Many people who have lived, visited or constructed a home built during the 1980s have seen skylights. During the construction boom of that decade, glass skylights were considered “the” feature to have in one’s house. The glass used was not actually glass, it was a white acrylic dome which was designed to offer light distribution evenly throughout the day, unlike the standard flat glass windows. Unluckily, shoddy construction, poor installation methods or the use of single-paned domes made the skylights to leak with condensation. Because of this, the cost of energy was higher than they needed to be, water and mold damage was rampant and there was poor insulation of attic cavities and wall.
Skylights nowadays are very different from those of 30 years ago. To begin with, technology development in glass means that the acrylic dome is no longer used and durable flat glass is now used. Glazing has progressed from single layers pieced together through glazing bars, to a single large sheet of glass. Double paned skylights are made with a gas-filled space between the panes. Krypton or argon glasses reduce conductive heat transfer, and this lowers cooling and heating costs in homes. In addition, the frames are no longer aluminum. Most skylights of the 1980’s were framed using aluminum and this substantially brought down the initial cost of purchase. The problem arose when homeowners experienced severe condensation in cold weather, very low thermal resistance and significant heat loss. Now the norm is fiberglass, PVC or vinyl frames, which may cost more initially but normally garner considerable energy savings in the home. Some styles of glass skylights even offer venting features with a built in sensor to automatically close if rain starts to fall.
Still on the focus of energy savings, there is another component of skylight replacement which can’t be overlooked, the insulation. Having the latest glass skylights in your home will do no good if your ceiling cavity is just two-by-fours and dust bunnies. Your room will still feel cold during cold seasons, oven-like during summer and you may find yourself with an unchanged cooling/heating bill. The best way of insulating an attic space correctly is using spray foam insulation type. Spray foam insulation is aimed at filling every opening so that there is no air penetration. Therefore, warm air stays in and cold air stays out and vice versa in the cold and hot months.
Nowadays every person is looking for ways to save a few pounds. Energy saving is important in the long term, but many renovators are looking for ways of saving in the short term as well. Doing a small task such as replacing glass skylights, can be performed by the average homeowner with the correct tools and the willingness to follow basic instructions. If you like the idea of daylights, consider installing glass skylights. Not only will they bring natural light into your home, but also if you have plans to sell the property in the future, it will add an extra desirable feature that potential property buyers will love.