Everything you need to know about finding a Skylight Supplier

Skylights can transform any indoor area or room that does not have access to adequate amounts of natural light. Having access to natural light is important for general health as well as reducing reliance on energy sources that generate electrical lighting. The energy efficiency of a home is also enhanced by the inclusion of skylights, as they can help to maximise the abundant and renewable solar energy resource. Skylights are also often specified in houses which have been designed with the principles of passive solar design in mind – which attempts to maximise the amount of exposure to natural solar energy and light.

Benefits of Skylights

• Energy efficiency – Installing skylights to allow light into dark rooms means you can cut the costs of lighting.
• Increased airflow – Many skylights come with an airflow system that allows some air exchange. This is particularly good in cupboards, hallways and other narrow, dark rooms that tend to gather mould due to lack of air.
• Sunlight without the UV – Damage caused by Ultra Violet light is kept to a minimum with a skylight that has UV blocker properties. Most skylights come with this as standard.

Types of Skylights

• Square or oblong – The simplest and oldest form of skylight that fits almost anywhere.
• Tubular – This is a newer shape and is perfect for smaller rooms. It also looks spectacular in a large room with a pitched roof.
• Polygon – These are usually used for display purposes along with functionality in areas like lounges, entrances and hallways. They can be decorated with cut glass or coloured with real leadlight or look-alike stencils.

Choosing the Right Skylights for Your Home

Take a good look around the room where you want to install your skylight and ask these questions:

• Is the skylight the right size for the room? You don’t want to go installing a large, intricate polygon shaped skylight in a small room like a bathroom.
• For that softer look, a tubular or dome skylight can be a great choice.
• For a pitched ceiling, pick a simple shape like a square or oblong to avoid complicating the look.
• To add that little special something over a small area of a room, say on a statue, you can install long, thin tubular skylight.
• The small, tubular skylights are being used more and more in office buildings and homes in addition to normal lighting so that the lights only need to be used when there is no sunlight.

Skylight installation

Skylights are specialised building items, so you will need a professional installer.

When installing a skylight in a building or premises be sure to consider the following practical guidelines:

• aspect - the orientation of your home and how much direct sunlight it receives will affect the location and number of skylights you can specify
• glass - double glazing your skylights can dramatically increase their energy efficiency
• frame - wood, PVC, or fibreglass frames have greater insulation capacity than metal or aluminium

Make certain that the installer puts a quality flashing around the roof area. It should be colour-matched to your roof and have a long warranty period.

Locate a skylight supplier on the pages of this site.