The Pros and Cons of Velux Skylights
Are you looking for more ways to get natural daylight into your home? A skylight is often an excellent option for increasing the amount of sunlight you receive.
Velux skylights are a brand of traditional skylights. Many homeowners view traditional skylights as merely a window on the roof. However, a skylights benefits and its installation are more complicated than that.
Traditional skylights provide direct sunlight access into your home to reduce reliance on electric light usage during the daytime. They are made of particularly sturdy glass or plastic to withstand the elements and any potential impacts. The glass in a traditional skylight is different from typical windows, as it has more tinting to handle that direct sunlight. Installation can be more challenging than windows, and most skylights are not easy to install as a DIY option.
Traditional Skylights come in multiple styles, shapes, and designs from different companies. Velux Skylights are well-known and trusted skylight brand of conventional skylights, and are the leader in the traditional skylight market. With over 85 years of experience in the business of skylights, Velux has a wide selection of traditional skylight products.
Some of the benefits of choosing Velux skylights include:
Home and Health Benefits
Just as with any skylight, Velux skylights increase access to natural light, which will improve the appearance and function of your home. With more daylight, you will feel healthier, and your mood will improve. Selecting a Velux skylight that opens will also improve airflow through your home, which reduces allergens.
Cost Effective Benefits
If you choose a Velux Skylight with integrated solar energy cells, your Velux skylight can help you qualify for a Federal Tax Credit. Velux skylights are an investment, but many can reduce heating and cooling costs because of the extra sunlight and the option to open the window for venting.
Velux also offers the latest models for superior protection against the elements. Their newest models have a sensor that triggers the skylight to close during rain automatically. Many of their models also include a remote, which can be used to open and close the skylight to match your preferences. Some even have blinds that are equally easy to operate.
Velux Skylights, like all skylights, do have some drawbacks. Here are some of the weaknesses of the Velux Skylights:
Condensation and Cleaning
Because of their design and structure, Velux Skylight can become dirty of build condensation, which can look unsightly. Being on the roof, they can also be difficult to clean. On the other hand, tube skylights offer watertight one-piece construction which means minimal cleaning and maintenance. Skylight installation also changes the landscape of your roof, which needs to be considered for safety during winter months. In areas of the country with particularly heavy snowfall and ice, a skylight may not be the best choice.
Difficult to Install
Due to the size and dimensions of a Velux skylight, they can take some time and effort to install. Tube skylights can usually be installed in an hour or two by a professional, allowing for much more seamless installation.
Heat Gain and Glare Issues
Because traditional style Velux skylights allow unfiltered sunlight directly into your home, there can be issues with heat gain and glare, and insulation in general. This can drive up your heating and cooling bills, and create an uncomfortable environment in your home. By filtering the sunlight and causing minimal impact to your home’s insulation, Solatube skylights offer the best of both worlds by providing maximum sunlight with minimum heat and glare.
Originally published at solabrite.com on December 29, 2017.