Spruce Up Your Home With Skylights

By: Mark k Watson Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Skylights in the home are the easiest, least expensive and most effective way of sprucing up your home and giving it a makeover. The reason why skylights are becoming immensely popular is the way they encompass a slice of the sky within the home. They can thus impart roominess to any room. But, to get maximum impact from skylights in the home, it is important to understand the design, positioning and size of skylights.

Size: As a rule, specialists believe that skylights illuminate a room that is roughly 20 times the size of the room. Some people, in an effort to let in plenty of light choose the biggest skylight they can afford. But bigger is not always better when it comes to choosing skylights for your home. The size of the skylight should not be more than 5% of the floor space if there are other windows in the room. It should be less than 15% of the floor space if there are few windows in the room. Unlike commercial buildings, where structures are huge, there is only so much that a room within the house can take. So, choose skylights that suit the size of the room.

Style: Although most skylights are rectangular, these are available in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. The shape of the skylights installed in your home will impact the design and look of the room. In the past, skylights were prone to vapor build-up during the cold season. This vapor would then trickle down as water droplets into the room. However, these days, it is possible to buy skylights with channels that collect water vapor. More expensive skylights are less vulnerable to condensation related problems.

Material: The kind of material used on skylights at home has a direct impact on their look and efficiency. Glass and plastic are the most popular materials used for glazing the skylights. Plastic skylights are less expensive and do not break easily. However, plastic glazing may become discolored over time and may even have scratches. Glass, on the other hand, is scratch proof and does not fade. But, it is more expensive and is usually found in commercial structures. To make sure that glass skylights are protected, these are made of tempered glass on the outside and have a laminated pane on the inside.

Position: Where and how you place skylights within the home is equally important. Location plays a vital role in natural lighting and solar heating. When they are placed on the roof and facing the north, you can expect consistent but cool lighting. Skylights that face the east provide maximum solar energy in the mornings, while those facing the west will give maximum afternoon sunlight. If heat is a problem, you may install skylights in the shade of a tree or have a shading device on top of the skylight. The slope at which skylights are placed also controls the amount of heat and light received.

Before buying skylights for the home, do a little research. Prices tend to vary from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Price climbs with the addition of features like shading devices, remote control and special glazing.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Looking for more information on home skylights visit www.wascoskylights.com. a popular website offering skylights for commercial and residential projects.