Look Towards your Roof and into the Light.

When
it comes to roofing and natural light, it pays to look into installing
skylights and
solar-tubes in conjunction with a new roof installation. The old adage that
skylights always leak is false. When they are installed by a roofing
professional at the same time a new roofing system is being installed, it is very
unlikely to have problems with your skylights, now or down the road.
When
it comes to roofing and natural light, it pays to look into installing
skylights and
solar-tubes in conjunction with a new roof installation. The old adage that
skylights always leak is false. When they are installed by a roofing
professional at the same time a new roofing system is being installed, it is very
unlikely to have problems with your skylights, now or down the road.
Now
that you can forget about leaks, lets move on to the numerous benefits and options.
First, which one is right for you – skylights or solar tubes? Well, they both might
be, but lets look at the most common applications for each. Skylights are bestused
when you have an area that may benefit from a more architectural interior look, like
over a formal dining room or a custom kitchen area. They are also easier to
install where
there is little wiring or ducting in the way and work well in the vaulted areas
of the home. Skylight units themselves are relatively inexpensive. Even the flashings
and underlayment protection don’t add a whole bunch. But the expense is in
constructing the light shaft from the roof into the homes interior. The light
shaft must have a clear shot avoiding wiring and attic obstacles along with
fitting between rafters and joists. If you don’t have a clear shot, an
electrician or HVAC can generally move items out of the way and a good
carpentry can add additional framing to allow a rafter or joist to be cut. Once
a light shaft has been framed, it must insulated then sheetrocked and finished.
Now
you can see why a vaulted ceiling with a short shaft and its clear shot is
ideal for skylights. Remember, the natural light that a skylight brings in is
wonderful, but you have options.
Solar
Tubes have arrived and with them comes a fairly inexpensive and effective wayto
light up an area of your home. First lets get one detail out of the way, a 10”
light tubecan
bring about as much light into a room as a 2×4 skylight. But what they don’t
bring in is the ultra-violet light and heat of a standard skylight. They can
also wind around wire and obstacles in the attic making installations easier
and cheaper. The only draw-back is the interior light/dome fixture. It looks
fine – in a hall way, a bathroom or in a closet, but generally they don’t jazz
up a room looks light a skylight. So if you’re looking to light up a dark area
of the home and looks are not super important, consider solar tubes.