Considering skylights — seeking input

5 years ago

Hi. I have beautiful trees at the back of my property. That view is important to me. I'm a creative.

I am about to build a 1 floor addition (great room/bump out) as part of the house, not a porch. But it will replace my current porch — and view of the beautiful trees. Anyone with skylights, I'd love your input. Back room will face SOUTH, but is fairly shaded.

1. Apx cost — for largest available (2 ft x 4 ft?) I want a bank of them.

2. Vented? or Fixed?

3. Shades or nah?

4. How, and how often, do you clean them (the outside side) — who does that? Not me! :)

5. What issues have you had?

6. GOOD INSTALL is critical — what to look for or ask about?

7. How did you offset warmer room? Roof insulation or dedicated AC?

8. Anything else?

Thanks!

WH (Silver Spring, MD)

Featured Answer

PRO

Charles Ross Homes

5 years ago

A skylight is a hole in a roof which will eventually leak. I avoid them where possible (that said, I have two in my home.) If you are able to design the addition to include windows instead, you'll reduce the potential problems. If the living area has sloped ceilings, a double or triple dormer would enable you to install windows, let in more natural light and would open up the space.

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Comments (9)

lkbum_gw
5 years ago
Charles gave good advice. We had a couple of sky lights that gave us really nice views of some tall trees until the leaves fell. then cleaning the leaves off them was paramount because they would build up around the curbs and cause leaks if we didn’t.
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K Laurence
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Have had skylightsi in almost every home I’ve owned, last house had 5 of them, never a leak in 20+ years. Our window cleaner cleaned ours occadionally. i love them. None in my current home , it’s a flat roofed MCM.
User
5 years ago
We had an 1890 home in AL. Lots of trees and different roof lines due to remodel. When we bought the home there were 4 skylights in the house and they had been in for more than 10 yrs, We did extensive remodeling in 2001 and 2007 and added 4 more. We sold the house and moved in 2017 and all of the skylights were still perfect and we never had the first leak. One of them was an electric that we could open and close with a light switch. We LOVED that one as it let all the heat gain in our converted attic space out in minutes with the ceiling fan on as well.

The biggest ones were 4ft square and were over the shower areas in two bathrooms. Everyone loved it as it felt like an outdoor shower. I was able to climb out a 2 nd story window onto the roof and easily clean off 7 of the skylights and my DH was able to get up to the very highest and do it. I am an athletic 70 yr old female and never had a problem but many wouldn't want to do the cleaning. I never had a problem.

The house just sold again and they made some changes but still has all the skylights etc. 414 N 8th St. Opelika AL if you want to see.

PS....added 2 skylights to this 1920 home we bought and remodeled here in VA. :) c
PRO
Fenstermann LLC
5 years ago
Velux will be the brand you want o aim for. Operable for sure because it can vent out warm/hot air quick. And yes, a shade will help a lot in the summer time to prevent a fast heating up of the room.

Cleaning depends a bit on the area you are living in (industrial dust or high pollution) and the angle of the skylight. The more incline the more the rain does the cleaning.

Best of Luck from Fenstermann LLC
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for this input. REALLY helpful! Yep. Velux is only one I’m looking at. A d the 4ft big ones.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
GREAT feedback. For and against. Just helpful to keep in mind.
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
5 years ago
Another vote for Velux.
Brea Nelson-Rigtrup
5 years ago
Velux is the way to go. Really not hard to install, ours have been awesome for 14 years.