A Skylight is an ideal solution to brighten up any home. It not only brings natural light into the house but also reduces need for artificial lighting. It not only saves money but also keep the carbon footprint down. It can be installed in your kitchen, your hallway, your living room or loft conversion, depending on your needs. In the article below, we offers some tips to choose the right flat roof skylight for your home.
Size
The adage, ‘Bigger is better’ does not apply to skylights. In fact, a bigger size can ruin the whole experience. Size of the opening controls the amount of heat and light coming into your home.
As far as the total size is concerned, a good rule of thumb is that it should account for up to 5% of the floor area of the room. It can be increased up to 15%, in case there are not many windows in the room. So, if the size of the room is 15’ x 20’, making the area 300 ft.², it should cover a total area between 15 and 45 ft.². The dimensions of the opening can be decided accordingly.
The size also depends on the facing of the opening. A north facing opening brings even and cool light into the house with little heat and whereas southern facing ones bring more heat than light. The size of the opening will need to be adjusted accordingly.
Type
There are two different types of models mainly available in the market: fixed and opening. An opening model includes a switch that enables opening and closing electronically. It can also include various sensors such as rain and wind sensors, so that it closes automatically when it detects rain or wind.
An insect shield is also necessary in case of these models to prevent insects from entering the house. This type also has the advantage of improving ventilation in the room.
A fixed type, on the other hand, is always fixed and cannot be opened. These are cheaper though and do not require much maintenance.
Similarly, a flat roof skylight is best suited for flat roofs and a walk on type is an amazing addition to a roof garden. Glazing is also important as triple glazing improves insulation as well as provide noise reduction.
Location
As mentioned above, north facing roofs offer constant but relatively cool light and whereas south side roofs offer good amount of heat. Similarly, east facing roofs provide maximum heat and light in the morning whereas the west facing roofs provide heat and light in the afternoon.
Therefore, if you have a choice in terms of location, have it facing the side that coincides with the time you will be spending in that room.
Cost
As far as cost is concerned, you need to ensure that the it is within your budget. However, if you are getting a better model or a better model for a slightly higher cost, it is always better to pay a bit more and buy the better one. Always remember that it is going to be part of your home for the next many years to come and it adds a lot to the value to your house.