If you are planning to revamp your home, turning it around by installing a rooflights or skylights can give it a spectacular boost. However, you might wonder what’s the difference between the two. But we are going to let you in on a secret. Both mean the almost same thing and can be considered as alternative words to practically the same thing.
What is a skylight?
A skylight is a light-permitting window installed on traditional pitched roofs, on flat roofs or terraces. They are available in different styles and the main purpose is to maximize the amount of natural light entering a home or property. Skylights have more installation options because you can mount them to a curb.
However, the portion from where light transmits is glaze infilled and is usually made of glass. Before settling on a skylight frame, it’s good to choose what size will best complement your home and where to place it to optimize your room’s lighting.
What is a rooflight?
A rooflight, otherwise known as a skylight in the UK, is a transparent structure that you can install in the ceiling of your room or all parts of the roof space to let natural daylight enter your home at all times of the day. A fixed skylight entails a frame that provides the rooflight structural perimeter and is non-operable. Rooflights often use a kerb system to support the actual product and act as a surface for any weathering to be fixed to. The system ensures that the rooflight remains watertight.
Types of Skylights
Skylights are an excellent way to bring brightness and liveliness to every room. Still, choosing the best type of skylight for your space can be a daunting task. There are many different types you can choose from, which makes the decision extra difficult.
Fixed Skylights
One of the most common types of skylights is a fixed skylight. As the name suggests, this type of skylight cannot be opened for ventilation purposes. This makes it one of the cheapest possible options, depending on its size. This particular type is perfect for small and dark places like your attic, as it’s easy to install and it doesn’t require too much maintenance.
Ventilated Skylights
If you’d like to be able to let in some fresh air with your skylight, going for a ventilated one is the best possible choice. These are incredibly convenient, but their installation is a bit more complicated compared to their fixed counterparts.
We advise you to consult with a licensed contractor before you decide to build this type of skylight yourself. Ensure the manufacturer’s guidelines are followed carefully, to prevent any potential damage and leaks later on.
Deck and Curb mounted Skylights
Deck and curb-mounted skylights are often confused as synonyms, hence we’ll put them in the same category. Both of these types are incredibly economical, and they look quite similar on the surface.
However, their installation processes are quite different. While the curb-mounted ones require a framing curb to be mounted on, their deck-mounted alternatives are fastened directly onto the roof sheathing.
With this in mind, it’s easy to conclude that the deck-mounted skylights are easier to install and look a bit more pleasing to the eye. However, they’re also a bit more expensive, so choose wisely!
Pyramid-shaped Skylights
Now, the pyramid-shaped ones aren’t particularly popular among homeowners. They’re more suitable for buildings and offices, but depending on your home’s design, they can be a fashionable statement for a house as well.
These come in various sizes, models, and types. So make sure you’ve done your research before you decide to get one for your own roof. Essentially, this type of skylight consists of a pyramid-shaped covering fastened on a rectangular cavity on the roof. It requires the installation to be done properly, so ensure you’ve found a capable contractor beforehand.
Ridge Skylights
Ridge skylights are extremely popular for their stylishness and practicality. They come in various styles and sizes and can be fitted to a wide range of roofs. They’re perfect for people looking to get as much light as possible to their rooms, while simultaneously getting tons of visual appeal to their roofs. These can be a bit expensive, especially if you’re planning on getting large ones. Make sure the exact model you choose is suitable for the slope of your roof.
Types of Rooflights
Flat framed rooflights
Flat rooflights can be encouraged by minimal internal and external visible frames. They are different sizes and colors.
Flat Frameless rooflights
The rooflights can be without frames. Flat frameless rooflights are a great way to add lots of extra daylight into a room.
Large rooflights
The distance between the rafters is not a limiting factor. By cutting the rafters and making a bypass, the roof structure remains stable enough, and it is possible to install a larger window. A larger glass surface can also be achieved by group installation of a larger number of roof windows.
Small rooflights
Rooflights with small sizes are great fit for specific homebuilding and home renovation projects.
The general recommendation for proper room lighting is that the glass area on your skylight is 1/7 of the floor area of the room. However, the optimal number, dimensions, and arrangement of such windows also depend on the purpose of the room.
Custom rooflights
Arranging the space under the roof is demanding but also very creative. You must first check the condition of the roof structure and insulation – and then use each square foot wisely. Custom rooflights allow you to choose the exact size that responds to your needs.
Advantages of Installing Rooflights and Skylights
There are so many benefits you can get after installing a rooflight or skylight. If you are renovating your home, installing a skylight can accessorize your home space better by providing you the following advantages:
- A rooflight can provide better light quality to enter into your home.
- Skylights bring more natural light. The natural light can do wonders for an individual’s health. Therefore, if you or a family member suffer from an ailment, installing a rooflight can promote faster recovery after a chronic illness or surgery.
- If you are someone who posts actively on Instagram, getting a better aesthetic game should be on the top of your list. A skylight can provide that in addition to offering a better definition of space and architectural features of your home.
- Since a rooflight can provide abundant sunlight to enter your home. It will also save you from paying high electricity bills and promoting energy efficiency.
- Proper ventilation is another advantage of installing a rooflight. Some skylight models can be opened like a window to circulate the fresh air to ensure ventilation in your home. There are few rooflights are that you can open easily and allow appropriate circulation to make your workspace or home fresher and more hospitable.
These were the advantages of installing a skylight in your home. So, what are you waiting for? Contact the experts at a professional company today to get yours at budget prices. Professional companies have various designs available to suit your home decor best. A triple glazed skylight is a nationwide popular choice available in 28 different sizes with a twenty years warranty.
How much does it cost to install a skylight?
A skylight can transform your space magically. Adding thirty percent more light to your room and bathing your furniture with energy-saving, balanced light. However, you might wonder how much it would cost to install a rooflight. Unless you are a do-it-yourself person, you must contact the experts to do this complicated installation.
Hiring a professional is imperative because you wouldn’t want your roof to leak. The installation costs can vary from 500 to 3000 GBP. With the price inclining to the higher end based on the features you want in the rooflight.
How can you gauge if your home is suitable for a Rooflight?
There are so many factors you must consider before going through with the decision to install a rooflight. The following are some aspects you can look into:
Is your roof compatible with truss framing?
Check whether your home’s roof is consistent with truss framing. You should drill the truss framing in the center. It is typically 24-inches in length to accommodate a 2-foot wide rooflight.
However, if you need a wider skylight (say 4 or 6 feet long), you will have to contact an expert or a structural engineer to speculate the truss framing cost.
Will adding a skylight complement your home?
Although a rooflight is a neutral element that blends with most home decors, you can still plan ahead. You can think where the skylight would go and where to install it to optimize the amount of sunlight that will enter the room.
Is your attic clear?
Examine whether the attic space is clear of HVAC wiring or plumbing pipes that could get in the way of you and your magical skylight.
Will a chase installation be mandatory?
For those who don’t know, a chase is a long pipe or tunnel that channels the light to the rooflight of your home. It is typically installed in the attic or the space under the ceiling to allow maximum light entry into the room.
Since it requires planning and excessive labor, it can cost somewhere around 1500 GBP. However, if your home has a cathedral-style ceiling, you won’t need a chase, and you can save on the subsequent cost.
The Bottom Line
If you love stargazing, a skylight can be the perfect addition to your room. Or if you want to make your bedroom more romantic before your partner moves in with you for a lifetime. A rooflight can be the ideal addition to a home and increase your property’s value in the long run.
From an electronically controlled skylight to a fixed frame, you can choose any rooflight at the budget that allows you to have one.
