If you have decided that skylights are a good investment for your company, you will of course need to find a firm in your area that can supply and install them at a competitive cost. When talking to each supplier that you consider, don’t forget to ask the questions in the list below, to make sure they are capable of doing a good job.

Finding the Right Firm for a Skylight Installation in Toronto

When talking to the firms that you come across, ask them the following questions so that you can properly evaluate each one.

1. How Much Experience Do You Have? – As far as the installation of commercial and residential skylights is concerned, the more experience the better. Poorly installed units often leak and will almost certainly need repairing or replacing sooner than those that are properly installed. For this reason, you should make sure that the firm you hire to take care of the installation process has plenty of experience in the business.

2. Are You Fully Insured? – It is vital to make sure that the contractors you hire carry full liability insurance for the work they are going to perform. While it is to be hoped that the installation process will go smoothly, you will not have to worry about who is going to pay in the event that any damage is caused to your home or commercial premises as long as your contractors are fully insured. Furthermore, any injuries sustained by their workers will also be covered by the same insurance policy.

3. Do You Use Your Own Designs? – A firm that has its own line of skylights will be intimately familiar with the type of issues faced during their installation and will therefore be more likely to do a first-class job on your property. While there are reputable contractors that perform skylight installation in Toronto of third-party units, those that install their own line are often more dependable.

4. Where Are You Based – While there is no need to rule out firms that are more than a few miles down the road from your home or business, those that are within easy reach will be more likely to provide a decent after-sales service than those that are based far away.

5. Do You Provide a Repair Service – Assuming that you pick a capable firm to carry out your skylight installation in Toronto, it is unlikely that you will need to have the units repaired for some considerable time. However, it is nice to know that the option is there in case it is ever needed. Furthermore, an experienced repair team will be aware of the mistakes that other installers make and will be sure to avoid them.

Whether you are looking for a firm that specializes in skylight installation in Toronto for commercial or domestic customers, get in touch with Aluplex today to request a competitive quotation. We have the high quality units and the highly skilled installation team that you need.

While not so expensive as to make them out of reach for the average company, commercial skylights do still represent a significant investment so it is worth taking the time to consider whether they are indeed a good choice for your organization. In this article, we are going to look at a few of the most important  factors to think about when making your decision and we hope that, having digested all of the information that is relevant to your company, it will be much easier for you to decide what to do.

Factors to Take into Account When Considering Commercial Skylights

All of the factors below will play a part in deciding whether the installation of new skylights in your premises will benefit your company.

• Amount of Existing Natural Light – The companies that will derive the most benefit from the installation of skylights are those with premises where very little daylight is currently able to penetrate. If you can increase the amount of natural light in your offices, warehouses, or manufacturing facilities, you could make considerable savings on your electricity bills over time.

• Visiting Customers – If you are running a retail outlet or another type of business where customers visit to choose the products they wish to purchase, more daylight could have a positive effect on your sales figures. It has been demonstrated that natural light can improve the mood of those who are exposed to it, and as all sales and marketing gurus know, people in a good mood are far more likely to spend money.

• Morale of Employees – If the morale of your team of workers could do with a boost, the installation of commercial skylights could be an excellent way to achieve this aim. In the same way that more daylight can improve the mood of your customers, it can do the very same thing for your employees as well. If you think of the areas of your own home in which you feel happiest, you will probably find that they are the rooms with the most natural daylight.

• Effectiveness of Existing Product Displays – Retail organizations that are having problems getting the lighting just right for their product displays may find that natural light is the answer to all their problems. While some goods may look better under artificial lighting, many will look far more attractive when lit by the sun’s rays, either directly or indirectly. You may need to experiment with the positioning of your displays after the installation of new skylights but you should be able to take advantage of the extra light with a little trial and error.

In addition to the above factors, you should consider the cost of maintaining your current lighting system. If this could be reduced by installing commercial skylights, it would be another benefit that your corporate accountants are sure to appreciate. To request a quotation or to ask any questions you may have about our range of skylights, please do not hesitate to call or email us at any time.

Given their size, cluster skylights are most often used for commercial applications, allowing large amounts of natural light to enter the building, in addition to providing a architectural focal. A quick image search on any of the major search engines and you will probably come across countless examples of cluster skylights acting as a rather dramatic accent to a flight of stairs or perhaps even a central point in the building. They are as much about visual impact as they are about the performance related benefits that they offer. However, they don’t look quite so good if there are serious problems with condensation in the property.

Why Do Cluster Skylights Sometimes Suffer Issues With Condensation?

We’ve worked with a number of commercial property owners in Toronto over the years, many of whom became increasingly frustrated when trying to deal with condensation related issues. They just couldn’t understand why this problem was occurring or how to fix it. The reason why you will often notice condensation on cluster skylights is actually very simply; warm air that is loaded with moisture rises and will eventually hit the skylights. This doesn’t mean that there’s an issue with your cluster skylights. It’s an indicator that there’s too much moisture in the air, which is a common problem in newer buildings.

Steps that Can be Taken to Limit the Presence of Condensation

If you notice condensation on your cluster skylights, which will undoubt edly detract from their impressive appearance, you should act fast since it can lead to a range of other problems, including:

• The growth of mold and mildew on walls and ceilings.
• Deterioration in the condition of furniture.
• Bubbling and peeling of paint.
• Severe damage to wooden structural supports.

