skylight
1. m. Window open in a ceiling or at the top of a wall, usually spilling inward.
Who increases the natural light that enters a certain room? Incorporate an element that allows you to connect the interior with the exterior of your home? Provide an architectural point of interest to the living room or bedroom? They are goals that you can achieve installing a skylight.
Skylights can completely transform a room both practical and aesthetic level. You'll have to pay attention to their choice, however, if you don't want them to become a headache. A skylight that is not properly protected or a poorly installed skylight could cause excess heat in the interior, humidity or loss of heat during the winter.
Why install a skylight?
Good lighting is capable of transforming any space, enhancing its most attractive characteristics. Whoever installs a skylight has the main objective of improving the lighting in their home. However, this is not the only objective we can pursue when installing one. We list them all below:
- Favor the entry of natural light. The skylights allow us to illuminate those interior spaces with little or no entry of natural light from the side facades. In addition, the amount of light is greater than that which enters through a hole in a common window facade.
- Reduce energy consumption. Reducing energy consumption through architectural solutions that take advantage of natural resources is one of the main characteristics of passive houses. And more and more architects are betting on these design strategies aimed at gaining heat.
- Incorporate an item of interest. That the skylights are an architectural element of interest, no one doubts. They direct their gaze to the ceilings, raising these and visually expanding the rest of the room.
- Gain flexibility in interior design. The installation of a skylight or skylight allows us to reduce the number of windows and therefore, have more space on the walls. A characteristic that, especially in small spaces, allows a more flexible placement of furniture.
- Promote cross ventilation. Certain types of skylight facilitate the aeration of spaces, promoting cross ventilation and the exit of hot air.
- See stars. Is there anything more relaxing than in the dark of winter, being able to see the stars from inside our home?
Skylight types
What type of skylight do we install? Ensuring that the building design allows us to install a skylight should be the first step before making any decisions. Once confirmed, think so much about the practical and aesthetic needs of a certain space will help us make the best decision. In general we can divide the skylights into three types; fixed ceiling, window style and tubular.
Fixed
They are the most common and are usually installed on high ceilings, out of our reach. Provide light to the room and allow us to enjoy a nice view of the sky. However, they do not allow us to ventilate the room or control its humidity, so they are not recommended in closed rooms without other ventilation routes.
With window type ventilation
Vented skylights they work like a window and they are, therefore, a good option in rooms where condensation or excess humidity is a problem. They can be opened manually or electronically through a command. This allows us to place them on high and inaccessible ceilings. Needless to say, they are more expensive than the previous ones?
Tubular
Tubular skylights, also known as solar skylights, are tubes that catch and reflect light inside the house. They do not provide a view to the outside, like traditional skylights, but unlike these they allow us to bring the light to spaces that are not just under the ceiling in which they are placed.
They are ideal for small spaces such as bathrooms, hallways, and closets. And they can be placed on ceilings with wiring or other elements that make it difficult to install the previous ones. They usually have dimmers, filters to stop ultraviolet rays, and may have air extractors to help control humidity.
In addition to being classified by their practical features, skylights can be classified by their style or type of installation. As far as their style is concerned, we can classify them as basic and vaulted, the latter being those that protrude from the ceiling adopting different forms. We do not forget about the installation. However, as its installation by an expert is necessary, we do not believe it necessary to enter into the different options.
Would you like to install skylights in your home? Where would you place one? Given the images, we must recognize their aesthetic beauty, beyond their many practical advantages.