adminAPX, Author at Aluplex Glass and Skylights

Should You Install a Skylight Yourself?

October 23, 2018 By adminAPX

If you’re thinking of installing a skylight, you may also be thinking about attempting it yourself. There are many parts of the home that can be excellent DIY projects for you and the whole family. However, a skylight really shouldn’t be one of those projects.

When installing a skylight, there are many things you need to consider first. Some points may not even come to mind until it is too late. Once you begin the installation process, you usually cannot go back.

You’re best to leave installing a skylight to the professionals. Here are a few reasons why.

Finding the Right Skylight

The first step of finding the best skylight for your home can already be difficult. There are many different types of skylights available, and many of those have various features. When it comes to a skylight, it is not a whole-size-fits-all. There are some that may be suitable for your roof, and some that could do a lot of damage.

When picking a skylight, you must consider factors like the weather, ventilation, the shape, size, and if your roof can handle a skylight. Determining the right size can be quite challenging.

Proper Placement

When installing a skylight, you do not just plop them into the roof wherever you want. You must carefully plan out the placement before installing. Placing a skylight can not only damage your roof, but it could let in more light (and heat) than you hoped for.

You need to include things like the rafters, chimney,s vents, attachments, and anything else that could obstruct the skylight. The age of your roof is also something to consider too. If you installed a skylight in an area that is ageing, the roof may not be strong enough to handle the installation.

Installation Can Cause Damage

Improper installation can weaken and damage your roof. If the roof of your home is weak, you are putting your family at serious risk. Even the smallest error in the installation process could do thousands of dollars in damage.

You need to remove a portion of the shingles to start the installation process. If you do not remove the shingles correctly, that right there can cause unwanted damage. You’ll end up spending more money having to replace the shingles.

Having a tight seal around the skylight is crucial. If there is a gap along the seams or anywhere around the skylight, there are many things that could go wrong. For one, if it starts to rain, you are bound to have water leaking into your home. You will also have a draft in your home, which will either cost more money to heat your house in the winter or cool it in the summer.

When it comes to installing a skylight, you are better off hiring a professional to do the job. There are many aspects to the installation, and missing one step could cause serious damage to not just the skylight, but to your home as well.

Avoid having to spend more money because something went wrong. Call us today for all of your skylight questions.

How to Liven Up a Small Room

October 23, 2018 By adminAPX

Do you have a small room in your home and wonder what you can do to liven it up a bit? Small rooms shouldn’t be neglected. In fact, many great design schemes that work perfectly for small rooms, and help make them feel a bit bigger.

When it comes to a small room, you do have to get creative with your design plan. However, that is also the fun part about it. That little room could be your new favourite quiet space, or maybe an epic theatre room.

If you walk into your small room and feel bored and confined, it’s time to liven it up. Try out some of the following tips to help make that room the favourite spot in the whole house.

Install a Skylight

Small rooms need something to help make them feel bigger. Windows are one of the best ways to achieve this. However, not every room is fit for a window. That is when a skylight comes in handy.

There are many different types of skylights that you can install into the roof of the room. They help bring in natural light, which is essential for brightening up a small room. Plus, by having a skylight in the ceiling, it gives the illusion that the roof is higher than what it actually is.

Utilize Colours

Typically, many people think you should only have white walls in a small room to help it feel bigger. However, too much white isn’t’ always appealing to everyone. When properly planned, you can bring in some colours that will go beautifully with a small room.

Some colours, like loud and bright colours, actually can work better in a smaller space. Having a bright purple or fluorescent orange all over a large room can be overwhelming. But if you paint one of the walls in the small room with these colours, you’ll get that much-needed pop of colour without going crazy.

Use Mirrors

Mirrors can also help give the illusion that a room is bigger than what it is. Having a wall of mirrors will visually double the space. They will also reflect the light from the windows, which will help keep the small room nicely lit to make it feel bigger.

Declutter the Room

One of the quickest ways for a room to feel small is by having too much clutter. When you have clothes, and personal belongs laying around everywhere, it starts to take up a lot of space. So, keeping the room tidy and putting everything away will keep the small room more open.

Creatively Rearrange the Room

How you lay out the room can also make a small space feel bigger. Keeping things tucked into the corners of the room or against the wall will open up more floor space in the centre. If it’s a small bedroom, lose one side of the bed and keep it pushed against the wall.

When planning out everything, thinking vertically will give you more options rather than spreading everything out. Basically, the more open space you can keep in the centre of the room, the more it will make the small room feel bigger.

Your Skylight Guide – Things to Consider Before You Buy

September 20, 2018 By adminAPX

Are you looking for new ways to bring natural light into your home? A skylight might be what you need. Installing a skylight helps to brighten up a space, especially small rooms, and can completely change the feel of the area. In the evening, a skylight can take a dull, dark place, and give you a breathtaking view of the night sky above.

