Skylights

Skylights: Celebrating the Beauty of Natural Light

Skylights are openings in roofs or ceilings fitted with glass in order to emit natural light into a room. The first major production of skylights began in the Industrial Revolution and, in the 21st century, they have only become more popular for adventurous homeowners who want to feel the outdoors inside their home space.

Skylights have an obvious aesthetic appeal, but their use is not limited to this. Energy conservation and a movement away from reliance on environmentally-unfriendly sources of energy have also increased the popularity of skylights.

There are three major variations of skylights; fixed, tubular and vented. Fixed skylights are perfect for rooms that need a burst of natural light and perhaps a beautiful view. However, as they are permanently fixed in the roof or ceiling, they do not provide ventilation. Tubular skylights are perfect for fitting into smaller spaces that could benefit from natural light. For example, pantries, closets or entrance halls. Finally, vented skylights are ideal for rooms that have excess moisture and that need ventilation. Vented skylights can open and close to let in both natural air and light and are available in both manual and electric variation.

Finally, there are a range of materials to choose from when deciding on how your skylight will be constructed. Normally, skylight glazing is composed of plastic, which comes in the form of acrylics. Plastic glazing is a more affordable option, but needs an insulating coating to prevent it yellowing over time. Plastic glazing also tends to allow more harmful UV rays to penetrate.

Glass glazing is a more expensive, but more durable investment option for your skylight. Consider choosing glass glazing if you plan on your skylight being a prominent feature in of the room.