Skylights and sun tunnels that pass through a roof are popular solutions for dealing with dark areas in a home or building.
When carefully installed by experienced roofers, they can compensate for building architecture that does not let in enough natural lighting; however, installing them can be quite involved.
Will an investment in these roofing options pay off or should property owners simply put up more interior lighting?
The answer is in the details and what each person wants to get from adding lighting to their space.
Skylights and Sun Tunnels - How Do They Differ?
Both skylights and sun tunnels are features installed on the tops of roofs with a main purpose of letting in more natural light.
Very similar in what they do, there are different designs and involve a different installation process.
Skylights installed by roofers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and get installed through the roof to create a window through the top of the structure through which the sun can shine down into the space they are installed over.
Though similar, sun tunnels are usually smaller and involve the use of reflective metal tubes that allows the smaller skylight to shine indirectly into areas that may not be directly beneath them.
Why Consider Adding These Roofing Features?
The main reason why anyone would want to add skylights or sun tunnels through the roofing of homes or buildings is to brighten up a darker area that needs more light.
The greatest benefit to doing it this way rather than simply installing more interior lighting, is the fact that these roof accessories allow natural lighting in, which is preferable to artificial lighting.
Even the best natural light bulbs cannot duplicate the soft, healthy glow of natural lighting and how well it improves the atmosphere in darker spaces that need more illumination.
Which One Is Better?
While both skylights and sun tunnels installed through the roofing let in natural light, each is better to use in a different situation.
Skylights are more beneficial for letting in larger amounts of light into spaces directly beneath them and some can even be opened to let out heat; however, they can also heat up a room unless they are also equipped with a sliding shade.
On the other hand, sun tunnels can be used to tunnel light into harder-to-reach spaces and even up to a story below the roof, making them more versatile.
Both types of installation must be carefully done by professional roofers, as anything that involves making a hole through the roof could become problematic.
Are They Worth The Cost?
The answer to this question is highly personal, as it depends on the value that a home or building owner might put on bringing more natural light into their spaces.
For some, living and working in more natural light is a solution that reduces depression, increases productivity, and reduces eye strain as well as makes it easier to gauge true colors.
For others, the cost of installing these features into roofs may not be worth it if adding more electrical lighting will work just as well for them.
Considering that both skylights and sun tunnels should definitely be professionally installed, the answer may lie in what value there is in having more natural light in a home or building, and the cost that an owner is willing to pay to appreciate these benefits.
Hire A Professional Roofer To Install Skylights and Sun Tunnels
Skylights or sun tunnels installed through the roofing might be a good way to increase the natural lighting in a darker space.
To avoid problems, they should always be put in by professional roofers who have experience with skylight and sun tunnels to minimize the possibility of leaks and other problems later on.
Those interested in getting more natural light through their roofs and into a home or building should discuss it with a qualified roofing contractor to choose which option is the right one and then proceed to a careful installation.
