Lately we've been spotting skylights everywhere: in attic apartments, barn conversions, kitchen renovations, and AT house tours (like Kathleen and Alex's condo shown above). They're an effective way to open up a room and let in light, especially if you've got a small space with an angled roof...
Skylights make a big difference in a small room. A modestly sized skylight can flood a small area with sunlight during the day, increasing a room's connection to the outdoors and making the space seem larger. If you're thinking of installing a skylight, there are a few things to consider first. Cleaning and shading are things you'll want to plan for, as well as whether you want a venting unit that can open or one that stays shut. According to This Old House, most skylights are meant to be installed on sloped roofs of at least 15 degrees. Avoid cheap kits or inexperienced contractors when installing a skylight, since leaks can cost you lots of money later on. To help prevent water damage, invest in waterproof flashing and read this article for shopping tips.
Related Content:
• Sun Tunnel Skylights
• Sun-Tek Tube Skylights
• Good Questions: Skylight Help in Paris?
• Good Questions: Skylight Shades?
• Good Questions: Cleaning Skylights?
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I love my skylights! My boyfriend and I live in a 190 sq ft apartment and we don't have windows, only two big sky lights. I don't even notice the lack of windows because they let in so much light all day long.
view k ran's profile
I really like my kitchen's skylights and I'm planning to add more when we renovate. I think that they look great both in big and small spaces but i agree that they can make a big difference in a small room. If you want some more inspiration you can look here:
http://www.houzz.com/photos/query/skylight
view kimmiller's profile
I've heard they leak...?
view twitteringbirdie's profile
I designed a site recently for a really cool company that makes prismatic skylights. Those are the ones that basically have tubes lined with mirrors so that the light gets diffused throughout the space. I swear I'm not biased, but I think it's a pretty cool product and they make a residential product as well.
http://www.sunoptics.com/
view pxlchk1's profile
twitteringbirdie,
In regions with heavy snow (like Montreal) they break under the weight. Almost everyone I know here who has a skylight has had a major break or leak. But someplace dry like Arizona or California, I doubt there would be any problem.
And perhaps the newer ones are better than the 70s era skylights here.
view Lisa Hunter (Montreal)'s profile
Twittering & Lisa --
I'm thinking about adding skylights to a small room off our garage (150 sq ft, one teeny tiny west-facing window) and have read that the new skylights are much more watertight than the 70s failures. For one thing, the flashing is much more efficient, as well as the design and materials. I'm leaning towards non-opening ones for the garage room.
view madampince's profile
Another consideration is what will happen in the room. I love the concept of skylights, and desperately wanted to add a solar tube type to our old (landlocked and dark) bathroom, but the one in the home office put nasty glare on the computer screen and was very difficult to shade attractively. (Finally made a faux Roman Shade permenently velcroed in place, not the best option in the world...) It also leaked.
view SherryBinNH's profile