Home improvement projects and renovations have grown in popularity in the last few years, with more and more people looking to ‘do up’ their homes instead of moving. When it comes to home improvements, you have a lot of options. More and more homeowners today are choosing to include skylights in their home designs to bring in more natural light and make the home brighter and airier. Installing a skylight isn’t necessarily a difficult process, but it does require planning on your part. Let’s dive in.
A Background
If you didn’t know, a skylight is simply a window except, instead of being in the wall, they are installed in the roof of a property. They bring in more light and are often chosen for new builds or extensions where the natural light would otherwise be sparse. Most of the time, the word skylight is used, but there are a few different forms. Skylights are built into a roof and do not tend to be accessible; therefore, they cannot be opened. A roof window, unlike a skylight, can be opened, and they can be installed into flat or pitched roofs, like the ones available from Roof Window Outlet. Lastly, roof lanterns are closer in appearance to the roof of a conservatory.
Positioning
Choosing the right position for your skylight is important. They are designed to let in daylight all day, of course; however, depending on where they are, the orientation of your house, and which way the room faces, they are likely to be brighter at different points during the day. The first thing that you will need to consider is where you want the light to come in and what you want to achieve. While the practicalities obviously matter, it is also worth considering the aesthetics too; for example, they should be symmetrical or centrally located.
The Pros
There are several advantages to installing skylights in your home. Firstly, as mentioned above, it lets in a lot more natural light, and access to sunlight can be incredibly beneficial to your mental health as well as improving your circadian rhythm, which in turn helps to improve your sleep schedule. If you choose a skylight that you can open them, you can also benefit from a better quality of air that comes with the increased ventilation. Fresh air is also linked to better mental and physical well-being.
Skylights can also help to make a space feel bigger and more spacious. They can also help to bring down your energy bills because you will have less of a reliance on artificial lighting. The increased sunlight coming from directly overhead can also help to warm or cool the room, meaning that you do not have to use your heating as much. Skylights, in general, are also a home improvement project that can add more value to your property for when you come to sell it because it is a desirable feature.
The Cons
It isn’t all upsides, though; there are a few drawbacks that you will need to be aware of. To start with, including a skylight in your home renovation projects will add time to the project. You will also need to hire someone to install it because if installed properly, they can cause costly issues that are tricky and time-consuming to rectify. In addition to this, they can actually add too much light to a room which is why they should be avoided in the bedroom, and you will need to think about their position lest you end up with a constant glare on your telly.
In the summer months, the overhead light can heat up your rooms and make them stuffy. They could be more prone to leaks – although this again does depend on the installation; if installed properly, this shouldn’t be an issue. Lastly, if something were to fall on the skylight, at the very least, it could make the skylight dirty, and they are hard to clean; in the worst case, they could shatter.
Average Costs
Several different factors can affect the price of a skylight. Inexpensive units can be picked up relatively cheaply, but you also have to consider the cost of installation, which can add to the bill. However, if you opt for something more bespoke, then, of course, you can expect to spend more. Realistically, the cost comes down to the scale of the project, what you want and what you can afford.
In Summary
Skylights are an incredibly desirable feature that a lot of potential buyers are looking for, which is why they often add value to your property. However, they can also really help you to make the most out of your home in terms of maximising the amount of light that you get and making your rooms seem bigger and more spacious. Installing a skylight isn’t too arduous, either. It isn’t something that you should really DIY; it makes more sense to hire someone. Luckily, there are also options to suit a range of budgets too, so make sure to do some research before you make any commitments.