Daylighting is an ingenious solution to illuminate your indoor spaces in a healthy, energy-efficient way. Using a combination of ample windows, white painted ceilings, and skylights, it’s possible to transform a room from a dreary cave you avoid into a fresh, bright place you enjoy. This transformation is made possible by the power of natural light.
Research shows that people who work where there is ample natural light are more productive and less likely to be absent from work. Whether you do your job in an office or your home kitchen, a skylight lightens your mood and your tasks. Natural light shines brightly on your projects so you have a clear view of your work during daylight hours.
SKYLIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE IN MANY STYLES
Skylights are available in styles to suit any home. These features are made in rectangular, triangular, circular, and other shapes to suit your preference. If you have a very small or narrow space you want to illuminate, a tube type of solar light is available. It has a flexible vent/light stack that can be shaped to even bend around attic obstructions.
If you want the light, but don’t plan to ever open your skylight, there are stationary versions. If you’d like to use a skylight to vent stale air out of a room, there are models with solar-powered or wired-in switches. There are even models that sense when it’s raining and close automatically if you’re away from home.
SKYLIGHTS ARE MOUNTED TO THE ROOF
In order to bring in as much light as possible, a hole is made in your roof to accommodate the skylight or sun tube. There are two main ways skylights are then attached to your roof. The first method is called curb mounting, and the second is called deck mounting.
A curb mount means your roofer builds a wooden frame around the opening where the skylight will sit. The seal around the bottom of the skylight is raised up and supported. Waterproofing—in the form of flashing, caulk, and other sealants—is done to protect the curb mount.
When a skylight is mounted on the deck, the seal at the bottom of the skylight is flush with the roofline. In other words, the skylight is attached directly to the decking. This mounting style provides a more low-profile look and requires less additional work to be energy-efficient.
SKYLIGHT PLACEMENT IS KEY TO YOUR SATISFACTION
Skylights placed in a more horizontal position allow more sunlight and solar gain into the room. Skylights that are mounted at a steeper slope allow less light and heat into rooms.
If you want the most warmth you can get from your skylight in winter, it should be placed on a south-facing part of the roof. This means the room will be warmer in summer also, unless the skylight is placed under the shade of a deciduous tree.
A north-facing roof placement provides plenty of indirect sunlight while the room stays cool. This is a smart choice when you want to add more light but keep cooling bills low.
It’s also important to consider the size of the skylight relative to the room’s square footage. If you’re having a skylight installed in a small space with few or no windows, the skylight should be no larger in area than 15 percent of the floor space. In rooms with abundant windows, the total area of the skylight should take up no more than 5 percent of the floor area.
A professional roofer should always install your skylight. The job is a complicated process requiring precision measurements and experience working on roofs.
The professionals at Vertex Roofing install and maintain high quality skylights throughout the Corpus Christi and San Antonio areas. Contact us today to see what’s new in skylight designs. We also repair and replace skylights for residences and businesses.