Skylight Placement Tips for Durham & The GTA
Skylight installation is worth exploring if you want to make a valuable and attractive addition to your home. They provide an abundance of natural light while also adding visual appeal and increasing your home’s energy efficiency. Installing a single skylight could bring your room 30 to 35% more light compared to what a typical window could do. With the correct skylight placement, you can easily illuminate your room in the daytime without relying on regular lights that waste so much energy.
However, installing a skylight is not as simple as finding any spot on the roof and nailing it in. You need to consider factors such as the light shaft, the proportion, and scale of the ceiling opening, your house’s orientation, etc., and take certain precautions during the installation process to get the best results and minimal repair and maintenance. Below are a few helpful skylight placements tips to ensure you have the best outcome from your skylight:
Consider the light shaft and size of your skylight
The angle at which the skylight is placed will determine how much light enters the room. The light shaft should be optimally placed to maximize illumination in the desired area without creating a glare. In addition, you need to consider the size of your skylight and make sure it’s proportionally appropriate for the space. When choosing the size, consider factors such as the ceiling height and the room width. If the roof of your room slopes toward an outer wall and your room has a flat ceiling, installing the skylight closer to the wall gives you a smaller shaft of light, but it will also be more efficient for lighting.
Check the orientation of your house
Since skylights do not offer the same light offered by a bulb and skylight placement affects the amount of light they bring in, you need to ensure that your skylight is installed in a direction that offers an adequate amount of natural light.
The direction your home is facing plays a role in determining which skylight placement will work best. South-facing skylights tend to be the most efficient since they receive direct sunlight all day, although west and east-facing skylights also work well.
Space planning ahead of skylight placement is also essential. If the placement of a fixture or furniture obstructs the direct path of sunlight, you will have less natural light entering the room, which defeats the purpose of having light in the first place. Tall trees, especially those with thick foliage. Tall trees, especially those with thick foliage, can also obstruct the direct path of sunlight entering your room, diminishing the amount of light you’ll get from your skylight. Before installing your skylight, ensure you have a clear sky view.
Consider the roof structure
The roof structure of your house affects how secure and safe your skylight will be installed. You need to ensure that the roof is strong enough to support the skylight and its weight. Flat roofs can be easily retrofitted with a skylight, but some extra measures might be necessary if you have a pitched roof. When installing a skylight on an angled roof, you must ensure that the window is securely attached and sealed. Consulting with a professional with expertise in skylight installation should help you determine the best location for your skylight and ensure that it is structurally sound.
Install adequate flashing
Flashing is the most important factor when it comes to installing skylights. It is essential in preventing water penetration and other challenges associated with skylight installation. The skylight flashing should cover the entire surface of the opening, overlapping with the roof membrane and shingles. It should also be installed beneath your roofing material and sealed with a waterproof sealant.
Understand the shape of your roof and skylights
The shape of your roof will dictate the kind of work that you must do for your skylight placement. Earlier, too flat or steep roofs required very special installation techniques. The good thing about modern skylights is that they come with flashing skits, allowing them to be installed on any roof, disregarding its slope. Buyers can choose from two types of skylights: flat and domed.
Flat skylights are the most common ones in most homes. Their disadvantage is that falling debris and leaves could easily block the view. This issue is eliminated by domed skylights, which allow debris to fall to the side. While they provide more light and a good view, they require more complicated installation.
Choose the right skylight design
There are different designs available for skylights. For instance, you can opt for a vented or fixed skylight. The difference is that vented skylights can be easily opened to allow fresh air. While these skylights are good at letting in fresh air, they are susceptible to leaks compared to fixed ones. At the same time, vented skylights are pricier than fixed skylights. The other available design is between the glass and plastic skylight. In terms of cost, glass skylights are more expensive than plastic skylights.
On top of that, glass skylights are scratch-resistant. The reason why you could opt for glass skylights is the fact that they tend to maintain their clarity for many years. Their plastic counterparts get discoloured after a while, leading to a compromised view. Therefore, one should carefully weigh their options when choosing the right skylight design for their home.
Keep exterior aesthetics in mind
When planning skylight placement, most homeowners focus on how the skylight appears from the inside. They forget that skylight placements could also have a huge impact on the home’s exterior. This is especially the case with traditional homes not designed to install skylights. If you have plans to sell your home in the future, a skylight installed wrongly could have a huge and negative impact. For that reason, ensure to settle for skylights that complement your home’s exterior aesthetics.
Benefits of installing skylights
A good amount of light enters your room
Skylight installation is important for several reasons. The main reason you should have a skylight installed in your home is that it allows more natural light in your room. People living in a rainy climate stand to benefit from these skylights. The amount of light from skylights cannot be compared to the one you receive from common windows. You can have skylights in the bathroom, one of the parts that do not have windows in most houses.
A reduction in monthly energy bills
By having more natural light in your home, you reduce your energy bills to a large extent. During the winter season, having natural light sent directly to your home will reduce your heat consumption. When you have a vented skylight installed on your roof, it is easy to open it in warmer months so that the warm air gets in.
Positive emotional benefits
When you fall into winter depression, natural sunlight can offer a remedy. This is true for people who are diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder. Additionally, skylights are neutral additions in most homes. This means that it will not affect the home appeal negatively. With the benefits they have to offer, it is upon you to decide whether or not to install skylights on your roof.
Final Thoughts…
We hope the tips above have taught you a thing or two about skylight placement and how to do it successfully. With the correct skylight placement, it becomes easy to maximize the benefits that skylights are meant to offer. Whether you want more natural light throughout the day or to boost your interior aesthetics, skylight placement is an avenue to explore. Investing in proper window placement will also keep your energy bills low and enhance the home’s exterior features.
We recommend that you seek professional advice whenever you intend to do a skylight placement in your home. This ensures that the job is done accurately, with all safety measures followed. At CD Roofing, we have the right professionals to take care of your skylight installation needs. Contact us now, and let’s get started.