Choosing a Roof Skylight

If you feel that one of the rooms in your house is too dark and cramped feeling then installing a roof skylight might help open up the space a little as well as fill it with more light. This is not as expensive of a proposition as it used to be as nowadays there is a roof skylight available to fit every budget.

However before you buy you should keep in mind that adding a skylight is slightly more complex then just installing a window. Many different factors can influence your use of a skylight. For instance, if the room has a small ceiling area your choice of roof skylight will be limited.

Your choice of skylight might also be affected by service lines, ceiling beams and ductwork that might be in the way. Try to choose a location to install the roof skylight where you don’t have to make structural changes.

Another thing to consider is how the light will fall through the roof skylight to illuminate the room. For best results plan the shape and placement of the light so it spreads evenly through the room. Keep in mind that rectangular, narrow skylights spread light across a greater portion of a room than square ones do. The depth of the well of the skylight will also affect how light is spread across the room. A deep well provides less light than a shallow one.

Yet another thing to consider is the finish of the skylight. A natural wood finish gives 40% less reflective light into the room then a bright white roof skylight surface.

The roof skylight can come with all kinds of different perks. You can buy them in either glass or acrylic, fixed or ventilated and with manual or motorized openers. They are also available with built-in accessories such as roller shades and mini blinds. They can be glazed or not glazed. The fancier your skylight is the more expensive it will be and you can expect it to cost between $500 to $1700 per roof skylight or more depending on the model that you choose.

While considering your budget and the skylight’s functionality you might also want to consider the style of your homes exterior and the character of the room it is to go in. You can buy skylights in a wide range of shapes including square, rectangular, round and pyramid shaped.

If you can’t afford a roof skylight then a lower cost alternative might be an acrylic dome. Quality domes not feature watertight aluminum frames and two layers of acrylic that is much stronger then the plastic that used to be used to make these simple roof skylights. You can also buy these now in an interesting pyramid shape.

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