Considerations for Your Skylight Installation or Replacement

A skylight is an excellent way to bring more light into your home, making it feel bright and airy. If you’re fortunate enough to already have one of these features in your home, you may be looking to have it replaced, as skylights do require an upgrade after some years. Here are a few factors to think about before having this feature installed in your home, or having your existing skylight upgraded.

1. Where to Install Your Skylight

Most homeowners seeking skylight services already have an older one in place. With that being said, it is possible to have one installed if your home didn’t originally come with one. To decide on the best place for your skylight, think about which rooms would benefit most from more light. For instance, bathrooms can often use more illumination, and a skylight won’t compromise privacy the way a traditional window would. 

Next, consider the ideal placement to allow in the exact amount of light you want. A north-facing skylight will give you constant natural light throughout the day, gently illuminating your home, whereas a south-facing skylight could be too intense. For the most light and heat in the morning, it’s best to install a skylight on an east-facing roof.

2. Opening Skylights

You may want a skylight that opens if it would help ventilate the room. For instance, if you cook often, your kitchen might be well-suited for an opening skylight. Alternatively, you may just want to allow more fresh air to enter your home. If the skylight will be out of your reach, you can opt for an electronic control, which can even include rain sensors.

One particularly attractive option for opening skylights is the Velux Solar Powered Opening Skylight. With no wires and a sleek wall mount remote, the skylight can be set on timers to open at preferred times. It also features a sophisticated rain sensor that will prompt the skylight to close automatically at even the smallest amount of rain.

3. Sizing

If you’re planning an installation, you might be thinking about how large you want the skylight to be. Bigger is often better, as they can flood rooms with beautiful natural light. You might even be able to reduce your electric bill if your skylight provides ample illumination during the day.

4. Skylight Curbs

Homeowners can also decide between skylight curbs or deck mounted skylights. Curb mounted skylights are common and require a box structure on which the unit will sit. The box features construction lumber which is then attached to the roof deck and flashed in for waterproofing. While curb mounted skylights can replace older skylights fairly simply, deck mounted skylights lower the unit’s profile and increase energy efficiency due to their closer position to the roof. 

5. Internal and External Finish

The finish of your skylight will affect the aesthetics of your property as a whole. One way to improve appearances is with a finish on the plasterboard of the internal frame, meaning you’ll see nothing but the sky.

Since skylights are so specialized, you need to contract a team with the right expertise for your skylight installation. Edmonton homeowners can turn to Weatherproof Roofing for quality services. Contact us to receive a free estimate for your skylight replacement or installation.