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Skylights - there's more to them than meets the eye

By Graham Baylis

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 05Apr2009
Word count: 640
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Have you have changed your loft into a bedroom, playroom or study/office?, and then realised that there is just not enough natural light in the room? Of course, most lofts don't have any windows to start with so here you are at a real disadvantage in making the most of any natural light, unless of course you fit a roof window or skylight.

In other cases even "normal" the rooms you have upstairs don't feel bright enough and thus you would like to have more natural light. The skylight (or roof window) is one answer, but there you will need to consider what type of skylight you might like. The pitch of the roof and the shape of the ceiling in the room determines the type and shape of the skylights which can be used, and remember, putting in skylights is not just about making a hole in the roof and sticking a window or dome into it. Great care must be taken in what shape and size your skylight will be and then in fitting it. After all, you don't want it in the wrong place or leaking all over your room every time it rains.

The shape of the skylight dictates how much and what sort of light you will receive. You will also need to be aware of the direction your skylight will face, if you have a traditional style skylight fitted flush to an east facing roof, you will get a lot of early morning light which may cause a problem in the bedroom of a light sleeper. You may also want to consider whether you want your skylight to open as good ventilation is important to your well being as well.

There are many styles and shapes of skylight to choose from. For instance, tubular skylights are placed on your roof in a vertical position. Light is then channelled down a reflective tube into a diffuser where it creates light in the room. This light has no UV rays (as it is reflected), so does not cause fading or other damage to furnishings or carpets. Some tubular skylights also allow you to adjust the amount of light entering the room, making them ideal for very bright days when you might want to limit the amount of light. These skylights are therefore particularly useful for rooms where a standard skylight is simply unsuitable.

Light can also be controlled in fixed or ventilating skylights by using blinds or rollers as there will be times when you want more or less light in the room. You may also want to consider tinted glass as a way of reducing damaging UV rays (to stop that fading of furniture and fittings).

One common mistake is to have a skylight which is too big, the result of which is to be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. But whatever type of roof window you choose, natural lighting always enhances a room; it makes it appear brighter and more spacious. It is also believed to benefit the health of those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Before you decide what type of skylight to have, do some research, get advice and talk to people who already have them installed, then try to experience as many different types of skylight as you can, a good supplier should be able to help, so that you can choose exactly what will suit your home and requirements best.

When you are ready to have one installed, it is best to have them fitted by experienced, fully trained personnel, it being all too easy to get the job done cheaply and then pay heavily later to fix the mess created. Overall, unless you are very good at DIY, this is not a job to take on yourself.

Cox Building products have been manufacturing roof windows for many years and offer a solution for all building types and requirements. Please see http://www.coxbp.com/

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