Solatube Vs Skylight
Natural light has always held a special place in our hearts, both aesthetically and functionally. It can make your space look more inviting and create a healthier, more pleasant living environment. If you're looking to brighten up your home, there are several options available, including Solatube tubular skylights and Traditional skylights. In this blog, we will explore the differences between these natural lighting solutions, helping you make an informed decision about which one is best for your home.
Skylights: Bringing the Outdoors In
Skylights are probably the most familiar and traditional option for bringing natural light into your home. They are essentially windows installed in the roof of your house. Skylights come in various shapes and sizes, and they can be fixed or vented. Here are some key characteristics and advantages of skylights:
Aesthetic Appeal: Skylights are often considered architectural features, adding beauty to your home's interior and exterior. They provide a direct view of the sky and can be a source of inspiration.
Ventilation: Vented skylights can be opened to allow fresh air into your home. This can help with natural ventilation and cooling during the warmer months.
Electric Lighting Reduction: Properly positioned skylights can reduce your reliance on artificial lighting during the day, potentially lowering your energy bills.
Installation Challenges: Skylights require a more complex installation process than a Solatube, including structural changes to your roof and construction of a light well up to the underside of the skylight.
Heat Gain and Loss: Traditional Skylights can impact your home's energy efficiency. On cold days, they may lead to heat loss, while on hot days, they can contribute to heat gain.
Solatube Tubular Skylights: Harnessing Sunlight's Power
Solatube Tubular Skylights, also known as tubular daylighting devices (TDDs), are a more recent innovation designed to capture and deliver sunlight into your home. Here's what you need to know about Solatube tubular skylights:
Compact Design: Solatubes are small in diameter and can fit into tight spaces, making them suitable for a variety of rooms, including hallways, closets, and bathrooms. Solatubes also come in larger diameters for kitchens and living rooms.
Innovative Technology: Solatube tubular skylights typically include a roof-mounted dome and a highly reflective tube that captures daylight from the roof and channel it down to a diffuser in the ceiling, spreading natural light evenly in your living space.
Leak-Resistant: Solatube tubular skylights are engineered to prevent water infiltration and condensation, ensuring that your interior remains dry and free from moisture-related issues. No structural changes are required so they are simple to install. Installation of a Solatube typically takes 4 hours with no mess and no need to redecorate.
Cost-Effective: Solatube tubular skylights are typically more affordable than traditional skylights, making them a budget-friendly option for homeowners looking to increase natural light. Solatubes are known for their energy-efficient design, which can help reduce energy costs associated with artificial lighting.
Aesthetic Appeal: While Solatube tubular skylights do provide natural light, they do not offer the same panoramic view of the sky that traditional skylights do. They might not be the best choice if you're looking for a visual connection to the outdoors. However a Solatube tubular skylight is available with a range of attractive diffusers that have been designed to fit beautifully with traditional lighting.
Ventilation: Solatube Tubular Skylights can be installed with an integrated bathroom vent, allowing for both natural lighting and ventilation in one compact unit.
Conclusion
When it comes to illuminating your home with natural light, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The choice between a Solatube Tubular Skylight or Traditional Skylight depends on your specific requirements, budget, and aesthetic preferences.
Traditional Skylights offer a classic, architectural appeal and can provide a direct view of the sky, but they require more complex installation and can impact energy efficiency. They also require regular cleaning.
Solatube Tubular Skylights are a modern, cost-effective and energy efficient solution with a compact design that can fit into tight spaces. Solatubes will not require cleaning and are simple and quick to install.
Ultimately, the choice between these natural lighting options will depend on your unique needs and the characteristics of your home. Consider consulting with a professional to help you make the best decision for your space and budget, and you'll soon be enjoying the beauty and benefits of natural light in your home.
Throughout the whole of Scotland, Solatube Scotland is the Premier 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 Tubular Skylight is the right choice for 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