Skylights, Roof Windows and Windows Are Much Alike

FORT MILL, SC, January 03, 2013 (Press-News.org) Homeowners are sometimes reluctant to cut a certain type of hole in a perfectly good roof. They don't question cutting dozens of holes in the walls for windows and doors. They don't question holes in the roof for chimneys, ventilation fans or plumbing vent pipes. But for a skylight?

The problem in the past has always been a fear of leaks, and with some justification due to inferior materials and less than dependable installations. But that should no longer be a valid concern.

According to Joe Patrick, who heads national product management for skylight manufacturer VELUX America, modern skylights should make the fear of leaks a thing of the past. "Today's quality units offer matched, pre-engineered flashing kits for shingles, tile or metal roofing materials," he says. "They are designed and engineered to prevent leaks over the full life of a roof and, properly installed, simply don't leak." In fact, Patrick's company has introduced a new ENERGY STAR@ qualified product line, marketing it as the No Leak Skylight. "These units offer many new energy saving features plus three layers of water protection and are fully warranted," he says. "They also carry an industry-first ten-year installation warranty in addition to product coverage."

Patrick says that the growing availability of trained and certified skylight installation specialists also adds to the dependability of modern skylights.

And he points out that today's skylights contribute to energy efficiency with light and heat control as much as with ventilation by offering easily installed accessories to adjust and control light, as do vertical windows. "Venetian blinds are available to adjust light, as are roller blinds to diffuse light and blackout blinds to block light," he says, "and the accessories, as well as the units themselves, can be operated by remote control." Solar blinds are also available that qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit.

Patrick says that modern skylights, just like quality windows and exterior doors, are totally dependable when properly installed. "Anytime a hole is cut in the frame or roof of a home, the potential for air or moisture entering exists," he says. "But proper installation techniques and materials can take care of those concerns."

So, what are the basic differences in windows, roof windows, and skylights? There are many different types and styles of windows but they are all what is referred to in the trade as "vertical fenestration." Windows are installed in, and parallel to, walls.

Skylights are installed in or on, and parallel to, roofs. They can be flashed as dependably, or more so, as anything else that goes on a roof. Some of them are fixed (don't open) while others vent inside air by opening slightly or through interior vent flaps. Interestingly, quality skylights are engineered and manufactured to exceedingly high standards since, by virtue of their location, they are more directly exposed to the elements than are windows.

Roof windows are venting units, designed for in-reach applications, which open wider, as much as 45 degrees, for additional ventilation or emergency egress. They also have a sash that flips so the outside glass can be cleaned from the inside, a very handy and helpful feature.

Another important similarity between windows, roof windows, and skylights is in the glazing, or how the glass is manufactured.

Patrick says that ENERGY STAR qualified skylight glazings are among the best in the fenestration industry. "Quality units employ dual pane construction with argon gas between low-E coated panes for control of heat gain or loss. These glazings control up to 83 percent of the sun's fade-causing rays and resist condensation so well that a home can contain up to 50 percent more humidity before condensation will occur, " he says.

He adds that quality units contain tempered and laminated panes for safety and maximum protection against fading. "There are also impact glass models available, for both traditional and tubular skylights, that meet the strictest code requirements for wind-borne debris protection in hurricane-prone and other high-wind areas," Patrick says.

So much for some of the basic similarities between windows, roof windows, and skylights. What about some of the differences?

Patrick says that independent research done in Denmark shows that skylights admit 30 percent more light than vertical windows in dormers, while providing the drama of a sky view that can't be achieved with vertical windows. "And skylights, whether fixed or venting, which can be fitted with interior blinds and shades, offer much more privacy than vertical windows," he says.

And skylights offer some decidedly high-tech features. Electric venting models are available with remote control for the units and the accessories and can feature automatic rain sensors.

"From an economic standpoint," Patrick points out, "venting skylights admit light from above and reduce energy costs. It's also a way to stretch dollars," Patrick says, "with a one-time purchase that pays long-term benefits by reducing energy bills."

According to Patrick, more natural light and ventilation are beneficial in most areas of the home but some rooms lend themselves particularly well to skylight advantages, including privacy. "In bathrooms especially," Patrick says, "venting skylights reduce condensation while providing a beautiful view of the sky above, without affording anyone the opportunity to see in. Plus you get the use of wall space where a window isn't necessary for decorating or another form of space utilization."

"And," Patrick says, "while homeowners are considering skylights, they should remember that venting skylights in the kitchen can release hot air and odors while providing more balanced light for brighter days and more pleasant cooking and dining." They also utilize their natural chimney effect to exhaust volatile organic compounds (VOCs), stale air, and other indoor air pollutants from all areas of the home, he says.

Another option, if natural light is your goal and you don't necessarily need additional ventilation, could be tubular skylights. ENERGY STAR qualified VELUX SUN TUNNEL skylights bring passive natural light into the home, and particularly into areas where traditional skylights aren't needed or won't fit. They capture light very efficiently through a clear, weatherproof dome on the roof. The light travels into the home through highly reflective tubing, ending at a diffuser in the ceiling that looks like a traditional in-ceiling light fixture. The units offer a choice of highly reflective rigid tubing between the roof and ceiling or flexible tubing to easily bypass HVAC equipment or other obstructions in the attic. In many cases they are less expensive than traditional skylights and are easier to install.

Some "super efficient" models meet the federal government's energy efficiency criteria, qualifying them for federal tax credits of up to 30 percent of the purchase and installation cost.

Single tubular skylights are often used to bring natural light into smaller spaces including closets, windowless baths, laundry rooms and hallways, but they are increasingly used in more expansive spaces in the home with multiple tubes grouped to provide balanced lighting and reduce energy costs.

For skylight selection or installation information visit www.veluxusa.com. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit nfrc.org or efficientwindows.org.

VELUX America Information Series No. 25/10/F - Skylights, Roof Windows, and Windows Are Much Alike - Apx. 1,200 Words

Media contact: Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc. - 9413 Greenfield Drive - Raleigh, NC 27615 - Phone - 919.844.0064 - E-mail - khobbs@nc.rr.com

Media Information: For natural lighting/daylighting and solar water heating feature material, case histories and background information, news releases, press kits and images visit the press room/media area at veluxusa.com. Social media links for VELUX are facebook.com/veluxamerica and twitter.com/veluxamerica.