Skylights will help make your home energy-efficient when carefully selected and installed by a professional. They keep your heating and cooling bills low. They make your life a lot easier and fun to live. That’s the reason most homes in the UK have them installed on their roofs. However, there are many thing to learn when purchasing and installing them.
Design considerations
When selecting skylights, one has to know the type, plus the most ideal location that will optimise the performance so the unit can positively contribute to their energy and ventilation needs at home. Generally, informed buyers often consider energy performance ratings so they can select a unit that is relevant to their local climate and also home design.
The illumination and temperature level of the room is affected by the size of the opening. However, as a rule of thumb, the unit selected must never be more than 5% of the floor area — especially in rooms with many windows. Again, it should not be more than 15% of the total floor area in rooms with fewer windows.
Position also matters a lot. Let it face the north and you’ll be subjected to constant but cool illumination. If it faces the south, it will provide good winter passive solar heat (though this position encourages unwanted heat during summer). East facing position provides the most solar energy in the morning. Finally, west-facing position encourages solar heat in the better part of the afternoon.
Glazing technology
Manufacturers often use plastic or glass for glazing. However, newer technologies have emerged for better solar heat control abilities. Glazing is all about the performance of your skylights. So choose different glazing for the different locations on your roof.
Plastic tends to be inexpensive and less likely to break with prolonged usage. However, the downside is that plastic will scratch easily and lose colour in the long run. It is also reported that most plastic materials let UV rays in, unless coated with a special film.
On the other hand, glass is costly and does not fade in the end. If you can afford it, use tempered glass because it’s the most impact-resistance compared to laminate glass which may consist of plastic elements.
Because they are placed on the roof, these units can result in unwanted solar heat during summer. So if possible, look for units that are equipped with insulated glazing, heat absorbing tints, and low-emissivity features.
The shapes
They come in all shapes you can think of. But the most common shapes we see are rectangular, oval, circular, triangular, tubular, multi-sided and diamond-shaped. The shape of the unit you choose dictates the level of its performance once installed on the roof. Again, the smaller the size, the less impact it will create on your home’s architecture.
In conclusion
If properly installed, there should be no water leaks of any kind. To do this, professional installers often include a raised watertight lid which deflects water away from the area. Joints are also sealed thoroughly according to manufacturer’s instructions, thus enabling these openings to serve as they were intended to do.