Skylight Styles
- Skylights allow sunshine to light up interior spaces.skylight ii image by morsted from Fotolia.com
A skylight can let natural light into your home or business. Another benefit is that a skylight can make a space appear larger and help reduce energy costs, according to the Home Institute. When you research and purchase a skylight, you can choose from different styles, such as vented and tubular skylights. - Vented skylights offer both natural air and ventilation, according to the Home Institute. Installing a vented skylight in a kitchen or bathroom puts the air flow to work removing food smells or moisture. Vented skylights are available in electric or manual models. While a manual model requires more time to open and close, it is more cost-efficient.
- Purchasing a dome skylight requires deciding on how much light you require, according to Roof 101. Dome skylights can come in different styles. Two types of dome skylights are prismatic and acrylic. The prismatic type provides a softer light for individuals with light sensitivity. The acrylic double dome type offers better insulation against cold weather.
- A pyramid skylight spans large spaces, such as in commercial environments like an office building's lobby or an art gallery. These skylights can have from four to eight sides. Ask your skylight contractor about your roof's condition before installing this type of skylight. The roof must be strong enough to support the pyramid skylight's weight.
- A plastic skylight is made from one piece of plastic. This type of skylight has a lighter weight and will not shatter like glass. One disadvantage of a plastic skylight is that long-term exposure to the sun can cause discoloration.
- A tubular skylight differs from most skylights found in residential or commercial environments. While other types of skylights provide light to living rooms or kitchens, a tubular skylight brings light to hallways and rooms without direct roof access. It contains reflective material that increases the amount of daylight that shines into your interior space. Before hiring a professional to install a tubular skylight, ask about his tubular skylight experience, the installation time required for completion and cost of the installation.
