Skylights are popular additions to a home as they provide a range of benefits, both functional and aesthetic. Here are several.
Increases Natural Daylight
A skylight allows in up to three times the light of a same-sized vertical window, which has a significant impact on the lightness and airiness of a room, brightening up even the darkest space. This reduces the need to switch on artificial illumination, lowering energy costs. In any case, the natural glow of daylight provides a warm ambience that electricity can't replicate, and it also shows off the room decor in the most flattering way.
Opens Up Small Areas
Skylights can help to expand small areas for an increased feeling of spaciousness. They instantly add depth to a room by creating an aperture in what was once a solid, heavy ceiling. The upward-facing angle that points towards the sky increases the sense of lightness. A skylight is particularly apt for bathrooms and bedrooms, where privacy is paramount. In some areas of the home, such as a narrow hallway, a vertical window may not be feasible, so a skylight is a perfect solution.
Increases Ventilation
Hot air naturally rises, and cooler air drops. So warm, humid air that has built up in your home typically collects around the ceilings. The term for this is the stack effect. Vented skylights are ideal, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens, as they release this stuffy air that rises upwards, and allow fresh air to circulate. This, in turn, minimises the risk of mould and mildew and keeps rooms more comfortable.
You can use an open skylight to passively freshen up your home on a crisp evening after a hot day. The warm air exiting from the roof opening creates a vacuum inside a house. If you open a vertical window at a lower level, this will create a circular movement of air that enters via the vertical window and exits through the skylight.
Options Allow Atmosphere Control
Different kinds of glazings and coverings affect the amount and quality of light and heat filtering through the skylight. Frosted glass softens daylight to eliminate glare. Double glazing insulates your home, helping it to remain fresh in summer and warm in winter. Many other options let you customise the effects, and fully automated windows and blinds give you additional power over air quality, ventilation and light.
Sun Tunnels
If your home's architecture doesn't lend itself to a skylight, a sun tunnel can help brighten dark spaces. A sun tunnel can fit within a cavity that turns corners and can jump a story to reach a daylight source. Once the daylight hits the dome on the roof, it travels through the reflective tunnel until it emits through your ceiling. In this way, you can bring daylight to the ground level of even a multi-story home.
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