Roof Skylights – Let There Be Light

You’ve spent the last few months pondering the home improvements you’ll do when you can find your power tools behind the bicycles and boxes stored in your garage. No more excuses: It’s time to get in gear. And, one of the best improvements you can make is to bring more light into a space with roof windows and skylights.

Roof windows and skylights are being used in many creative ways, particularly where space is limited and light is essential. Closets, bathrooms, kitchens, playrooms, garages and even porches are just some examples of where these architectural elements can provide natural light to open up and brighten a room.

And, daylight is essential to how we feel. Our sense of time and direction relies on the availability of direct sunlight. Daylight has proved to be an essential element to our well being by relieving stress levels and helping the body produce vitamin D and absorb calcium ¾ both essential elements to healthy bones.

There are a number of things to consider when deciding whether or not roof windows are the best choice for your home. Experts at Andersen Corporation, the nation’s brand-leading window and patio door manufacturer, offer this advice:

Roof window or skylight? What’s the difference?

Skylights are stationary with simple frames that maximize the glass area. Roof windows are very similar and come in stationary and venting styles. The main difference between stationary roof windows and skylights is the interior finishing features. Stationary roof windows match their venting counterparts with an exposed wood frame interior. Skylights have a sash profile that provides for drywall to meet-up directly with the sash, allowing for easy interior finishing. Choose the style that best meets your needs.

Consider carefully how the room is used.

Roof windows and skylights add light, yet maintain privacy in most applications. Bringing natural light to bathrooms, hallways and closets opens up these areas and lessens the reliance on artificial lighting. Operating roof windows can provide fresh air movement for areas that may benefit from stacked ventilation.

Installation: It’s easier than you think.

Andersenâ skylights may be ordered in any size from 16 to 44 inches wide and from 27 to 72 inches long. Sixteen- and 24-inch widths are perfect for remodeling and new construction because they fit within standard roof trusses or rafters. Altering these structural areas can be time consuming, costly and difficult. These widths eliminate the need to alter and reinforce the area prior to installation.

Quality is critical.

When you cut a hole in your roof and install a skylight, it’s natural to be concerned about leakage and condensation. The best defense is to choose a quality window using insulated, high-performance, low-e glass for the best heating and cooling performance possible. Leakage and the effects of condensation can be eliminated with proper installation of a quality window designed to limit heating and cooling transfer as much as possible. Have your roof window professionally installed or carefully follow all installation instructions.

Return on investment is the deciding factor.

Roof windows and skylights can appear to open up small spaces in an easy, cost-effective way. Most available sizes eliminate the need to cut into the structural elements of the roof, and for that reason, installation can be relatively simple, making roof windows an easy way to add value to your home.

Also see; replacement windows.

Author Notes:

Mary Kyra contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.replacement-windows-n-shutters.com. Find everything you need to know about replacement windows, shutters, tinting, basement, fiberglass windows and more.