Skylight Design for Home: Tips & Features 

Posted Date: Jan 12, 2024

dding skylights is a fantastic way to flood your home with sunlight and give it a spacious, breezy feel. Skylights have different shapes and styles to match any room, offering both practical advantages and enhancing the overall look. In the section below, we'll discuss the skylight design for home, features to consider, and some tips to help you pick the perfect skylights. 

Types of Skylights 

1. Fixed Skylights 

The most common type, fixed skylights are non-operable and permanently closed. They often have double pane glass to improve insulation. Fixed skylights work well mounted on roofs or ceilings above main living areas needing abundant ambient light. 

2. Segmented Dome Skylights 

Segmented dome skylights have multiple window panes separated by thin frames. These allow opening some panes to control light and air flow. Dome shape diverts water to reduce leaking. Installs on flat or angled roofs lets you adjust sky views and ventilation. 

3. Hut-Shape Skylights 

Hut-shaped skylights have a distinct angular design with vertically glazed sides. This shape increases the surface area compared to flat skylights, permitting more light entry. Hut skylights slope down from their high centre point, so rain and snow efficiently run off.   

4. Pitch Skylights 

Pitch skylights are installed on angled roofs. The slope allows ventilation, moisture run-off, and broadly dispersed light. Pitch skylights tend to be very energy-efficient and longer-lasting compared to flat models.  

5. Pyramid Skylights 

Pyramid skylights have a square base tapering up to a narrow top point. Made of just a few glass panels, they have minimal framing, providing exceptional clarity and light purity. The pyramid shape makes them structurally strong. 

Features to Consider 

a. Glass and Glazing 

The glass thickness, tint level, insulating air pockets, and number of layers impact energy efficiency, durability, light quality, and exterior noise penetration. 

b. Ventilation 

Proper ventilation regulates humidity and temperature. This prevents moisture build-up and condensation issues inside the skylight well. Manual and electric-powered vents are available. 

c. Finishing Design   

High-quality finishing around the full exterior seals off moisture infiltration where the skylight meets the roof. This is crucial for preventing leaks as your roof ages over decades. 

d. Energy Efficiency Ratings 

Compare whole product U-factors, Solar Heat Gain Coefficients, air leakage rates and ENERGY STAR qualifications. 

Tips for Choosing Skylights 

• Consider hiring an expert skylight installer rather than doing it yourself. This guarantees appropriate flashing, waterproofing, shingle integration, etc. 
• Prioritise quality over size. One well-designed, adequately installed modest skylight brings better results than a larger, improperly-fitted one. Leaks or clouding can entirely negate benefits. 
• For kitchens, place it nearer to countertops rather than over the centre island or dining table since the light is mainly needed in food prep areas.  
• Avoid installing directly above bathroom shower or tub areas due to humidity and ventilation factors. 
• Rooms most prone to overheating, like upper bedrooms with lots of windows, will benefit from dimmable electronically tintable skylights to control solar heat gain in summer peak times. 

Benefits of Skylight Design for Home 

Here are the key benefits of installing skylights explained in easy-to-digest bullet points: 
 

• Natural Light - Skylights flooding rooms with free, abundant natural light helps reduce reliance on electric lights during daytime hours. This makes spaces brighter and more uplifting. 
• Energy Savings - With fewer indoor lights, skylights substantially cut electricity bills and consumption. This saves money while being eco-friendly. 
• Views - Skylights provide tranquil views of passing clouds, sunrises, sunsets, stars, and sky. This connects interiors to the outdoors. 
• Ventilation - Many openable skylight models improve air circulation and breeze flow indoors. This enhances freshness and reduces stuffiness. 
• Brightness - Skylights make rooms feel instantly illuminated and less gloomy. Opening ceilings to sunshine has an inherently uplifting effect. 
• Aesthetic Appeal - Skylights add architectural visual interest and can modernise dated decor. They make interiors feel more spacious and sleek. 

The Bottom Line 

Installing thoughtfully-placed skylights is an excellent option when flooding your interior rooms with beautiful, natural light. Different skylight styles brighten up specific spaces, from fixed to pyramid shapes, in distinct ways. Prioritise quality glass and materials in your chosen models to ensure proper insulation, weatherproofing, and durability over time. Furthermore, if you're looking for the top skylight design, look at AIS Glasxperts website.