What's Stopping You From Getting Skylights In Your Home?

Posted on: 24 July 2017

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Skylights can be a great choice for any room of your home, especially for rooms that don't have any windows and that always seem dark and dim. However, you might be hesitant to have skylights installed simply because you're not sure how long they will last before needing repairs or if they're even safe for a home. Note a few misconceptions many people have about skylights, and then you can see why they may be the perfect choice for your space.

They leak

Your roof actually has holes for vents and a chimney, and chances are you've not had any water leaks around these fixtures. That's because leaking of any roof fixture, including skylights, is typically the fault of shoddy workmanship and poor-quality materials. Choosing quality skylights, and having them installed by a reliable professional, should mean virtually no risk of having that skylight leak.

They crack

Poor-quality skylights made of thin plastic may eventually crack, but durable skylights should not be at any risk of cracking. Quality skylights that are made of thick, tempered safety glass will be very rugged, and these should withstand hailstorms, falling branches and any other debris on the roof. Your skylight installer can note your options for various thicknesses of safety glass and which glass he or she might recommend for your home (given standard weather conditions, risks from overhanging tree branches and other such factors).

Skylights let in too much light

It's true that some skylights may seem overpowering for a certain space; however, as with the thickness of the glass, you have many options for the size of the skylight you choose. Tube skylights let in a small amount of light, and concentrate that light in one area of the room, making them a good choice if you  worry about sun damage to houseplants or furniture upholstery. Tinted skylights can also let in light across the span of the room, but the tint will help to tone down any glare or brightness.

They're easy to pry open

Some skylights actually open, so you can let in fresh air as well as light, and let out heat and humidity. You might assume that these types of skylights are easy to pry open, but even if an intruder could make his or her way onto your roof, note that these skylights typically lock into place very securely. They're no easier to open than your home windows, so don't assume that a skylight would be an easy point of entry for intruders.