In modern house construction, a lot of thought is given to increasing the amount of natural light in a home. Natural light helps to make a home feel brighter and more spacious and can also help to significantly reduce the need for artificial lighting. Unfortunately, many older homes weren't built with this concept in mind and they often have one or more areas of the home that are dark and dingy on even the brightest summer day.
One of the best ways to introduce more natural light into these dark nooks is to add skylight windows. Skylights are a relatively affordable, quick and easy feature to install in comparison to removing walls and adding more traditional windows. If you're considering adding one or more skylights to your home, then here are the two main styles that are available to choose from.
1. Roof windows
As the name suggests, roof windows are skylights that are installed within the slope of the roof structure. They resemble standard windows in that they can be opened and closed and are generally made with clear glazing. Roof windows are ideal for homes with cathedral ceilings or rooms that are located in a loft conversion because they require access to the external surface of the roof.
If you opt for roof windows, you'll need to ensure that you choose a model that has insulated frames. This helps to prevent condensation from building up around the window and also helps to regulate the internal temperature of your home. In very cold climates, you might also like to opt for double glazing to prevent heat from escaping through the window panes.
2. Dome skylights
Dome skylights are made up of three components. On the exterior of the home, there is a moulded dome that is made from frosted glass or acrylic. The dome is connected to either a rigid light shaft or a flexible tube that is made from a reflective material. This allows the sunlight to bounce down to the interior of your home. The third component is a light diffuser panel, which is installed on the ceiling.
Dome skylights are ideal for homes in warm climates because they provide plenty of light without absorbing extra solar heat. They also provide a softer and more subtle light to a home than roof windows. Because of their design, they're perfect for use in awkward spaces, such as hallways and bathrooms, where this no direct access to the roof line.