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Skylights: Let the Sun Shine In! |
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Written by Doresa Banning
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008 |
When we think of skylights, we envision a framed, two-by-four inch rectangular pane of glass set into the roof. However, today, various types of skylights are available. While they may differ in design, these “green” features do share common traits: They allow natural light into a home, making spaces brighter and seemingly larger, and they offer potential cost and energy savings.
Tubular Skylights The Sun-E-Concepts showroom in Reno is completely illuminated with sunlight entering the building via several tubular skylights. Because the quantity of light entering the building is so great, the staff rarely uses electric lights. “It’s so much light that even on a cloudy, overcast day, there still is plenty of light within the room,” says Dwayne Smith, sales representative for the company. Sun-E-Concepts sells and installs both Solatube (www.solatube.com) tubular skylights and Solar Star solar-powered attic fans. Tubular skylights are the latest evolution of skylights. They provide exceptional lighting, cost less than other day-lighting options, save on energy bills, and reduce environmental pollution. These units also are referred to as “light tubes,” “light pipes,” “sun pipes,” “solar pipes,” “solar light pipes,” “daylight pipes,” and “sun tunnels.” They consist of a dome that sits atop the roof, a tube extending from the dome, through the attic, down into the space to be lit. The dome collects sunlight, which is diffused into the room. Striations on the dome direct low-level sunlight into the tube while others can deflect direct sunlight away from the tube. Some domes filter out the different types of ultraviolet light. The tube is sealed at both ends, eliminating leakage and hot and cold extremes. The appearance of a solar tube inside a home is like that of a recessed light. For residential use, the tubes typically come in ten-inch and thirteen- or fourteen-inch units. The size refers to the diameter of the tube that brings light into the space. The ten-inch unit is recommended for small enclosed spaces with no natural light, such as hallways, closets, laundry rooms, stairwells, powder rooms, and storage rooms, as it provides light for about one hundred fifty to two hundred square feet. The light that the ten-inch Solatube tubes provide, for example, equals that of about three one hundred-watt bulbs on a sunny day, Smith says. “They just don’t even compare to incandescent or fluorescent lighting,” he adds. The fourteen-inch tubes emit double the light, and therefore are ideal for large rooms or rooms with vaulted ceilings. They provide light for about two hundred fifty to three hundred square feet. Sparks-based Incline Glass, a forty-plus-year, family-owned and -operated glass company, sells a similar product called a Sun Tunnel, manufactured by Velux (www.veluxusa.com). The Sun Tunnel comes in ten- and fourteen-inch units. (Velux also sells traditional skylights.) “It’s free daylight,” Sun-E-Concepts’ Smith says. “They’re going to brighten up that dark room, hallway, walk-in closet, or anywhere you need more light, and you may never have to pay for it again.” Light output varies depending on the sun’s intensity and may decrease as the tube length increases. Different brands of tubular skylights offer various accessories. They can include different kinds of lenses, dimmers, and diffusers. A light kit option allows for the tube to contain a light bulb for times when you want electric light in the space. Combining the two types of light eliminates the need for a separate light fixture. Tubular skylights can be installed in nearly any room, even ones without direct roof access and smaller spaces where daylight normally wouldn’t be possible. In addition, they’re compatible with any type of roof support. Installations on tile roofs, however, may cost extra. Putting in a tubular skylight involves cutting a hole in both the roof and the ceiling. Because the units are small in size, they can be installed without structural reframing. Therefore, no permit is required. Installation is something do-it-yourselfers can do (it takes installers at Sun-E-Concepts about two hours to install one). Solar tube kits are available for between $200 and $400 at most hardware stores. Sun-E-Concepts sells the ten-inch Solatube unit for $595 plus tax and the forteen-inch one for $755, both of which include installation costs. Before purchasing, determine what features and accessories may be important to or necessary for you, and ensure what you’re buying contains those. Skylights, fixed and venting Like tubular skylights, traditional skylights also are cost effective and energy efficient. They can allow in three times as much light as a vertical window of the same size. In addition, they reduce heat loss and decrease the need for artificial lighting in the home. When it comes to these skylights, sometimes called “roof windows,” more options are on the market today than ever before. They now come in various, even custom, sizes, and shapes. Materials generally are glass or plastic. For instance, in addition to its glass skylight offerings, CrystaLite (www.crystaliteinc.com) makes an acrylic dome skylight, which has a curved, rather than flat, look, says Gary Whiting, salesperson, Incline Glass, in Sparks. The downside to plastic skylights, however, is that they can’t be seen through clearly. Ventilating skylights, either manual or electrical, which open, are yet another option. They can provide air flow in and let out built-up heat from rooms that may not be well ventilated. Tempered or laminated glass along with low-E and tinted coatings are available to control heat transmission and ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, shades, shutters, or screens can be added to decrease sunlight and the resultant heat. Other extras include rain sensors, remote controls, and thermostatic controls. Skylight technology has advanced to where they’re leakproof. Leaks, however, can develop where the skylight abuts the roof, but this can be avoided with proper roofing paper and metal flashing installation. In addition, ventilating skylights must be installed properly to avoid leaks. Skylights can be installed in any type of roof but do require that the roof have a certain pitch, typically fifteen degrees. Unlike installation of tubular skylights, installation of traditional skylights is better left to the professionals. It’s a difficult job that generally involves cutting the roof, installing new structural framing members, attaching the skylight, and installing roofing paper and then flashing. Once the skylight is in place, the ceiling under the skylight then needs to be drywalled and finished. Installations like these require a permit, as they involve structural changes to the home. Not all skylight installations, however, are as complicated. Those not involving structural changes don’t require a permit. Traditional skylights should be cleaned with warm water and a mild detergent, and then rinsed with clean water. Leaf debris should be cleaned from skylights regularly as moisture can cause chemicals to leach out of the leaves and cause severe staining. With ventilating skylights, moving parts may need lubrication or maintenance over time. Small skylights can cost just under $100 and larger, electric ones can run upwards of $800 to $1,000, Whiting says. Installation is extra. For more information about tubular or traditional skylights, contact a local skylight or glass specialist.
Doresa Banning is a Reno-based freelance writer.
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