Skylights can be useful in other ways besides brightness and changing the atmosphere. They can also help reduce utility costs in your home. In the winter months, the skylight lets the natural sunlight in which will help keep the room warm. Also, because of how much light they bring in, you could have enough natural light that you wouldn’t need to turn on artificial lighting.

If this all sounds good, it may be time to think about a skylight. However, before you buy, here is a guide to help you make the best decision for you.

Types of Skylights

When it comes to skylights, there is no one-type-fits-all deal. There are multiple types, including various sizes and styles. Knowing what type of skylight is best for each room could help make the installation process run smoother and save you money from having to replace it.

There are three main types of skylights commonly installed:

Fixed – these do not open up or provide ventilation. They are installed in hard to reach places to provide additional lighting and dramatic views of above.
Tubular – these skylights work great in tight and enclosed spaces.
Vented (Roof Window) – as the name suggested, this is a skylight that opens like a window. Typically, a vented skylight is best suited for rooms that require extra ventilation, like a bathroom or kitchen, to remove excess moisture.

Type of Material

You also want to consider what the skylight is made out of. Skylights are glazed with a variation of plastic and glass material, either done in a single, double, or triple glazing. The most economical material is plastic. A plastic skylight is quite sturdy. However, the plastic can turn yellow over time unless there is a special preventative coating applied. Plastic skylights also let in more UV rays than others.

There is the option of a glass skylight. Going with this option will be more expensive than plastic, but a glass skylight does provide a more elegant look. A glass skylight is usually scratch resistant and is quite durable and long-lasting. However, if you live in an area that is susceptible to large snowfalls or hurricanes, you’ll want a special glass used.

There is also the option of adding a solar-heat control glaze to the skylight. It helps make it more energy efficient.

Know the Ratings

A skylight will have a rating for heat loss, UV blockage, solar heat gain, the percentage of light transmitted. Pay attention to the following numbers on a skylight:

U-Value: this measures the heat flow through the skylight. If the skylight has a low U-value, it is better at resisting heat
R-Value: this measures the insulation value of the skylight. The higher the R-value that means the skylight is insulated better.
Shading Coefficient: this means the solar heat gain. A low shading coefficient will mean there is a lower solar heat gain through the glass.
UV Blockage: this is the value in which the glazing blocks UV rays from the sun.
Visible Light Transmittance (VLT): this measurement shows how much light is let in. A high VLT means plenty of natural light.

Are Skylights Worth the Investment?

September 20, 2018 By adminAPX

Chances are you’ve lived in a place, or went on a vacation to a cabin that had a skylight. Those windows built into the roof of the home that let in sunlight during the day and reveals the starry sky at night. Skylights are beautiful when installed correctly.

Installing a skylight is a bit of an investment. They may be pricey at the start, but there are many benefits afterwards. Many will ask if it is worth the investment of installing a skylight – we’re here to help answer that question.

The Upside of a Skylight

First, let’s look at why skylights are worth the investment. To help you make an informed decision, you want to see the whole picture. Consider the following points:

Allow In Natural Light

One of the main perks of a skylight is the amount of natural light they bring in. The window looks towards the sky, usually with nothing blocking its path. All you get is beautiful, natural light.

Skylights work great for lighting up small spaces. For example, a bedroom closet, bathroom, or any room that doesn’t have window access would benefit from a skylight. A skylight in the bathroom allows you to brighten up the space while still giving you privacy.

Ventilation

Not all skylights open up. However, if you install one that does, it will provide you with ventilation into the room. Allowing in fresh air can help cool off a hot room in the summer. Alternatively, adding in a skylight that opens to the bathroom allows for the humidity and condensation to escape.

Pleasing to the Eye

Even if you install a basic skylight that doesn’t open up, they are still beautiful to have. A skylight is aesthetically pleasing and can really change the atmosphere of a room. Give the feeling of the space being larger than what it is by opening up the roof a bit with a skylight.

Turn Off the AC/Heater

A strategically placed skylight can benefit you by not having to use the central air or heat. In the summer months, open up a skylight to allow the cool air from outside to flow in. In the winter months, a skylight will let solar heat into the room, warming it up without flicking a switch.

The Downside of a Skylight

There are a few downsides to installing a skylight. Once you know everything, you can then decide if a skylight is suitable for your home.

Pricey

As mentioned, skylights are an investment – they can be pricey to install. They do require maintenance to ensure they are sealed off properly. However, it is up to you to see if the initial cost is something you can afford.

Leak Potential

Just as a regular window can leak, so too can a skylight. If a skylight is not installed properly, there is the chance that rainwater could leak through the seams and into your home. Water can damage the interior of the house, leading to a mess and having to spend more money.

