Installing Skylights: A Few Things to Consider

A skylight is a great way to let in some natural light without having to worry about privacy. Taking the time to examine your options is important. Before you start chopping away at your roof, consider the following:

• Skylight Placement: A skylight should brighten a room, not blast you out of bed when the sun comes up or make a room uncomfortably hot. Take a look at how the light will flow from your prospective skylight, and discuss this with a contractor
• Dome Skylights and Water Run-Off: Just as important as light flow is water flow from your roof. A recessed design placed incorrectly on your roof will end up turning into a puddle--and could result in leakage and water damage. Dome skylights are a great way around this problem because the water has no place to settle
• Skylight Functionality: An awning-style window can be a great choice for a skylight. It allows you to get some airflow without letting preciptation inside--at least when properly placed and installed. Skylights that can be opened let you dispell the hot air that gathers near the ceiling
• Skylight Installation: If you only have a vague idea about what's involved in installing a skylight, hire a contractor. Almost as important as the foundation, your home's roof needs to be solid enough to stand up to any kind of weather. Poor installation jobs have forced more than one homeowner to replace large sections of roof, which is a costly repair job

The benefits of a skylight are numerous, but so are the pitfalls. Get it right and you'll have a brighter, more open feel to your home. This is one job that requires skill, so don't be afraid to call a contractor, even if it's just for a consultation.