Apr. 30, 2024
Deciding to purchase and fit a skylight in your home, commercial property or as part of a property development project is an important decision with many factors to consider.
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Before installing your new skylight, we encourage you to read this blog to ensure you put your best foot forward in your development.
Whether installing in a home area or work environment, the placement of your new skylight requires some planning. If you are hoping to use a skylight to access another floor or need it to be strong enough for people to walk on, we can help you assess your options to find the best fit for your job.
The answer to that question is usually yes — a skylight could be the best for your space if you have the right one. Take a look at our case studies to see how we have managed to install skylights in tricky spots.
Planning permission is rarely an issue with skylights as it is usually part of an already agreed extension or replacing an existing rooflight. If it is a new addition to an existing roof, it is still unlikely to need planning. This is always worth checking, but it is rarely a problem.
To help you plan, take a thorough look at building regulations. There is a limit to how much glass an individual structure is allowed. Most architects will know of the regulations, as will building contractors.
Written to help architects, surveyors and home improvers alike understand every UK building regulation, sign up for our whitepaper on building regulations, or visit the Planning Portal for further information.
You should discuss the positioning of your skylight with your architect to get the most out of the placement and reap the greatest benefits. When discussing the placement, it is important to consider further questions, such as:
Position and function are important aspects to look at, meaning certain rooms in a house might be more suited to a skylight than others. You may even wish to add extra light to a basement or lower room by fitting an interior skylight or rooflight.
Natural light is a massive benefit to any building, especially residential or commercial buildings where people spend significant quantities of time. Still, you must also be aware of the dangers associated with over-exposure to harmful UV rays. This would be more common in a south-facing position.
While it is lovely to be seated under a skylight, you can end up with a greenhouse effect without the correct glass specification. Skylights placed on roofs that face north provide fairly constant, cool illumination. Skylights on east-facing roofs will provide maximum light and solar heat gain in the morning. Some very clever glass specifications remove the UV but still allow the full quota of light — be sure to browse Sunsquare’s full range of glazing options for your skylight.
Once the decision to install a skylight into your space has been agreed upon, you can choose from a variety of options.
At Sunsquare, we have a wide range of skylights suitable for all needs. Primarily focusing on flat roof skylights, our engineers have expanded our offering over the last 15 years to develop a range of cutting-edge designs. We stock everything from classic flat or pitched rooflights, to electrically controlled opening accessible rooflights and skylights that can be used inside or outside with strength to be walked on. These skylights vary from static strong glass to aero hinged openings and sliding facilities allowing the window to blend into the roof even when open seamlessly.
Pyramid skylights have also been featured in modern designs due to their aesthetic beauty and functionality. Sunsquare has developed a range of pyramid skylights for pitched and flat roofs and the first of its kind, a 30-degree opening fully hinged pyramid skylight allowing for the ventilation of a standard skylight and the beauty of conventional pyramid design.
Ventilation and access are both factors to consider. Some questions to ask are:
We offer a variety of sizes and bespoke-sized designs — there are few limitations to the personalisation we can offer.
The most common reaction to a new skylight is that a client wishes they had either gone bigger or added ventilation. Our bespoke sizes ensure you get exactly what you want for your home or project. We can share case studies with you to show you larger skylights if you are worried about the impact.
Skylights are no longer just glass-covered holes in the sky as various accessories are now available to improve their usability. For example, many electric vent skylights can have ‘self-closing’ capabilities that are activated when raining and easy close hinges to reduce the risk of slamming shut.
All Sunsquare skylights come with sun protection as standard and low maintenance glass means you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the sky above you.
Skylight upstands are the frames that skylights sit on. They are essential in ensuring your new skylight fits well and lasts as long as possible. It might sound strange, but it is best to have an upstand created separately from the skylight. This allows the roofing membrane to be correctly installed prior to the rooflight installation. It also ensures that the correct lean is accounted for to allow water run-off and that the correct height is achieved to comply with building regulations. It also means that if in the future the skylight needs a repair or replacement for one reason or another, there is no damage to the roof.
Any skylight with an integral upstand should be avoided for the above reasons. At Sunsquare, we provide upstands separately so that the client can rest assured that the skylight will fit and the roofing structure is correctly dealt with.
Adding a skylight to a roof will alter a property’s aesthetics, so think about how a property’s internal and external finish could be integrated with a skylight. In the case of Sunsquare products, the decor stop allows the plasterboard to be finished inside the skylight frame, meaning that the only thing you can see above you is the sky.
Quality skylights usually start from around £700 and rise in price according to complexity and size. An electronically opening skylight for ventilation can begin at around £1200 and a walk-on unit at about £1000. But it’s important to consider the value for money you get when buying a skylight from us, not to mention the warranties and guarantees we offer on our skylights.
At Sunsquare, we offer a complete design, manufacture and installation service for peace of mind. Always look for a company that has BSI certification. It is important to purchase from a well-trusted company, as this is not just a matter of putting glass in a hole. A skylight will sit above you (and potentially your family), meaning it needs to be secure and manufactured correctly.
It is better to avoid exposed edge glass on any skylight. It can create difficulties when moving the skylight onto the roof and makes a weak point in the skylight, as the edge of the glass is the most fragile part.
The final stage of deciding on your skylight is the maintenance involved in keeping it. Sunsquare skylights can come with a range of accessories that ensure your skylight can be easily managed. “Self-cleaning glass” may seem like a dream come true for many, but our range of low-maintenance glass walks the line between fantasy and reality. With a film coating that keeps glass clean after being blessed by all the weather that our British skies may offer, you will need to clean your windows far less often than with unprotected glass.
