Are you thinking of ways to bring natural light into the home? Are you renovating a room and wanting to have rays of sunshine streaming in? Skylights are a great way to do this.
Scientific research has revealed that there is a strong correlation between light and good mood. In fact, there is even a psychological term for a drop in mood and proactive behaviour that is directly related to the amount of sunlight and warmth experienced when seasons change: seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
So it seems the obvious solution to keeping spirits high is to ensure that the home receives plenty of natural light. One way of inviting sunshine in is with a skylight. There are, however, a few things to consider before adding skylights.
Skylights are usually made with tempered or laminated glass. There are three kinds, each dependent on the kind of home you have: fixed skylights, vented skylights (that can allow fresh air in, like an awning window) and tubular skylights, which come with a built-in tunnel between the ceiling and the roof.
Most skylights are on high ceilings or on ceilings that are slanted upwards. And skylights at the end of a slanted wall can be flat, and usually rest at the highest point of the ceiling. So a flat, low ceiling should not be your first option when installing a skylight.
A great thing about skylights is that the light that streams in makes the room look larger. For a family room or lounge, this is ideal.
There are some disadvantages to installing a skylight. Skylights can leak. If they are not installed properly or not maintained over time, they can allow water or dirt from above to enter the home. Keeping the window clean is also something to consider. It may not be easy to clean some of the highest points of the house, and in autumn or stormy months, the window may be covered with leaves and remaining debris from a storm.
In summer, the light from the skylights can quickly overheat a room and, in particularly hot months of the year, you may wish you had never installed the skylight. Because of the heat that can get trapped in a room from above, home owners resort to air conditioning, which is not energy or cost-efficient. There are ways to block the skylight on particularly hot days, but then one loses the benefit of the natural light.
Whenever you make changes, such as adding a window, breaking down a wall or simply opting for a new coat of paint, there are always two sides to consider. But one thing’s for sure: changing things up and giving a home a little facelift can only make home living that much more exciting.
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