Thinking about a skylight?

I came across this article the other day and thought it is a useful reminder on a topic I have already spoken about regarding the comparison between skylights and Solatubes or tubular tubular skylights. SO here goes again for those who missed out.

Skylights are great, right? They fill your room with a ton of natural light and keep you from having to use electricity to light your room during the day. Well, have you heard of tubular daylighting devices such as Solatubes, tubular skylights or sun pipes? You’ll likely find that Solatubes are a better choice than a skylight in many situations. So, before you jump in please be aware that there are some important things you need to be aware of. And in this blog I have highlighted the top 5 reasons why a Solatube light pipe, or tubular skylight, is frequently a better option than a skylight:

1. Big Holes. Big Hassle

The premise behind skylights is pretty simple: in order to bring a lot of light into your home, you need to cut big holes in your roof and ceilings to do it. The problem is that this frequently requires structural changes to your house to get joists and rafters out of the way, and you may even have to incorporate additional strengthening. That’s a lot of hassle, but it also leads to some of the other issues…

2. Hope You’re Not In a Hurry

With all that cutting and construction to prepare for installation, as well as the installation itself, putting in a skylight generally isn’t a quick operation. Skylights can take days or even weeks to install, requiring sections of the roof to be removed, structural rafters and joists to be cut and re-braced and frequently stud work for a light well is also required with associated plastering and decorating to be allowed for. Not quick, not cheap and pretty messy too. Ouch. On the other hand a Solatube installation is quick, clean and doesn’t need to cost the earth

3. Is It Raining In Here?

Unfortunately, the problem for which skylights are most notorious is leaks. They can be caused by faulty installation, bad flashings, captured condensation, and even cracks from impact. Regardless of the source, the result is that leaky skylights are a big pain. And the bigger the skylight (and hole in your roof), the more opportunity for problems. And even if it isn’t leaking inside, when it rains you’ll still be deafened by the drumming noise of the rain on the glass. Fortunately, Solatube sun pipes do not leak, as we explain why here.

4. Too hot in the summer; too cold in the winter

A lot of criticism for skylights centres on the fact that many of those large glass installations on your roof don’t do a particularly good job of reducing or eliminating heat, glare, and UV damage in your home, particularly during the summer months. And while the added heat can require greater air conditioning/cooling during the warm months, the large surface area also lets a lot of heat out of your house in the winter months. Frankly, skylights are just not very energy efficient.

5. Hole in Your Roof = Hole in Your Wallet

With all the above issues, from protracted construction and installation to the costs for the skylights themselves (not to mention potential repairs and energy costs), it all adds up to a pretty significant expense.

The reality is that installing a lighting solution should give you peace of mind, not more things to worry about. So, if you want all the light of skylights without the unwelcome issues that come with them, what’s your best option? One of the most highly regarded alternatives is known as “tubular daylighting.”

Solatube sun pipes – the most efficient daylighting solution available

These solutions use a relatively small light-capturing dome on your roof to directing daylight into highly reflective tubing in your attic, ultimately delivering bright, beautiful, diffused light into your home through attractive ceiling fixtures. Since the tubing completely avoids cutting big holes in your roof or having to make any structural changes to your home, the cost not only remains relatively low, but installation can be completed in as little as four hours.

Just remember, a Solatube tubular skylight is designed to specifically deliver as much light inside as possible, through the smallest aperture, resulting in minimal heat gain and, most importantly, negligible heat loss. Ultimately, a Solatube is the most effective and efficient way of lighting up dark interiors, and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand why.

Solatube, the originator of tubular daylighting, provides the biggest range and most innovative technologies in the industry. Its tubular daylighting systems use domes that keep the heat out while bringing natural light in, provide unique flashings that are completely leak-proof, and also give the opportunity to add options like dimming, ventilation and smart night lighting. And its tubing is engineered with the world’s most reflective material to maintain the purity and brightness of the light throughout the system. So it not only delivers an incredible level of light, but also avoids the hassles of skylights. And this means a more beautiful home with more peace of mind for you.

Want to learn more about the differences between skylights and Solatube Tubular Daylighting Systems

Throughout the whole of Scotland, Solatube Scotland is the recognised distributor and installer of Solatube tubular skylights, or light pipes.

If you are interested in bringing natural light into your home, why not contact us at info@solatubescotland.co.uk; 07778 283 427 to find out whether a Solatube sun pipe can help you. Typically, a fully installed system might cost anywhere between £900 – £1,200; that’s supplied, professionally installed and includes the VAT.

We service these postal codes and surrounding areas: AB,DD, DG, EH, FK, G, HS, IV, KA, KW, KY, ML, PA, PH, TD, ZE

We service all towns and cities in Scotland, including the surrounding areas: Aberdeen, Ayr, Aviemore, Cumbernauld, Dumfries, Dundee, Dunbar, Edinburgh, Elgin, Eyemouth, Falkirk, Fort William, Galashiels, Glasgow, Greenock, Inverness, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Lanark, Livingston, Moffat, North Berwick, Oban, Paisley, Peebles, Perth, Peterhead, Selkirk, St. Andrews, Stirling