Skylights
Skylight, a special type of window built into the roof of a house provides natural air and lighting in modern homes. Skylight or roof ventilation allows light to enter the house approximately 8 times more than the windows in wall do. It creates healthy atmosphere for occupants of the house and reduces electricity bill also. Skylights are also known as roof windows, roof lights or glazed opening in the roof. This article tells types of skylights and its’ installation tips.
Types of Skylights
Fixed Type Skylight
This skylight is fixed and does not have any opening components. Only the light is passed through this window inside the house. The cleaning of this skylight is very difficult.
Ventilating Skylight
The whole part of this skylight is opened either by manual or through some mechanical system. It allows air and light to enter the house removing inside air containing moisture and pollution to keep airflow steady. These skylights are more useful in bathroom and kitchen. It is easy to clean all components of ventilating skylights.
Half way Skylight
This skylight is opened in part or portion of windows. It has typically pivot opening and may be fitted with blind. The pivot opening skylight is considered most useful skylight for taking maximum sunlight and air. One can adjust angle of pivot to get desired light and air into the house. This skylight is useful for both houses and business places and can be easily handled by fixing a chain with the pivot of skylight to the wall.
Sun Tunnel Skylight
This skylight is about a foot wide hole that lets sunlight to pass through faint areas of your home. It is installed to get more natural light into bathrooms, basements, attics and closets.
Shapes of Skylights
There are different types of skylight windows which differ in shapes and styles. Most common windows used in residential houses are flat type skylights. The following are some more examples of skylights according to their shape.
Rectangular or Square Skylight
This is the simplest type of skylight and can easily be used in any type of roof. It is economical, easy to fabricate and fix in the roof.
Round Skylight
The fabrication of this skylight is typical in comparison to square and rectangular skylight. This skylight is expensive, difficult to fabricate and fix in the roof.
Polygon Skylight
This skylight consists of many small frames and various glass pieces. It is expensive because the cost of fabrication is increased due to small pieces. It offers good look.
Pyramid Skylight
This skylight consists of four numbers of triangle pyramids fixed just at the top of the roof.
Dome Skylight
This skylight has a glass roundup surface of the roof. It is the most expensive type of skylight and is generally used at holy places or where more architectural look is needed.
Tubular Skylight
This skylight allows sunlight to pass through an acrylic dome (light collector) lens fixed on the roof. The light passes through reflective tube to a diffusing lens which spreads the light evenly all through the room. Some tubular skylights can be installed with electrical lights to provide light in the evening. Tubular skylight is fixed into closets and hallways.
Precautions for Installation of Skylight
- Install skylights according to the requirement, space and size available at roof of the house.
- Fix an insect screen into the skylight to prevent insects and protect people living in the house.
- Clean glass in the skylight carefully during rainy season otherwise rain water will enter the house.
- Ensure proper sealing is made to prevent leakage through windows at the time of rain.
- Fix tempered glass, acrylic sheets or other synthetic material into the panels of wooden or metal frames according to the design, shape and size of the skylight.
- Contact professional and good contractor for skylight installation because skylights installed carelessly can create leakage problem for house owner.
Skylights. Skylight | Home Skylight | Skylight Shapes | Skylight Installation | Skylight Types – GharExpert.com. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2022, from https://www.gharexpert.com/tips/articles/Construction/1970/Roofing-Ceiling-1970-Skylights_0
