Bring in the light Bring in the light (December 17, 2004)

Skylights can really open up your house

By Richard Morrison

As winter approaches and the days start to become cloudy and gray, it's not surprising that people start thinking about how to bring more light into their homes.

One relatively easy way is to install a skylight or two. The results can be dramatic and wonderful. Having had a wide variety of skylights installed in my clients' homes over the years, I can pass along some of the useful lessons learned.

1. Use the flat glass type of skylight, rather than the plastic bubble type. The flat glass style invariably blends into the rooflines far better than the domed bubbles, and is far less susceptible to scratching. On days that start off chilly and warm up, the plastic skylights often produce a disturbing "popping" sound as they expand.

2. By flaring the walls of the skylight wells out to the sides, you can increase the spread of daylight. Unfortunately, this is not always feasible in all directions due to structural considerations in the roof. For example, you might have a prefabricated trussed roof system or need to keep important structural members, making it difficult to flare out in a particular direction. Make sure to have your roof system analyzed by a professional before you start hacking away at the roof on your own.

3. Consider incorporating small, unobtrusive built-in motors to open your skylight, instead of the long cranks or poles that most people use. This is now a relatively economical option with most skylight manufacturers. You can even get models that will close automatically in the event of rain! Imagine just pushing a button and getting pleasant ventilation when you need it.

4. Don't forget to look into shading options if you're concerned that you may get too much heat from your skylight. Mini-blinds or shades, built-in and motorized, if desired, are excellent for increasing the flexibility of light.

I generally recommend bronze tinted glass. It makes the skylight look less like a hole in your roof from the outside, and significantly cuts down on heat gain and potential UV damage to your carpets and furniture. The bronze tint is barely noticeable from the inside.

5. Verify that you have the correct mounting system for your house's specific roofing materials and angle of roof slope. Although another similar system may seem to work just fine, you could end up invalidating the skylight's warranty by using the wrong type.

6. The skylight should be dual glazed (two sheets of glass rather than one), with a combination of tempered and laminated glass. Unless the skylight is plastic, most typical installations need this combination to meet the requirements of the local building code.

So, armed with these tips, let the sunshine in!
Richard Morrison is a Menlo Park architect and interior designer specializing in residential remodels and additions. He can be contacted at 321-3729.

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