Sunsquare skylights are high quality and built to last, with our guarantee on any new product we can ensure you won’t have to worry about untimely replacement. In the circumstances when your skylight does need repairs or replacement, we offer a range of services to extend the life of your skylight. Read more about replacements in our blog, “how often do skylights need to be replaced?”
After deciding to have a skylight fitted, read our helpful piece How do I know which Skylight to Choose?
The high inflation of the past few years, including significant increases in power bills, means it costs more and more to turn on the lights.
Solar panels are one way to take a bite out of those power bills, but they're expensive. Fortunately there's a much more affordable way to illuminate your home, at least during the day, without the glare of bright lights from a window or the ongoing cost of running an electric light.
Meet the solar tube.
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Featured content:This natural, energy-efficient way to provide more natural light throughout your abode is growing in popularity. But is it the right fit for your home?
Here's a guide to understanding solar tubes, their pros and cons, and how they stack up against other choices like solar panels and skylights.
Also known as a tubular skylight, sun tube, sun scope or light tube, solar tubes are made of reflective metal with an interior that's buffed. While they can range in diameter from 10 to 22 inches, they are most commonly 10 or 14 inches in diameter.
The solar tube is capped by a plastic globe on the roof, and ends in a diffuser that resembles a window in the room's ceiling. From the outside, the solar tube captures daylight that comes in through the globe and protects you from UV rays. On the inside, the tubes channel and diffuse the light into your home, which results in a dramatic, sheer glow.
At a glance, a solar tube might just look like a flat-mounted ceiling light, said Krupa Patel, a senior energy and sustainability engineer with Buro Happold, an engineering and design consulting firm. "However, the tubes often have bends, so the light is evenly diffused."
It can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000 to get a solar tube installed, but that price can be lower if you install it yourself. But if your roof is made of a material other than asphalt -- like wood, metal or tile -- you might need to pay for adapters, adding to the cost.
There are some pluses and minuses that come with installing solar tubes in your home:
More sunlight: Solar tubes are a great source of solar lighting. Sunlight's vitamin D can improve your health and well-being, as can having sunlight in your home on its natural cycle. "It should help someone tuned to their circadian rhythm, and follow natural daylight patterns," Patel said. "It can really help your body sync with nature."
Less glare: "Because the solar tube is diffusing, there is significantly less glare compared to windows or skylights," Patel said.
Low installation cost: Solar tubes require a relatively small financial investment. They cost less than solar panels or skylights, they also don't require any tweaks to your framing or drywall.
Design flexibility: Because of their size, solar tubes are less noticeable than skylights.
Environmentally friendly: You can light up your home during the day without having to worry about contributing to carbon emissions or adding to your carbon footprint.
Lower energy costs: Tapping into natural energy can also reduce your power bill. This is especially true during the warmer, sun-filled months of summer.
Backup sources of energy required: When the sun comes up, there is light in your home. When there's no or little sun, that means no or little lighting in your home. The controllability aspect is gone, and a backup light source for those times may be needed, Patel said.
"A homeowner might think that it's something they could rely on fully all the time," she said. "They provide light when there is light to be provided. So if it's nighttime or if it's a cloudy day, they won't do that."
Condensation and thermal bridging issues. Because solar tubes are made entirely of metal, you'll need to potentially deal with the impacts on the system from weather or extreme climate, Patel said. For example, thermal bridging can create issues with comfort and energy use, or condensation creating mold or damaging your walls.
Limited options in design. Solar tubes don't offer the same variety and versatility in design and aesthetics as skylights.
Lack of control. As solar tubes rely on the availability of sunlight, there's no way to control how much light is entering your room. It largely hinges on how much sun you're getting on a given day or time of year.
These 10-inch solar tubes, from skylight maker Velux, offer an affordable and simple way to bring the light of the sun into your home.
$313 at AmazonA major difference between solar tubes and solar panels is that solar tubes aren't a source of renewable energy. Solar types channel and diffuse existing natural light. Solar panels, on the other hand, absorb sunlight from the PV cells in the panel. This creates electrical charges and causes electricity to flow.
"Unlike solar panels, they don't 'power' anything -- they only give the appearance of providing power, by way of light," Patel said. "Solar tubes don't produce any electricity, and they don't produce light. A solar tube is just like a passageway to share light, whereas a solar panel actually converts solar heat into energy."
And should it be overcast or rainy, with solar tubes, you're out of luck and need to lean on backup lighting.
Solar panels require a significantly greater investment. The average cost to install solar panels is around $20,000 after federal solar tax incentives.
Whereas solar tubes are typically 10 or 14 inches in diameter, skylights can vary in size. It's usually more expensive to install skylights, and installation for a single skylight can range from $1,000 to $3,000. Skylights can be huge, and take up most of your roof, if you like, Patel said. Another difference between solar tubes and skylights is that skylights offer a direct view into the skyscape.
"[With a skylight], you look up, you see the outside, you see the sun if it's shining or raining or cloudy," Patel said. "Whereas solar tubes are often not like that. The depths usually have a bend in them, and intent is to get light through and not necessarily a view."
"Solar tubes can be more applicable because they are smaller," Patel said. "They can fit into a few more places and you might not have a ton of rooftop available."
The best natural lighting option for your home depends on a handful of factors, such as budget, lighting needs, where you live, and aesthetic and design preferences.
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