Because of how skylights used to be made, there are a lot of misconceptions about them that persist to this day. And although today's skylights are built better and smarter than ever, there are still a lot of people out there who hate, hate, hate skylights.
But since it's the season of love, we want to take this opportunity to try and sway the skylight haters to the (day)light side. So, we're addressing the common misconceptions found in the blog linked above by showcasing skylight benefits below!
The R-Value
If you scrolled through North's blog about hating skylights, you've seen the first thing he complains about is skylights having a lower R-value than the roof. But what does that mean for your home?
Basically, the R-value measures how well insulated that part of your home is. Naturally, areas around windows and doors will have a lower R-value than those around solid walls or beneath a solid roof. This also means these areas are more likely to get hotter or colder than the rest of your home depending on the weather outside. This can affect everything from your home's energy efficiency to your family's comfort.
In other words: no, there's no arguing that a solid roof has a better R-value than one with skylights in it. But between VELUX's patented 3 layers of sealant, glass glazing to prevent heat gain, and our expert light shaft design, our skylights' R-values aren't that far off from a traditional window.
Additionally, with accessories like blackout blinds and VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO, a skylight can actually work to make your home more energy efficient.
Bathroom Skylights & Ventilation
If your only experience with skylights has been with plastic or fixed skylights, it makes sense you'd be wary of bathroom skylights. Especially if the skylight ends up replacing the exhaust fan — how does all the moisture escape?
There's a simple solution: venting skylights. One push of a button, and a venting skylight will open just enough to let steamy, humid air out so that fresh, cool air can flow in.
Venting options are one of the most improved components about skylights in recent years. While you used to only have the option to manually open a skylight, now there are electric and solar-powered solutions that make opening and closing skylights easy and virtually hands-free. VELUX venting skylights are also equipped with rain sensors to automatically close skylights left open if it starts to rain.
Venting skylights also provide a solution for roof ventilation. It's true that a fixed skylight couldn't help musty, damp air trapped in the highest points of your home. But a venting skylight opened at regular intervals can help improve your entire home's natural ventilation. And now there's even Smart Home technology to help remind you when to vent your skylights for optimal indoor air quality.
Ice Dams
In his blog, North mentions ice dams which, logistically, have been a problem for skylights in colder climates. Ice dams occur when the air around a skylight warms up faster than the air surrounding the roof, causing the snow to melt and flow to the bottom of the skylight where it re-freezes.
The snow re-freezing at the bottom would cause moisture issues for a roof, but advances in the way we build skylights are helping prevent ice dams. The VELUX SkyMax, for example, incorporates a condensation channel that allows a smoother way for water to flow through and away from the skylight, preventing water build-up and leaking.
Ice dams can also be avoided with regular homeowner maintenance. Keeping leaves and debris from accumulating around the skylight before snow falls ensures water has a path to drain off from the roof and surrounding gutters.
Still not sure the cons outweigh the pros of installing skylights in your home? Talk it out with a VELUX expert on a free virtual consultation. There's no obligation to buy or install skylights during your consult; we just want to help you love them as much as we do!
