Main Things to Mull Over Before Installing Skylight Windows in Your Home
Posted on: 25 May 2021
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Installing skylight windows is a brilliant way to bring more natural light into your home. This will help to reduce your reliance on artificial light, which costs money to use and can also create a feel-good effect, resulting in an increased quality of life.
Before adding skylight windows to your home, there are several things you'll need to think about. Here are some of the main considerations for the project.
Planning permission/approval
By law, all alterations to buildings must be carried out according to the applicable building codes and standards. Before installing skylights in your home, consult your local council to find out if you have to seek planning permission to undertake the project. Even if prior permission isn't required, you still need to familiarise yourself with the relevant rules to be complied with to obtain approval for work carried out.
Keep in mind that the rules may vary widely depending on the area you live in.
Purpose of the skylight windows
Skylight windows aren't just for increasing natural light in a home: they can also be used to ventilate the home. What you aim to accomplish with your window installation project will determine which type of skylights you should install.
If your home is well-ventilated and you only want to improve natural lighting in your home, go for fixed versions. If you want to get more sunlight and fresh air in your home, vented units will serve you better.
Window glazing
Not all skylight windows are made with similar glazing material. Even though glass and plastic remain the two main glazing materials for these windows, each comes in a wide variety of qualities and prices that offer different levels of performance and durability.
If you live in an area with a hot climate, for example, you can benefit from using low-E skylight windows due to their ability to let in an abundance of natural light while dissipating any unwanted heat away.
Window placement
If you want to maximise the amount of sunlight that enters a room through a skylight window, it's imperative to consider the location of the window relative to the orientation of the sunlight. Generally, it's recommended to install skylight windows in the direction of the house that receives the most sunlight during the day. This way, you can make the most of the natural light.
If you're ready to add skylight windows to your home, contact a window installation specialist near you to get your quote.