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What You Must Know About Skylight


The primary reason most homeowners have for installing a skylight is to add brightness to a room. That will happen. But there is more. With a skylight, the amount of energy used to light a room will go down significantly and that will show up in your reduced electricity bills. Having natural sunlight in a room instead of electric lighting makes the indoor environment much more attractive, adding to the appeal and look of the space. Natural sunlight is known to reduce fatigue and enhance cognitive awareness, both of which will make the people in the home, and by extension, the home itself, a more positive place where people are less stressed. The extra sunlight will also provide more of the essential vitamin D to the people in the house. Sunlight is also a natural disinfectant, helping the make the interior a healthier place in which to spend time.



Types of Skylights

There are various types of skylights made from different materials and involving different types of installation. They can broadly be categorized in 3 ways:

1. Fixed skylights that are like panes of glass fitted to the roof.

2. Ventilated skylight that can be opened to allow for increased internal ventilation.

3. Tubular skylights (or Tubular Daylight Devices [TDDs] or Daylighting Systems as they are also called) are the modern, technologically advanced choice. TDDs can be installed quickly – usually in just a few hours with no fuss or bother. TDDs can be fitted with decorative fixtures that will add to the décor of any room. Add-ons like ventilation kits, dimmers and electric lighting attachments that allow the fixture to function after sunset are all available.

Types of Glazing 

There are 2 basic glazing options for skylights - plastic or glass. Plastic is the less expensive and is lighter. However, it is less durable than glass and is more easily scratched, leading to a loss of transparency. Plastic is also more easily damaged by weather or environmental factors. Glass is the preferred choice because it has more clarity, and is scratch and break-resistant. There are several glass glazing options such as double insulation to reduce heat loss, tempered glass, tinted glass and so on. Generally speaking, it is better to have glass glazing. 

Being the Premier Dealers for Solatube, the market leader in daylighting systems, we can offer a range of Tubular Daylighting Devices models to suit all types of homes. We repair and replace existing traditional skylights. Our professional installation and repair teams will complete the installation in a few hours, usually on the same day that the order is placed.

 Visit our website to book a free consultation where you will get all the information you need to make an informed decision and to have all your questions answered. You will also be able to see the range of decorative fixtures that you can choose from. Of course, you can always call us at (408) 317-0510 or, for Monterey & Santa Cruz, (831) 220-3629.

 

 


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