I have two in my master bathroom and another in the family bathroom for 17 years with no leaks or problems. I love mine.

I'm not sure about a skylight in your situation. It may cause glare or add too much light for television viewing. There are some skylights that you can use shades to block sunlight. I don't know if skylights that open would be an advantage or not with your room temperature control My neighbor put them in her bathroom when she remodeled to increase the air circulation.

Given all your windows and concerns for heating and cooling as well as the problem of controlling light from a skylight - I would consider rethinking your light fixtures. Perhaps you need to add a central overhead fixture?

Not skylights, but we added solar tubes to two interior spaces and are glad we did. Not sure I'd want them in a FR though...

I have older ones and the glass is very filmy/dirty. I am probably the only one that notices since people rarely stare at your ceiling. We have two in an open second story loft and they make the room uncomfortable during our sunny summers. I would get them again but I would be very careful about their placement.

25 years ago with a remodel that added 10' to one side of the house, enlarging two bedrooms and master bath - we had large Velux skylights installed. I loved the light, loved sleeping under stars ;) Nothing beats natural light in the bath, if you can pass muster in front of that mirror in the morning, you're good to go anywhere.

The skylights were in an E facing sloping roof so got morning sun, adding to afternoon heat and making the cooling system kick on wasn't much of an issue. In the rain capitol of the country here (Washington coast), never a leak.

We've moved and the skylights are one of the things about the house I might miss. But, they weren't without downsides. DH was getting a little tired of climbing onto the roof to wash them even though it was just a couple of times a year (rain kept them mostly clean). I did have damage to a dresser top placed under the large skylight in my office/guest room, sun softened the finish and it was an expensive piece. That room was carpeted and the carpet felt different underfoot there too, I'm sure it had incurred some sun damage and my guess would be some types of flooring would show a color difference.

it's been a few houses since we've had skylights... I think good ones rarely leak.

I liked the light they brought in... we had a couple in a sunroom which were fine- they do get dirty/water marked tho. we also had a large one in our master bath and I do remember the sun beating in there in the summer, making it hot. we haven't had them since, probably because I ddn't like them enough! if I were to add any to a future house, I would get the type that open.

would you consider a ceiling fan?? could create a breeze to help it feel cooler in summer- could get a light on it or add some recessed lighting to help with brightness in the winter...

We put a large one in our breakfast room. Its' only been ~4 years but no issues. My biggest complaint about them had always been the look; to me they look very 70s and don't seem right on older, traditional homes. Ours is copper, and for me that solved the problem of aesthetics.

Sound like you are thinking about the right things: placement, glazing, shading, flashing, operability... We had hallway skylights in a prior house and those did contribute significantly to heat gain in the summer. And to carpet fading. But the light was great.

they make the room uncomfortable during our sunny summers.

That was our problem - we had two - one in the family room, and one between the family room and kitchen (open space). They didn't leak per se, but they did get some fog between the panes (however, they were installed in 1986, new ones are probably better). I would do it again, but I would be much more careful about placement. They did not create any additional glare on the TV.

They do have options now (like remote controlled integrated blinds) that can deal with some issues.

We have two operable ones in a bedroom. They are opened/closed by a " wand" . There are also shades between the glass. We have never used the shades. They have never leaked in over 25 years. I love them. We also have a small fixed skylight in the hallway. I cannot imagine not having it. I love light! We are in PA so the summers are not that bad. They do get dirty, but I just live with it.....way too steep to try to wash!

I live in a mcm home and have several skylights. Never had any leaks. My previous homes had them and no leaks. I just had a new roof installed and they have to remove them to install the roof. I am really mad at myself for not having them let us clean them really good while they were off. Cleaning is the biggest issue. I really don't want my husband on the roof and we can not reach the inside either. I also wish I had let them install one of the new technology ones in the center of my office, replacing the old one, one that opens with a remote and has the blinds inside. I might still do it.

My neighbor had the solar tubes installed and it made a huge difference in the amount of light in the room, really amazing.

I don't regret anything about having skylights.

Thanks to all for chiming in. I really appreciate your input. I've decided to proceed with caution & pass on the skylights. They're something I could add down the road if I feel the room could used them. But I'll see after the current reno if glare is a problem for the tv in its new location & will have a better handle on thermal issues, then decide if the room can handle two more holes.

It is harder to add skylights after the fact. There are European skylights built to passive house standards which deal with Thermal loss and Solar heat gain. I just ordered a replacement skylight for my home. I love my current skylight although it is over 30years old. I am replacing it as part of replacing my roof and it is starting to delaminate. It was terrible with heat but the amount of light in my kitchen during the day time meant I rarely used the overhead recessed lights.

One option is: Fakro Skylights
I used this one: Lamilux Skylights

Good luck with your choice!

I know you've already made your decision and I think it's a wise one. I have a large multi-paned skylight in my kitchen and the summer heat gain is unbearable in that room. I've looked for shade solutions and have found them to be very expensive and almost impossible to install so they are attractive, at least in my particular application. If you change your mind and decide to go with skylights, I would look for some that have easily operable integrated shades.

When we did our remodel four years ago we put in many skylights and I have no regrets at all. The operable skylights all use a remote control and are easy to open and close; I love having the windows open because they really help with air circulation and let the heat escape on a warm day. All of our skylights were placed thoughtfully and built out beautifully by our architect, so I think that makes a real difference in their appeal. They're not just a window stuck into a flat ceiling. We are currently doing a garage studio remodel and skylights weren't on the plan so I added three because I love them that much, I guess! The original side of our house has no skylights and you can feel the difference...very dark. But you know best how your house is sited on your property, what your shade trees are like, how much sun you would get at different times of the day. All of that matters and it sounds like you've made the best decision for your house.

