Skylights illuminate your indoor spaces by letting natural light in. The beauty of sunlit living is unbeatable because it embellishes natural elements and gives a unique touch to your interior space.
Every day, the light resplends uniquely and changes during the daytime, following the light that the sky offers. You will be lucky to appreciate the different atmosphere from morning to noon to evening.
If you plan to install a skylight in your house, you may hesitate between tubular skylights and traditional skylights. This post will give you the main differences between both so you can make an informed choice before diving into your skylight installation.
Skylights General Benefits
Having skylights in your home will introduce natural light by the roof, creating a more open and inviting atmosphere. They generally contribute to the beauty of sunlit living as they offer abundant natural light, which provides a warm and natural glow inside.
Skylights enhance interior aesthetics by highlighting architectural features and adding depth and appeal to visual interest. Most people will feel a special connection to nature as skylights offer you a direct view of the sky, clouds and stars.
Adding natural elements to your interior will create a sense of harmony and make you and your family feel more serene. It has a direct positive effect on your mood.
Tubular Skylights
Tubular skylights are smaller and offer solutions for homes that can’t handle traditional skylights. Choose a tubular skylight if your home has a large roof cavity or attic.
With a tubular skylight, you must install a dome on the roof that captures the sunlight and a reflective tube to channel sunlight until a diffuser is installed on the interior ceiling.
The light diffuser of a tubular skylight is smaller than that of traditional skylights, which doesn’t impact the amount of light in your house. However, it prevents heat from going through.
Traditional Skylights
Traditional skylights are larger fixed windows installed on your roof. It is a rectangular or square framed glass or plastic pane that lets the natural light go through and allows you to watch the sky from your couch at any time of the day. The unique design it creates appeals to most buyers.
The Main Differences
Installation
installing traditional skylights is much more complex than tubular skylights. It involves proper carpentry work as you may have to alter the roof structure and must be aware of leak prevention. The internal ceiling must be aesthetic, as it will be part of the show. Tubular skylights are quick and easy to install with minimum risk and work.
Price
regarding the work needed to install and the material quality, traditional skylights are usually more expensive than tubular ones. Tubular skylight prices will increase with more advanced technologies; you will find options between $700 and $1,200.
The price range of traditional skylights goes from $1,500 up to $3,500, including installation. The price varies mainly with the complexity of the installation.
Energy Efficiency
having skylights will reduce your electricity bills as you will not need to power your lights during the day. Traditional skylights are more abundant in natural light because they cover a larger roof area.
However, traditional skylights can’t block the heat from entering the house. In summer, you may suffer from intense heat in your home and spend more on air conditioning. Tubular skylights offer less natural light but do not let the heat penetrate your house.
Summary
Tubular or traditional skylights will enhance the beauty of sunlit living and bring you all the benefits. Choose the right specialists in skylight installation to get the best experience possible.