Did you know that the Atlantic hurricane season officially starts in June each year? But because of summer heat waves and storm fronts, we usually don't see the worst of these tropical cyclones make landfall until August, then they usually keep coming through November.
In other words, get ready to see some of the worst storm cycles anticipated for the year over the next few weeks and months.
But what does that mean for your skylights? Or, what does that mean for your future skylights if you're looking to install? The good news is if they're VELUX, you've got the best option for a skylight in a hurricane.
Around VELUX, we have a saying that goes, "One experiment is better than a thousand expert views." What we mean by that is our products are rigorously tested in-house so we can be sure they hold up in any situation. In the US, our products are tested at our manufacturing center in Greenwood, SC. Here, we run extended internal audits and monitor compliance with all critical safety standards, including testing skylights in rain and winds over 70 mph. Anything that doesn't meet our highest standards goes back for rework so only the very best of the best is installed in your home.
VELUX deck-mounted and curb-mounted skylights (what the majority of skylights installed in homes are) include three layers of protection against leaks. The first layer of protection depends on the type of mount you have:
The second layer of protection is an adhesive all-weather underlayment. This peel-and-stick underlayment is installed up to the sides of your skylight to serve as a second line of defense against rain.
The third and final layer of defense is VELUX-designed step flashing that is exclusive to our skylights. The flashing pieces alternate with your roofing material, starting at the bottom of the skylight and working up to the top. Then when it rains, water that flows down the roof is sluiced over the layered shingles so it's directed away from your skylight.
Rain and high water levels aren't the only hazards in a hurricane. High winds can send plants, debris, and other objects flying through the air, often at high speeds. That's why all of VELUX's out of reach skylights are installed with the toughest laminated glass for added protection. And because laminated glass spiderwebs instead of breaking into large chunks (think like your car windshield), it's safer in the event of a hurricane. If your skylight is hit hard enough, the outer layer of glass will crack into tiny pieces that will then land on the skylight's inner layer, so you don't have to worry about a dangerous glass clean-up.
For the area of the country that is hit hardest and most frequently by hurricanes, VELUX developed the Florida/Gulf Coast program to help ensure only the toughest skylights are installed in accordance with the strictest Florida and Gulf Coast area building codes.
Skylights installed in this area are equipped with LoĒ-340 sun protection glass, which is designed with a superior performance specifically for hurricane-prone areas. In addition to added protection against wind and rain, LoĒ-340 glass also provides optimal year-round comfort with boosted energy efficiency so your home doesn't get too hot in the summer or lose too much heat in the winter. Check out our Florida/Gulf Coast Skylight Catalog to learn more details about how this works.
Ready to install skylights despite your local climate? Schedule a free online consultation with a VELUX expert to learn more about the skylight options available for your home.