To prevent these issues and the presence of condensation on your cluster skylights, it’s imperative that you limit the amount of water vapour (which the air carries) in the building. This can be achieved by doing the following:

• Utilize dehumidifier units to remove moisture from the air.
• Periodically open your cluster skylights, allowing the warmer air that’s loaded with water vapour to escape, while cooler, dryer air is able to enter.
• Have additional vents installed close to your cluster skylights and windows in the property.
• Install ceiling fans, which will prevent warm air from rising to the point that it condenses on the skylights.

Tips to Help Maintain Cluster Skylights

Even if you take all possible action to reduce the amount of condensation in the building, it’s still important that cluster skylights are regularly maintained (will likely require professional assistance). Mold and mildew can start to grow on skylights that are exposed to condensation problems and it’s important that this is killed with a sterilized agent and then removed. The surface of the skylights should then be thoroughly cleaned down.
Aluplex Skylights has been servicing the community of Toronto for over 25 years and we consider ourselves to be an authority on anything relating to skylights. If you require any help or advice, or wish to arrange a free consultation, get in touch with us today.

Residential and commercial skylights are available in a wide range of different shapes and sizes, from flat skylights that are fixed in place to tubular skylights that are space efficient and very effective at distributing the sun’s natural light, it’s usually possible to find a model that is suited to the conditions at any property.  One of the most intriguing designs is that of pyramid skylights, which can be effortlessly integrated into the design of both new and period buildings, such is their versatility.  But how do you know whether they will be a good fit for your home?
What You Need to Know About Pyramid Skylights
The requirements and benefits associated with different types of skylights do vary and rather than rushing into a purchase, we would recommend you spend some time learning about the specific types of skylights that you’re interested in. Here’s what you need to know about pyramid skylights:

• Can Be Installed on Most Roof Types – One factor that can influence the type of skylights installation that you ultimately opt for is the pitch of your roof. This is something you can’t change, at least not without considerable cost, and certain types of skylight can only be installed on certain roof pitches. Pyramid skylights are quite versatile in this respect since they can be installed on flat roofs, although the “norm” is a roof with a pitch of 30 degrees.
• Design Versatility – As we’ve already pointed out, pyramid skylights can be installed at both modern and period style properties and do a good job of complementing other architectural features, but they tend to work best on the former. This is because the clean, angled lines that these skylights boast tend to provide a very contemporary look and feel.
• Maximise Natural Light – As pyramid skylights are multi-dimensional, unlike flat skylights, the amount of light that flows into the property through them is increased. More natural light further decreases your dependence upon artificial light . So if you’re seeking to illuminate a particularly dark area in your home, pyramid skylights could be the best option.

The Different Options Available With Pyramid Skylights
Selecting pyramid skylights for your property is just the first step. There are then many other factors to consider before you even get close to the final product that will be installed at your property. Some of these include:

• Glazing – Do you want acrylic or glass glazing? What about special films that can be applied during the manufacturing process to help control temperature and fading of interior design elements?
• Size – While larger pyramid skylights do let more light into a property, they will also increase the interior temperature and potentially make your HVAC system work harder. The size needs to be carefully calculated.
• Opening – Do you want to be able to open your skylight to allow for the circulation of fresh air? There are both manual and electric mechanisms that can be fitted to allow this functionality.

Pyramid skylights are a great option for many types of properties. To get further information on them or any other type of skylight, please get in touch with our friendly and experienced team in Toronto.

While most skylights installed by reputable contractors do have some fairly lengthy life expectancies (20+ years for acrylic skylights and 30+ years for glass skylights), they don’t last forever and will eventually need replacing. If they aren’t replaced when they should be there can be serious consequences for your property. The problem is, it’s not always obvious when skylights repair or a completely new skylights installation is needed, which is why we’re going to point out a few telltale signs during the course of this article.
Do You Need a New Skylights Installation? Here’s How to Check
Many times a property owner will only check the condition of their skylights from the interior and while they may look fine from this perspective, an inspection of the exterior may tell a rather different story. Here are the top indicators that you need new skylights installation:

• Passed Their Life Expectancy – As already mentioned, acrylic skylights are typically expected to last for close to 20 years, while a glass skylight will last 30 years or more in many cases. If this time period has passed you may want to carefully inspect its condition, particularly in the case of acrylic skylights, as over time the materials do naturally age and lose their ability to adequately insulate your home.
• Your Energy Bills Have Risen Dramatically – There are in fact numerous reasons why your energy bills could have risen significantly, but a decline in the condition of windows, doors and skylights is among the leading causes. If your doors and windows all seem to be in good condition, it could be your skylight that is allowing heat energy to escape and in turn force your heating and cooling systems to work overtime to maintain a comfortable temperature.
• There’s An Obvious Leak – If your skylight sustains some serious damage and there’s a clear passage for air and moisture to get inside your home, this is a sure fire sign that your skylight may need to be replaced. Skylights repair may be an option but a full inspection will need to be carried out to assess the level of damage in order to make an informed decision.
• Clear Cracks – Skylights, particularly those made from acrylic, are not overly impact resistant and the plastic becomes more brittle as time passes by. If you happen to suffer a hailstorm in your local area or anything happens to collide with your skylight during a period of rough weather (not uncommon in Toronto), and you happen to notice cracks on the exterior, your skylight may need replacing.
• Distortion of the Light – Again, this is an issue that is more commonly associated with acrylic skylights but can sometimes occur with glass models if they are not properly maintained. The acrylic may discolour overtime, which distorts the colour of the light itself as it filters through the skylight and into your property. In extreme cases the only way to remedy this problem is to opt for new skylights installation.

If you would like a professional to assess the condition of your skylights or you want us to inspect your property and measure up for new skylights installation, contact the Toronto based team at Aluplex!