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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!

4 Ways A Skylight Can Save You Money

September 17, 2018 By adminAPX

Owning a home costs a lot of money. In addition to mortgage payments, property taxes, and general maintenance, there is also the dreaded monthly electricity bill. Using electricity is unavoidable, but how much you use, can be modified. Here are some important ways that a skylight can save you money on your electricity bill.

Better than a window

Instead of turning on lamp, we use windows as a natural source of light. However, even better than a window is a skylight. Windows are hampered by their brightness by both external and internal elements. Outside, there are trees, fences, and even other houses that can block light from coming in through windows. Inside, there are blinds and curtains that block light. However, a skylight doesn’t have to contend with these issues. Instead, it can let in a maximum amount of natural light. With a skylight, you won’t need to turn on as many lights inside your house.

Tinted glass

Skylights are more than just panes of glass. In fact, many skylights have the option of having tinted glass. This is especially a good idea if you live in southern areas that have brighter sun exposure. Tinted glass in a skylight still lets in natural light. However, it reduces the amount of heat that enters your house. If you have to run the air conditioning as a result of a skylight, then that negates any electrical bill savings you might have discovered. Instead, look into the option of tinted glass so that a skylight can save you money year-round.

Low-emissivity

Further to tinted glass on a skylight, look into low-emissivity or low-e coatings. These coatings actually use a very thin layer of metal on the glass. As a result, non-solar heat is prevented from entering the home. The coating cannot be seen by a human eye, so it won’t affect the aesthetics of a skylight. As a bonus to how the low-e skylight can save you money, many electrical companies offer rebates if such coatings are applied in a home.

Location

Where you place your skylight will greatly affect how much money you save. This is where skylight experts come into play. Before a skylight is installed, they will ensure that the proper location is chosen. For the most part, skylights that are built on south facing roofs are the best for saving you money. This is because it will filter in heat during the winter months, while keeping heat out in the summer months. If your skylight can brighten your house while also warming or cooling it, then you will see a direct correlation in your electricity bill.

There are many factors to consider before installing a skylight, so be sure to have a thorough discussion with your skylight provider. They will probably have a lot of suggestions that you might not even have considered before.

Why You Should Consider Adding a Skylight to Your Home or Business

July 25, 2018 By adminAPX

Skylights are an easy solution to many problems. You can save money, help the environment, and improve your mood all by adding a skylight to your home or business. The installation process is easy, and requires very minimum upkeep. With so many options to choose from, you are sure to find a skylight to fit your needs. If you are on the fence about installing a skylight, consider these five benefits:
They Are a Great Source For Natural Light
Obviously, the most important feature of a skylight is the addition of natural light. Skylights let in much more natural light than a traditional window. With sunlight coming in from your ceiling, your body will be able to produce more Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps improve your mood. Therefore, a skylight would be ideal for a home office or gym.
Natural light is also a great way to make a room feel larger and more open. The addition of a skylight can help brighten a dark room, or a room without a window.
They Are Energy Efficient
Natural light isn’t just good for you, but it’s great for the environment as well! Since you can use natural sunlight as opposed to artificial light, you can help cut down on emissions put out by electric companies.
They Are Cost Efficient
Although a skylight doesn’t add to emissions, it can add to your wallet! With less and less need for artificial light, you can save a ton on your electric bill. Natural light and also helps to heat your home during the winter months. There are also some designs with ventilation to aid in cooling during the summer months.
They Can Change the Atmosphere
Adding a skylight at your business can help change the atmosphere. With natural light coming through, your office or workplace will have a better energy and will positively impact the moods of your employees and customers. Your employees are likely to be happier, and more productive when working in natural light. A skylight will also help improve your customers’ perception of your business. With natural light flooding your workplace, customers will feel less cramped and have a better mood when visiting your establishment.
There are many business-friendly skylight options. Some options even offer roof access to double in functionality!
There Are a Ton of Options to Choose From
Not only do you have options when it comes to the design of your skylight, but you can choose from different materials as well. Aluplex offers a variety of skylights, from options that blend in with your roofline, to skylights that make a statement, like our Pyramid design, which offers a more modern look.
Whether you’re looking to install skylights in your home or are interested in commercial skylights, Aluplex has an option for you. From flat skylights, to domes and pyramids, there is a skylight for everyone’s style. You can take advantage of all the benefits our products have to offer. You can make a room appear larger, add natural light, and cut down on your energy costs all with one simple installation.