With benefits such as drawing natural light into living spaces and creating a natural airflow for ventilation, skylights can be a worthwhile investment in any home. With any home improvement project, knowing the pros and cons of every decision is important. In this episode, we’ll hear from Jeff Chase, Senior Sales Representative at VELUX Skylights, about what you need to know if you’re considering adding a skylight to your home. 

Jeff has been part of VELUX in the Pacific Northwest since 1988 and is currently the sales representative for the greater western Washington area. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you navigate your skylight journey. 

Watch our discussion in the video above, or keep reading to get the highlights.

What is a skylight? 

A skylight is a structural addition to the roof and ceiling of a home that allows natural light to enter an indoor space. If you live in the Pacific Northwest and have a room with limited natural light, skylights are a great option. Vertical windows draw in light, but fight through obstacles such as furniture or even people to light a room. With skylights, twice the amount of light is drawn in, and the light hits the center of a room where it's needed most. 

Benefits of skylights

When installing skylights, the main benefit is drawing in natural light. For those in the Pacific Northwest region—who seasonally receive limited natural light—skylights are a great way to bring light into a room and increase energy efficiency. There are other benefits such as natural ventilation and positive impacts on your mental and physical health.

Natural light

  • Skylights bring in twice as much natural light as a vertical window.
  • Natural light comes in from the roof into the center of the space and spreads out from there.

Natural ventilation

  • People spend 90 percent of their time indoors and skylights create ventilation to remove harmful gasses that accumulate over time and create a more comfortable environment.
  • When paired with an open vertical window, an open skylight can remove hot air from the house while bringing in fresh air simultaneously.

Natural psychological benefit

  • People feel better walking or sitting in natural light.
  • Skylights help you feel more connected to nature and soak up as much sunlight as possible.

Types of skylights to choose from

From aesthetics to functions, there are different types of skylights that can be fixed or venting, and each has customizable options allowing you to make the best choice for your specific home. The three skylight options are curb-mount, deck-mount, and tubular skylights.

  • Curb-mount skylights are the most popular option in the Pacific Northwest market. They’re built to sit about 8 to 10 inches above the roof and “flashed in” to make them leakproof. Curb-mount skylights are installed between roof rafters and can work within your existing structure. 
  • Deck-mount skylights are the most popular option outside the Pacific Northwest market. They’re built to sit about five inches above the roof for a low-profile look, which makes them more energy-efficient by limiting heat transfer in and out through the frame. These skylights can also be installed side-by-side in adjacent bays in the roof whereas curb-mount skylights must be installed with an extra bay in between.
  • Tubular skylights, or Sun Tunnels, bring light through your attic through a tubular structure and a round diffuser in your ceiling. They are the best option for spaces that normally can’t get natural light such as a laundry room or master closet. They’re easy to install, very economical, and great alternatives to bigger skylight options. 
  • Fixed skylights are options within the above skylight types. Fixed skylights bring in light and the benefits of having natural light in your home, but they do not open. 
  • Venting skylights, or fresh air skylights, bring in light and open up to allow fresh air to enter the home. This creates a natural airflow, constantly clearing your home of gasses built up over time.

Lastly, there are three options for venting skylights: 

  • Manual venting skylights use control rods to operate them.
  • Electric venting skylights get hardwired to a control panel.
  • Solar-powered skylights are completely wireless, use a wireless remote, and get their power from the sun through a solar panel that charges an internal battery.
    • Solar-powered skylights can make any home more energy-efficient, which means  savings on your monthly bills. The first question you might ask yourself is, “Do I have enough sunlight for solar skylights to work?
    • The answer is yes, even in the Pacific Northwest climate with limited light throughout the year. The great thing about solar-powered skylights is you don’t need direct sunlight to hit the solar panel to charge the internal battery. Whether it’s indirect sunlight or ambient light that comes through thick cloud cover, the solar panel will charge the internal battery.

Where to install skylights

Placement is key when installing skylights, and the best place may vary from home to home. For example, a single-story home will have more options than a two-story home. Two questions to ask yourself are:

  • Where do I need light the most based on my floor plan? 
  • Where do I need ventilation?

Some common areas that could use light and ventilation are bathrooms, kitchens, and the top of stairwells. Having a skylight to ventilate these areas can help reduce the humidity build up.

What are smart skylights?

A smart skylight has tools to easily access the benefits that skylights provide. From solar-powered capabilities to an app that allows you to control skylights remotely, integration into your smart home routine is readily available. 

  • Smart skylights help make your home more energy-efficient with solar power
  • Schedule when shades open and close each day based on the season
  • Install sensors that detect rain and close if it rains hard enough, perfect for the rainy season in the Pacific Northwest!

Smart skylights help limit worry and increase your efficiency, keeping costs for HVAC and electricity down.

Technology is built into the shades functionality for skylights as well. When you close a shade in the wintertime, you’re making the skylight about a third more energy efficient with less heat transfer through the glass and vice versa during the summertime. 

Common questions asked about skylights

Can I install a skylight myself? 

Homeowners tend to work with the space that they have instead of making any structural changes which can be costly. That being said, curb-mount or deck-mount skylight installation is not easy and often requires trades like framing, roofing, electrical, and insulation. We recommend that you talk with a remodeling contractor or a skylight specialist. 

On the other hand, tubular skylights could be a good DIY project if you feel confident in your skills and have time to do the installation. With the right tools and skillset, installation can be completed in a few hours.

What are some less obvious locations to install a skylight in a home?

Remember to ask yourself which areas need light and ventilation. Some popular areas are: 

  • Top of the staircase - a spot that doesn’t always have natural light and can filter downstairs as well
  • Master bedroom - when paired with shades and smart technology, natural light won’t wake you up too early
  • Closets - when installed with a solar-powered night light, a tubular skylight for a closet can provide natural light during the day and switch to the night light in the evening

Are tax credits available for homeowners with skylights?  

Every home and homeowner situation is different, so be sure to do your research, but most skylights are eligible for federal tax credits. At this time, up to 30 percent of the installation is available for approved skylights with built-in solar technology.