4 Top Considerations When Installing a Skylight on Your Home

Do you need to brighten up your home with natural light? Installing a skylight on your roof can be an excellent way to achieve that. Roof windows provide excellent lighting and warmth to your rooms compared to sidewall windows. However, installing skylights can be an expensive and complex endeavour. 

For these reasons, it's worth keeping in mind the following tips when installing skylight windows in your home: 

Plan Carefully

You must keep in mind numerous aspects before considering skylight windows installation. For instance, you must pay attention to energy efficiency, placement and cost, among many other things. Proper roofing and water damage are other essential considerations as well. 

Thus, it's imperative to consult with your contractor to understand the effects of a skylight installation on your roof or space. Selecting a reputable contractor is the initial step when it comes to planning the design of your skylight windows. 

Consider the Sun's Direction 

Skylight placement and the sun's direction are crucial factors to consider when installing your skylight. For instance, north-facing skylights offer excellent but cool lighting constantly. However, those facing the east offer maximum solar heat and lighting in the morning. Skylights facing the west side will offer afternoon sunlight and solar heat. 

However, skylights facing the southern side will offer more solar heat during winter but contribute to unwanted heat in the summer. One way to prevent this problem is installing skylights in shady or below leaf-shedding trees, or consider adding movable window coverings.

The Angle of Installation 

The angle or slope you install your skylights will significantly impact solar heat gain. Therefore, it's imperative to keep that in mind during installation. Your contractor might advise you against a low slope since it allows in more heat during summer and less during winter months. An ideal slope must be equal to your current geographical latitude.

Insulation and Glazing 

Plastic and glass for the most popular skylight glazing materials you can find on the market. Plastic is more affordable to purchase and doesn't surfer breakage easily like other glazing options available. However, plastic is prone to scratches and might expose your home to ultra-violet rays that are harmful to your health. 

Conversely, glass is more expensive but highly durable. That's because it's laminated using tempered glass. As technology evolves, better forms of glazing are getting manufactured. As a result, you can find products that are excellent in reducing solar heat gain in summer and heat loss during wintertime.  


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