In the end, going with a trusted company to install your skylight will help prevent any damage to the house and water leaking through, which will save you money in the long run. Installing a skylight does have many perks that can take your home to the next level.

How To Know What Size Skylight Will Work For Your Home

September 17, 2018 By adminAPX

After making the decision to install a skylight, one of the important considerations to make is just what size skylight will work for your home. Read on to learn about sizing mistakes and how to plan for the perfect skylight.

Too Small

Cutting a hole in your roof can be overwhelming, which is why a lot of homeowners opt for a smaller size skylight. Small seems manageable, and less intrusive. But before choosing a too small size skylight, be sure to remember the reason for installing a skylight in the first place.

Skylights let in sunlight. This adds a welcoming, natural source of light that can act as a substitute for lamps. Not only is natural light more pleasing to the eye, it is also a lot less expensive than using electricity.

Skylights can also act to warm the house in the winter. This cuts down on heating costs and again, provides a comforting atmosphere to the home.

If you have a too small size skylight, then you won’t be able to benefit from either natural light or natural heat. Instead, you will have a hole in your roof that you may end up regretting.

Too big

Opposite to a too small skylight is a too big size skylight. The phrase ‘go big or go home’ doesn’t necessarily apply when looking to install a skylight.

With regards to light, too much is not always a good thing. If your skylight is in the bedroom, think about if you like waking up in with the sunrise or not. This is especially important to consider during the summer months, when it can become light out by 5 am. A too big size skylight will let more light in, which may disrupt your sleeping patterns.

As for heat, a skylight that is too big may allow too much heat in the summer, and could even let too much heat out in the winter. If one of your reasons for installing a skylight is temperature control, then be sure to pay attention to the size of it.

Just right

Before any installation happens, be sure to talk to a skylight expert. It’s ok, and even encouraged, to come into a meeting with your own thoughts and plans. This is your house, and you know your needs better than anyone else. But an expert can guide you through a sizing chart. They can talk to you about lighting and temperature.

Most importantly, a skylight expert can talk about the mechanics around the installation. Not every roof can be cut through. And not every roof can hold the weight attached to a skylight. An expert will talk to you, look at your plans, and come to your house before any demolition happens. Often you will need to go through a few draft ideas until everyone is comfortable with the end result. Your home is precious to you, and it pays to take a bit of extra time to ensure that everything is done right.

Dome vs. Flat Skylights

September 17, 2018 By adminAPX

So, you’ve decided to install a skylight in your home or business. This is great! You are ready to enjoy all of the benefits that come with a skylight- natural light, boosted moods, and lower energy costs. Now that you have decided to install a skylight, you’re ready to move on to the next step in the process, picking a style.

There are so many styles to choose from. Flat, domed, pyramid, single panel, and so on, are all possible options for your home or business. Two popular choices among consumers are flat and dome skylights. We went ahead and broke down the highlights for both types!

Dome

Dome skylights are an eye-catching way to incorporate natural light in a room. These curved skylights were a huge trend back in the day, and are still fairly popular today.

More Light

The main reason people invest in skylights is to add more natural light to their home or business. Dome skylights typically add more light to a room compared to flat skylights. The curvature in the dome’s design allows it to bend the light from the sun and add just a little extra light to the room.

Weather-Durable

One thing that can put a damper on your mood is to watch your skylight fill up with rain or snow. Dome skylights don’t have this issue. The curve of the design allows for rain and snow to easily slide off of your skylight. This ensures that, no matter the weather outside, you can enjoy clarity through your skylight.

Extra Options for Efficiency

One of the great things about dome skylights is the option to make them even more energy efficient. Typically, dome skylights are made from acrylic. Acrylic is long-lasting and durable, but also more lightweight than glass.

If you choose an acrylic skylight, you have the option to have it ‘double’ or ‘triple’ layered. The layers refer to how many layers of acrylic you want on your dome skylight. A double layer is typical, but a third layer adds extra insulation, making it more energy efficient.

Flat

While dome skylights were a big hit about twenty years ago, flat skylights have become increasingly popular in recent times. The design of a flat skylight allows it to easily align with your roof, giving it a seamless flow. Flat skylights add more of a modern feel to a home or business, all while offering practically the same benefits of a dome skylight.

Choices of Material

One of the biggest advantages of a flat skylight is having the option between glass or acrylic as your material. While acrylic is extremely durable, and has the option for additional layering, glass is extremely energy efficient. Unlike acrylic, glass units can be completely sealed, and are therefore more effective at keeping the heat in during the winter, and keeping the heat out during the summer.

It is important to speak with a professional before deciding on the type of skylight you would like. There are many other factors that play into your skylight options, like the type of roof you have. The pros at Aluplex can help guide you through your questions and lead you to the perfect skylight!