What are the advantages of installing a skylight?
Short answer. A skylight brings daylight into rooms that wall windows cannot reach, such as hallways, bathrooms, closets and interior kitchens, and a venting model also lets hot air escape at the highest point of the room. The tradeoffs are added heat gain in Georgia summers and one more opening in the roof that has to stay watertight.
The advantages
- Daylight where windows cannot go. Light from above spreads evenly and reaches the middle of the house.
- Less daytime lighting. Well-placed skylights reduce the need for lights during the day.
- Ventilation. Venting skylights release rising hot air and humidity, useful in bathrooms and kitchens. Many have rain sensors that close them automatically.
- Privacy. Light without windows facing neighbors, ideal for bathrooms.
- Sense of space. Rooms feel larger and more open.
- Resale appeal. Bright interiors photograph and show well.
Getting the benefits without the downsides
- Choose glazing for heat. Low-e, laminated glass with a low solar heat gain rating cuts summer heat and blocks most ultraviolet light.
- Mind the orientation. North-facing skylights give steady, cooler light. South and west-facing ones gain the most heat.
- Keep the size modest. Oversized skylights overheat rooms.
- Consider tubular skylights for closets and small baths. They bring light with very little heat.
- Add shades if the room gets direct afternoon sun.
Flashing is everything
Most skylight leaks come from the flashing, not the glass. Use the manufacturer's flashing kit tied into the underlayment and shingles. Adding or replacing a skylight during a roof replacement is the easiest time, because the flashing goes in with new material all around it.
See replacing skylights with a new roof and roof flashing explained.