When it comes to bringing natural light and fresh air inside, many choices are available. From large skylights to smaller sun tunnels, you have many options for how you add natural light to your home.
Whether you want more natural light or just a bit more privacy from neighbors, there is the perfect skylight or sun tunnel for your home. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of each type so that you can choose the one that’s best for you and your family.
What Is A Skylight?
A skylight is a roof opening that lets in natural light from the outside. Skylights can be installed over an existing roof, or a new roof can be built to accommodate a skylight. There are a few different types of skylights that are best suited to different situations:
Roof-Mounted Skylights – These skylights are mounted to the outside of the roof. This is the most common skylight type. They are relatively easy to install and are an excellent option for bringing in light in rooms that don’t have a window, such as a bathroom, laundry room, or walk-in closet.
Wall-Mounted Skylights – Wall-mounted skylights are installed directly into the wall of the house. They are often used for bathrooms where the walls are made of materials that can’t handle being exposed to the elements.
Roof Shingle-Mounted Skylights – Roof shingle-mounted skylights are installed between two layers of the roofing material and attached to the shingles with clips.
How To Install A Skylight
When installing a skylight, there are a few things to remember. First, you’ll need to have a sturdy roof that can support the skylight. You’ll also want to make sure you have enough room to accommodate the skylight opening. If you are building a new roof, you’ll want to make sure you have enough space for a skylight and will need to decide if you will build the skylight into the roof or mount it to the outside. You’ll also need a good access point to install a skylight.
✔️ Advantages Of A Skylight
✅ Easy Installation
One of the most significant benefits of a skylight is how easy it is to install. Most skylights can be installed without needing to tear up the roof. This means there is little to no disruption to the inside of the house as the skylight is installed.
✅ Expandable
Another great thing about skylights is that you can add them to most rooms. If you want more natural light but don’t have a window, you can add a skylight. If you’re going to add more natural light to a room with a window but need more, you can add a skylight. This means you can add skylights to bedrooms, bathrooms, and more to bring in more natural light.
✅ Natural Light
With a skylight, you’ll get all the benefits of natural light. This means you’ll get a boost in mood and energy, a reduced likelihood of depression and seasonal affective disorder, and a reduction in cortisol, the stress hormone.
❌ Disadvantages Of A Skylight
❎ Roof Support
Before installing a skylight, you must ensure the roof support handles the extra weight. This is especially important if you plan to have a large skylight or want one made from a heavy material, like stained glass.
❎ Accessibility
While most skylights are easy to install, it is important to make sure you have a good access point to install one. This means you’ll need to have enough space on your roof to access the area where you want to install the skylight.
❎ Cost
Another downside of skylights is that they can be more expensive than other options for bringing natural light into a room. Depending on your skylight’s size, material, and location, it can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
What Is A Sun Tunnel?
A sun tunnel is a skylight designed to bring as much natural light and warmth inside. Sun tunnels are smaller than traditional skylights but often have an added ventilation feature that helps to keep the air inside fresh. Sun tunnels are an excellent option for rooms that don’t have a window or for rooms with limited exterior views. Sun tunnels can be installed above an existing roof, or a new roof can be built for a sun tunnel.
Roof-Mounted Sun Tunnels – These skylights are mounted outside the roof. Like roof-mounted skylights, roof-mounted sun tunnels are relatively easy to install. They are a great option for rooms that don’t have a window, such as a bathroom, laundry room, or walk-in closet.
Wall-Mounted Sun Tunnels – Wall-mounted sun tunnels are installed directly into the wall of the house. They are often used for bathrooms where the walls are made of materials that can’t handle being exposed to the elements.
Roof Shingle-Mounted Sun Tunnels – Roof shingle-mounted sun tunnels are installed between two layers of the roofing material and attached to the shingles with clips.
How To Install A Sun Tunnel
When installing a sun tunnel, you’ll want to ensure that you have the proper roof support to handle the added weight. You’ll also want to provide enough space in your existing roof to install a sun tunnel. You may also consider installing an exhaust fan to help remove excess heat from the sun tunnel.
✔️ Advantages of a Sun Tunnel
✅ Easy Installation
Like skylights, sun tunnels are relatively easy to install.
✅ Expandable
You can add sun tunnels to most rooms, including bathrooms, which means you can add more natural light to rooms with a window but need more light.
✅ Natural Light
Sun tunnels bring in all of the benefits of natural light. This means you’ll get a boost in mood and energy, a reduced likelihood of depression and seasonal affective disorder, and a reduction in cortisol, the stress hormone.
❌ Disadvantages of a Sun Tunnel
❎ Roof Support
You need to make sure you have enough roof support to handle the weight of a sun tunnel. This is especially important if you plan to have a sun tunnel with a fan.
❎ Cost
Another downside of sun tunnels is that they can cost more than skylights. This is because sun tunnels are often larger and heavier, requiring more material to build them.
Conclusion
So, when looking at the best ways to bring natural light and fresh air into your home, you’ve got a lot of different options. From skylights to sun tunnels, you have many choices for how you can enrich your indoor environment. When deciding which type of skylight or sun tunnel is right for you, you’ll want to consider the roof support, accessibility, and cost. With the right skylight or sun tunnel, you can bring more natural light and fresh air to your home. Contact us now for more details on our skylight roofing services and free price quotes.