Installing a skylight into your home can offer you and your family all the benefits of additional natural lighting. There may not be enough natural solar light in your building because of its configuration, or you may have recently installed a loft conversion which requires additional illumination. Exposure to natural light is crucial to human health as well as easing eyestrain for everyday activities such as reading. Skylights can also help to increase the energy efficiency of a home or premises, and reduce reliance on increasingly expensive artificial lighting. The principles of passive solar design typically would include skylights in a building’s design.

The most common types of skylights are roof windows, ventilating and tubular skylights; and each has its own pros and cons. Fixed versions are best suited to areas which only require additional lighting, while rooms that require airing, such as bathrooms, will be better served by skylights that can open. Tubular skylights are especially suited to buildings with awkward configurations or limited roof space – where they can be used to access rooms with no windows.

Installing a skylight requires careful consideration, including the following elements:

• orientation - the orientation of your home will affect how much direct sunlight and daylight your skylight receives
• glazing - choose from double glazed skylights can dramatically increase the energy efficiency of a building, or functional polycarbonate
  
• frames - wood, PVC, or fibreglass frames are considerably more energy efficient than metal versions
• flashings - this ensures that water drains safely away from your skylight and does not penetrate your home
  

How Much Does a Skylight Cost?