Choosing a Skylight for Your Home

There are several factors to consider when installing a new skylight. Done properly, a skylight can save on energy costs, illuminate a room with natural light, and add warmth to your home. On the other hand, a poorly designed or improperly installed skylight may allow precious heat to escape and actually raise your energy bill. Here are a few things to think about when choosing a skylight.

Choosing a skylight for your home: Where to install

Consider your region's climate when choosing a location for your skylight. This is especially important in areas that get very hot in the summer. Try to install your skylight in an area that gets eastern or northern exposure to reduce the amount of direct sunlight that is allowed into your home. Install the skylight as close as possible to the ridge of your home's roof to minimize the damage that can be caused by snow or heavy rain.

Choosing a skylight for your home: What size

The angle and size of your skylight determines the amount of heat and light it will reflect into your home. A larger skylight will diffuse the light over a wider area. An angled skylight will also disperse the light more than a flat skylight. If you live in a warm, sunny climate, a flat skylight may direct too much focused heat into the house. Some higher priced skylights include shades to reduce some of the light coming through on extremely bright summer days. You can also create your own shade if you do not wish to pay the extra money for a full-feature skylight. A tubular skylight may be a better choice if you do not have much ceiling space. Tubular skylights are also less expensive due to their smaller size. The light that comes through a tubular skylight will be limited to a specific section of the room, so choose the location carefully.

Choosing a skylight for your home: Energy efficiency

With energy costs on the rise, it is crucial to purchase an energy efficient skylight. Most importantly, you do not want a skylight that leaks air or heat. Energy-efficient window panes will keep more of your home's heat inside instead of letting it slip out through the roof. Ideally, you want to avoid skylights with plastic glazing and select those with a low U-factor, low-E coatings, and glass with a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. Another high-end feature that is nice for homeowners is the ability to open the skylight and allow some fresh air into the room. This can be a great way to save on air conditioning costs in the summer as the heat will rise and flow out the skylight. Of course, having more moving parts will reduce the skylight's ability to remain airtight and water-resistant.