Daylighting Solutions: Skylights vs. Traditional Windows
Dark, dim houses are uninspiring and uninviting. They can make your space feel smaller, less welcoming, and even negatively impact your productivity and your mental health. Being overly reliant on artificial lighting to make up for the lack of natural light can also increase energy bills and reduce your home’s energy efficiency.
If you’re tired of living in a dimly lit home, the good news is you have options! Two of the most popular ways to brighten up your living space are traditional windows and skylights. But which one is right for your property? Let’s break it down.
Traditional Windows
Traditional windows are the classic choice for letting natural light into a home. These windows are built into walls and are available in a wide range of styles, shapes, and sizes, from double-hung and casement windows to large bay or picture windows.
People choose traditional windows to brighten their homes for a wide variety of reasons, like:
- Familiarity and Versatility: Traditional windows are standard in most homes, offering a familiar and functional way to brighten up living spaces.
- Ventilation: Windows make it easy to allow fresh air to circulate throughout your home.
- Cost-Effectiveness: With so many styles and materials available, you can find options to suit almost any budget.
These advantages make traditional windows an excellent choice for many homeowners – but it’s important to remember that they aren’t without their limitations.
Some of the most notable challenges that come with traditional windows include:
- Limited Reach of Light: Since traditional windows are placed on walls, they only bring light to specific areas of a room. Shadowy corners or deeper interior spaces can remain dim, even with large windows.
- Privacy Concerns: Windows facing streets or close neighbors may require curtains or blinds for privacy, which can reduce the natural light coming in.
- Energy Inefficiency: Older or poorly insulated windows can lead to drafts in the winter and overheating in the summer, which drives up energy bills and makes the space less comfortable.
- Design Limitations: Adding more windows to brighten your property can cut into wall space that might otherwise be used for art, shelves, or furniture.
For homeowners who do not want to deal with any of these issues, skylights might offer a better solution.
Skylights
Skylights are windows installed on your roof, allowing sunlight to pour into your home from above. Unlike traditional windows, which are limited by wall placement, skylights bring light directly into rooms, even those in the center of your house.
Skylights are popular among homeowners for their ability to brighten homes in ways traditional windows simply cannot. Here’s why:
- Uninterrupted Light: Roof placement allows skylights to flood a room with light all day, creating a brighter, more inviting atmosphere.
- Improved Privacy: Since skylights face the sky, there’s typically no need for curtains or blinds – even in sensitive spaces like bathrooms or bedrooms.
- Energy Efficiency: Modern skylights, like those offered by Solatube, come with features like double glazing and Low-E glass – helping to reduce heat transfer and regulate indoor temperatures.
- Space Optimization: Because skylights are located on the roof, they don’t compete with wall space. This makes them a great option for smaller homes and spaces with very little wall area.
It is worth noting that some skylights, like our HSE Performance Series ventilated skylights, also qualify for federal tax credits – making them an even more attractive investment for homeowners across the nation.
How to Choose Between Traditional Windows and Skylights
When deciding between traditional windows and skylights, there’s a lot to consider. For most people, it comes down to their home’s layout, their lighting needs, and their budget.
Generally speaking, you can choose to install traditional windows if:
- You want an affordable lighting solution
- You don’t mind having shadowy corners and dim areas
- Your rooms already have wall space for additional windows, and
- You aren’t particularly concerned about privacy
However, you might want to consider opting for a skylight if:
- You want to brighten interior spaces or rooms without exterior walls
- Privacy is a top priority for you and your family, and
- You’re looking for a modern, energy-efficient solution that maximizes natural light
Ultimately, both traditional windows and skylights can transform your home into a brighter, more inviting space. But if your primary goal is to bring as much light as possible into your home while overcoming the limitations of traditional windows, skylights are the obvious answer.
If you’d like to learn more about the impact skylights can have on your home, all you need to do is get in touch with a Solatube dealer in your area. They’re experts in the field, and they’ll be happy to answer all your questions and help you start the installation process!