You may want to consider solar tubes in the future, when you are reconsidering. I added two solar tubes to my kitchen, it went from feeling like a cave, to bright and illuminated. You could do these in the FR, but I would carefully think of where you would place them. Guests have mistaken the tubes for light fixtures (due to the amount of light that floods the room). You won't need to clean them, as the light is diffused, and there is no heat gain/loss. My neighbor loved it so much, she added one in a dark hallway, and in her FR as well. (this is not my kitchen, but what the tubes look like)

additionally my 2 cents.

I have and love the 2 Vellux skylights in my living room. I didn't want ones that opened due to possibly the remote controlled ones going bad, and/or not sealing down good when closed. I didn't opt for the 'wand' type because I doubted I'd go to the trouble of opening and closing them, and didn't know where to store the wand. I didn't go with blinds in them, as I thought that again was just something else that might quit working.

I've never felt that there was any heat loss, but do know that there is a lot of heat 'gain' on sunny days, which is particularly nice in the cooler months.

For years the heat gain in the summer was awful, and the AC would run almost continuously on really warm sunny summer days. I finally discovered 'solar' screen. I put the screens on during the warmer (AC) . Without the screens it is like two heaters in the ceiling. When the screens are on, it dims the light coming in a bit, but seems to completely stop the heat gain.
Since it has already been AC weather here in IN, I hope to get the lights washed and the screens on today.

Sue

Your room sounds like my FR. I have skylights and they just add to the cold and heat problems. I wouldn't do them again. Never had a leak, but cleaning is an issue since I don't like getting up on the roof to clean them.

If you are going to spend a lot of time in that room it's definitely worth getting some professional opinions.. there are lots of factors that determine if a skylight is the right choice for a room or not.. but having said that there are also many different options with skylights these days with covers, lights, ventilation and so on that there's pretty much a solution to most of your concerns..

This site has some good info: http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/residential/windows/skylights.html

These guys are really helpful: http://www.no1roofing.com.au/skylights/

All the best with your decision, getting people's opinion in a forum like this is a great idea and I'm sure will help you to make the right decision..

Have two sun tunnels as we call them perfect for our inside kit. (no windows) luv them!

The heat load from the skylights can often be an issue. If you can manage it with your roof conditions, clerestory windows might be a better way to get additional light into the room without adding to the heat load.

I realize that this is not a current thread but perhaps some will read it of interest. I am baby-sitting the cat and roses of a friend of mine. She has a skylight over her kitchen sink facing east and right now it is summer and hot. I can't stand being at her sink for even the 30 seconds it takes me to change the cats water bowl. It is simple way to hot.

When placing the skylights take into consideration proposed seating plans, directional issues wrt the sun (in her place because of another skylight it would be incredibly hot sitting in her family room couch in the morning), and size of them.

Having said all that - it isn't my house - I'm just putting out the info.

Yes, Beverly, I've dreamed of adding such windows for years! Might actually do it someday.

We have some Bristolite skylights and they are tinted and double domes. Never use clear dome skylights in rooms that you plan on using on sunny days because they will make the area under them unbearably hot. Ours are also opened up to vent on nice days with a switch and wonderful. We also had them flared so the light would spread across the room evenly.

The skylights were also installed by Bristolite and they only tacked them down with a couple screws so if there was a breeze the uplift would have ripped them off in no time. Then after a couple years, they had large cracks that leaked during rain times. They also were not properly sealed with flashing around the lights so they always leaked at the top end of our pitched roof.

They were not manufactured properly since they had cracks in the domes and they leaked mostly between the two domes and looked horrible and they are impossible to clean between the domes! Since they screwed up the installation too I would find another manufacturer for your skylights.

They were over $2000.00 each and they would not back their warranty. They were easy to deal with but their products suck and we bought the best quality they make! Their installers are more concerned about their cell phones and social life than properly installing the skylights.

If you are going to spend a lot of time in the space. it's definitely worth getting some opinions. They can be so beautiful.

It matters hugely what MAKE AND MODEL of skylights or sunlights you choose. Some have serious problems. I recommend Solatube as they have zero heat gain, zero visibility of external debris (like dead leaves a bird cr*p), zero leaks, beautiful natural free daylight, and option for dimming vanes and even solar-powered lighting (perfect for garage or shed as it is self-contained and needs no wiring). Solatube is designed to install in about one hour. Yes, one hour, no leaks, I’ve had them in my house for 10 years through epic wind and rain with no leaks, no trouble, just light.

I have seen many regrettable skylights in other houses….like those huge old 1970s light tunnels, providing huge painful glare, leaks, great view of dead leaves, huge heat gain, room feels like a broiler etc.

We have 9 skylights at our home. 7 face south or south west. I close the honeycomb shades that come down a track along the windows edge when it is very cold (below freezing) or hot. I hate having to close them as we loose so much light. Living in gloomy Oregon I don't want to loose any light! We have loads of windows too but "let there be light" !!

They are 25 years old and still working..we did silicone the glass edge a few year ago. When we replace the roof and skylights in the next few years we we probably go with ones that open to let out hot air and create a flow with cold air coming in at night

We love them! May check out solar tubes too. Would have to put in a lot to create the same amount of sunlight.

Skylights can address the dark center of the room, but they won’t resolve temperature issues and may exacerbate them if installed improperly. Modern skylights generally don’t leak when properly installed, and most skylight repair issues come from flashing or installation errors rather than the skylight itself. Cleaning is usually minimal, glare and TV reflections are real concerns, and shades or diffused glass are often needed. Worth it for daylight and looks, not for thermal comfort. Insulation and air sealing provide a better return on investment if temperature control is the primary goal.

Still a proponent of skylights..along with honeycomb shades for the skylights we also run a ceiling fan which make a tremendous difference..The effect is felt immediately once they are turned on. Clockwise for winter.