Skylights can be a marvelous addition to a home. Skylights allow more than 30% more light into a room than standard windows do. Not only does this added natural light help your place feel welcoming and relaxing, but it can save you a great deal on your heating and air conditioning bills. In the winter, skylights allow more of the natural sunlight into your home, allowing you to take advantage of as much of the sun’s rays as possible on cold winter days. In the summer, you can vent your windows, and let hot air that has risen towards the ceiling escape through the skylight, keeping your room cool and fresh.
If you’re considering adding a skylight to your home, it’s a good idea to do your homework. There are several styles to choose from – flat, domed, vented, fixed, and more – and depending on your style of roof, you have many options to consider. But it’s important to make an informed decision, and to always seek the advice of a roofing contractor with skylight installation experience. (Adding a skylight should never be a DIY task!)
Here are three questions you should think about before proceeding with such a project.
3 Questions to Consider Before Installing a Skylight
1. Are You Sure You Have Clearance?
Some attic areas have pipes, wires, or even heating and air conditioning vents running just under the roof. If this is the case in your home, then you may not be able to install a skylight exactly where you would like it. It may be possible to choose a different part of your roof, but you should have an inspection to determine if such an installation is possible, before you get your heart set on a particular outcome.
2. Will You Need to Cut a Roof Support to Fit the Skylight?
Many skylights can fit between the supports, or roof trusses. If you want a larger skylight, though, the installation crew may need to cut one of these supports. There are several ways to do this without compromising the stability or structure of your roof beams, but it isn’t possible in every situation and should only ever be attempted by a roofing professional with lots of experience.
3. What Slope Angle Can You Make the Skylight?
You want your skylight to be at a slope that is five to fifteen degrees higher than your latitude. The reason for this slope angle is that it is the most energy-efficient angle for allowing in heat and light from the sun, especially in the winter. In order for your energy bills to benefit from your new skylight, you want to aim for that range of five to fifteen degrees higher than latitude.
So, You’ve Decided on a Skylight
You’ve asked yourself these questions, done some research on skylight types and possibilities, and you’ve decided to proceed with installing a skylight. Congratulations! Now, get some help. Installing a skylight should never be a DIY project because there’s the potential for doing some pretty serious damage to your roof if you don’t have the expertise to do it properly. You’ll want to choose a roofing company that is properly insured, and that has a fantastic reputation for doing this kind of work for your friends and neighbors.
Here in Cincinnati, you should call us here at Harper Siding & Roofing. We’ve got the experience and expertise to install your new skylight safely, giving you all the benefits you’re looking forward to. And we’re from the area, so if you run into any problems down the road, you can count on us to be here to fix the problem. Your neighbors across the Cincinnati area have trusted us for decades, and you can rely on us to do a great job for you, and to stand behind our work when the job is done.