If you’ve decided to invest in octagon skylights for your property, whether it be a commercial or residential setting, you have almost certainly made that decision to capitalise on the wide range of practical benefits that such a feature can offer. However, should you make poor decisions that lead to a decrease in the energy efficiency and performance of your new skylight, the benefits of having it installed might be somewhat neutralised. It’s therefore important to be aware of the design considerations that can have an effect upon energy efficiency and performance before you start.
Maximise the Performance of Octagon Skylights: Design Considerations
As one of the leading companies for skylights installation in Toronto, we make it our business to be aware of all of the possible factors that can influence the performance of our products. When having octagon skylights (or any other type of skylights for that matter) installed, here are some of the main design factors that must be considered:
- Size of Skylights – How big are the octagon skylights that you’re planning to have installed? It goes without saying that the physical size of the skylight affects how much light is able to filter into your property (level of illumination), as well as the temperature of the air directly below the skylight. If it is installed in a room that already contains a lot of windows, it is recommended that the skylight occupy no more than five percent of the total floor area of the room. This can be increased to fifteen percent in rooms that don’t feature many windows.
- The Position of the Skylights – Octagon skylights that are positioned on roofs that point towards the north receive a fairly constant supply of sunlight, while those facing the east are known to harvest the most amount of light overall. However, octagon skylights that are installed on south facing roofs will often cause overheating inside the property during the warm summer months in Toronto, but are effective at providing solar heating in the cool winter months.
- The Type of Glazing – One of the other main factors affecting the performance of residential and commercial skylights is the type of glazing that is used. Plastic glazing doesn’t generally do an effective job of filtering out harmful UV rays, which are known to cause fading of interior decor items. However, it is possible to select glazing (both glass and plastic glazing options) that feature special types of films that control the amount of sunlight that is able to enter the property, thus helping to manage the interior temperature and deal with issues such as fading.
- The Quality of Installation – Performance isn’t just down to the quality of the product itself; poor skylights installation can have serious consequences in terms of energy efficiency and performance too. The skylight needs to be properly sealed and installed flush to other architectural element of your house, otherwise air leakage could become a problem, allowing heat energy to escape. Always select a reputable contractor to install your skylights. Paying a little more upfront can often result in savings that run into the hundreds or even thousands over the course of the skylight’s lifespan.
Aluplex is proud to offer a wide range of different skylights, including octagon skylights and pyramid skylights, and would be glad to assist you should you need any further help.
