2 Common Types of Skylights For Your Home
If your home has areas that are too dark and are making your space feel small and enclosed, you may be considering installing skylights. In simple terms, skylights are windows that are installed in your roof or ceiling, and they can not only brighten your home, but also offer increased ventilation and energy efficiency. As a first-timer it's important for you to know the two main types of skylights available for installation, so here's a quick rundown before you start shopping.
Ventilating Skylight -- A ventilating skylight is built with a winch that allows you to manually or remotely open the skylight to get rid of hot air and bring in cool, natural air through the window at night. Ventilating skylights are built with hinges that typically open outward, but there are also some that provide ventilation through smaller panels, which means that the entire skylight doesn't open. If you opt for a manual skylight, you will have to use a pole or crank to open the skylight. You can also choose an automated ventilating skylight that opens via remote control. Advances in technology have made it possible for the creation of moisture sensing ventilating skylights that close when it rains. Some homeowners build very large ventilating skylights that can double as a means of escape during a fire emergency or a natural disaster. Ventilating skylights are best installed in ceilings and rooms that have arched walls, including attics and lofts.
Fixed Skylight -- Traditional skylights are removable, but fixed skylights become a permanent part of your house. These are typically installed in hallways and rooms that lack natural light and they can not only let in abundant light but also make your hallways and room feel bigger. Fixed skylights are typically installed with a wood frame, and as with all skylights you have the option of using hard plastic or glass. The value of glass over plastic is that you the skylights will have a nicer appearance and you can install film on the glass such as Low-E, which stands for Low Emissivity glass that has a special coating to reflect heat for increased energy efficiency. One thing to remember is that fixed skylights don't open, so you do not have a ventilating option with these, which is why some homeowners install fixed skylights in bedrooms or hallways and ventilating skylights in attics or in high, vaulted ceilings of their living rooms.
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