar blinds to your home, call Triple Peaks Roofing, who serve the Cleveland, Ohio, area.