Different Types of Skylights: Illuminating Your Space with Natural Light

7 min readMay 16, 2023

Different Types of Skylights: Illuminating Your Space with Natural Light

Skylights are an excellent way to bring the beauty and warmth of natural light into your home while adding a touch of architectural elegance. Whether you want to brighten up a dark room, create a sense of openness, or simply enjoy stargazing from the comfort of your living room, skylights offer a versatile and visually appealing solution.

In this article, we will explore the different types of skylights, shedding light on their characteristics, advantages, and considerations. From traditional fixed skylights to innovative options like vented skylights and tubular skylights, we will examine each type in detail, equipping you with the knowledge to choose the perfect types of skylight for your home.

Whether you’re renovating an existing space or planning a new construction, understanding the different types of skylights will empower you to create an inviting and naturally illuminated environment that you can enjoy year-round.

Importance of skylights in buildings:

Skylights can be an important feature in buildings for several reasons, including:

Natural light:

Skylight Window allows natural light into a room, it can reduce the need of artificial light during the day time so directly reducing the energy bill and creating a productive environment for users.

Health and well-being:

Exposure to natural light it gives numerous health benefits such as improving mood, regulating sleep pattern, and also reducing stress.

Design Flexibility:

These Skylight windows come in a variety of sizes, styles, and shapes, allowing for more creative and personalized design options in the building.

Increased Property Value:

Addition of a skylight in the house it directly increased the value of the property, improving energy efficiency, functionality, and aesthetic look.

Energy efficient:

Well-designed skylight can also contribute to the energy efficiency of a building by reducing the need for artificial lighting and ventilation.

Advantages of Skylight:

Skylight windows offer several advantages, including:

Enhance the aesthetic:

This Skylight window can add a stylish and unique element to room and directly enhance the overall aesthetic look of your house or commercial building.

Natural Lights:

The skylight window provide natural sunlight and it can improve the overall ambiance of your room and make it more spacious and inviting, also it helps to reduce the requirement for artificial lighting during the day and leading to lower energy bills.

Privacy:

This Skylight window placed on the ceiling and provide natural light without compromising the privacy.

Health Benefits:

Exposure the natural sunlight it helps to improve mood, regulate the sleep pattern, increase vitamin D production.

Improved Ventilation:

Skylight window can be open for allowing to improve ventilation and it can help regulate indoor temperature and improve air quality.

Disadvantages of Skylight:

While skylight windows offer several advantages, they also have some disadvantages, including:

Heat loss or Gain:

This skylight window can contribute the heat gain during the summer and heat loss during the winter, which can affect the indoor temperature and energy bills.

Glare:

Sunlight can create a glare and it may be uncomfortable for users.

Leaks:

If the poor installation of skylight windows or poor maintenance can lead to water damage and mold growth.

Maintenance:

Maintenance of skylight window can be difficult than traditional windows also it placed high up so that require specialized tools and techniques

Cost of Installation:

Installation of skylight window is more expensive than other traditional type window due to the additional material require, labour and tools.

Types of Skylight

- Fixed Skylight Window

- Ventilated Skylight Window

- Pyramid Skylight Window

- Curb Mounted Skylight Window

- Custom skylight Window

- Ridge skylight Window

- Domed Skylight Window

Here, different types of skylight windows are explained briefly,

Fixed Skylight:

As the name suggests the fixed types of skylight is fixed in position, it is not functional, which means this fixed skylight is set in one place and it can’t be opened for allowing airflow in or out.

Ventilated Skylight:

This is a functional types of skylight means it can be closed and opened to allow for ventilation and it can be manually or electrical operated.

Pyramid Skylights:

Pyramid Skylight as the name suggests, and is designed in a pyramid kind of shape so that it is mostly installed on flat roof or ceiling.

Also, it can provide a lot of natural light and ventilation and it can be customized to fit the specific need of the building, and this pyramid skylight is mostly fixed in nature.

Curb-Mounted Skylights:

Nowadays this curb-mounted Skylight is highly popular in design also it cost effective and suitable for almost any type of space.

These curb mounted skylight windows have a minimalistic and basic design which makes them attractive among any types of skylight window.

Ridge Skylights:

This Ridge Skylight Window is like having a windowpane and it is directly installed on the roof or ceiling, also they adding a stunning and sophisticated feature which can improve the amount of natural sunlight and ventilation.

Custom Skylights:

Nowadays, skylights can be customized for your commercial or residential space, whether you want something rectangular, square, or dome-like and another unique shape then you can create it.

Domed Skylight:

As the name suggests this domed skylight window’s shape is similar to the dome shape and it provides a lot of natural light it can be used in residential buildings as well as commercial spaces.

Factors to consider when choosing a skylight:

Before choosing the skylight window, it is important to consider various factors that include,

Types of Skylight Window:

As above mentioned, there are various types of skylights available in the market such as pyramid skylight, domed skylight, custom skylight, fixed skylight, and ventilated skylight. So you can choose according to your needs and the design of your structure.

Glazing:

The skylight can be glazed with different materials such as acrylic or glass and each material have its own pros and cons, including light transmission, durability, and light transmission, so according to your needs select a glazing material.

Placement and size of window:

The placement and size of your skylight window will be based on the layout of the room and size of the room, as well as the amount of natural light you want to let in, also the size of skylights that are too small or too large it can be ineffective or unattractive, so it is important to select the right size of your room space.

Budget:

This types of skylight can vary in price depending on the types of skylight, size of the skylight and its feature fixed or functional.

FAQs:

What is a skylight window?A skylight window is a window installed on the roof of a building that allows natural light to enter from above. It can come in different shapes and sizes, and can be fixed or operable (able to be opened).Are skylight windows energy-efficient?Yes, skylight windows can be energy-efficient if they are designed and installed properly. Look for skylights with low-emissivity coatings, insulated glazing, and airtight frames to maximize their energy efficiency.Do skylight windows require special permits or approvals?Yes, depending on where you live and the type of building you have, you may need to obtain permits or approvals before installing a skylight window. Check with your local building department to determine what regulations apply in your area.What are the benefits of installing a skylight window?Skylight windows can bring in more natural light, which can reduce the need for artificial lighting and lower energy bills. They can also provide better ventilation, and add aesthetic value to a building.

You May Also Like:

- Eyebrow Window | Function, Installation, Location and Size

- 23 Different Types of Windows For Home

- Standard Window Height From Floor Level | Sill Height of Window

- 18 Components of A Building — Detailed Guide

- Different Types Of Shed In Backyard | Types Of Backyard Shed

- What Is OTS In House | Open To Sky In House

- Glass As a Building Material | 11 Types of Glass Used In Construction