What are the best skylights for homes?
Short answer. The best skylights for most homes are deck-mounted units with laminated low-e glass and a manufacturer-made flashing kit, chosen as fixed models for pure light or venting models with rain sensors for kitchens and baths. Tubular skylights are the best choice for closets, halls and small rooms where a full skylight would not fit or would add too much heat.
The main types
- Fixed. Does not open. The simplest, least expensive and least likely to leak. Good for living rooms, stairwells and vaulted ceilings.
- Manual venting. Opens with a crank or pole. Useful within reach.
- Electric or solar-powered venting. Opens with a remote or wall switch, often with a rain sensor that closes it automatically. The solar-powered type needs no new wiring.
- Tubular. A small dome on the roof and a reflective tube to a ceiling diffuser. Bright, low heat gain, and easy to fit through an attic.
- Curb-mounted. Sits on a raised wooden curb. Common on low slopes and as replacements for older units.
Features worth paying for
- Laminated low-e glass. Safer if broken, quieter in rain, and better at blocking heat and ultraviolet light that fades floors and furniture.
- Low solar heat gain. Important in Georgia summers. Check the NFRC label and ENERGY STAR qualification for your region.
- Engineered flashing kit. Made for that skylight and your roofing type. This matters more than any other feature for keeping it dry.
- Integrated shades. Blackout for bedrooms, light filtering elsewhere.
- Warranty. Separate coverage for glass seals, the unit, and the installation.
Match the skylight to the room
Bathrooms and kitchens benefit from venting to release humidity. Bedrooms want shades. Hallways and closets are ideal for tubular units. Great rooms can take a pair of fixed units for even light.
Installation is the deciding factor
Most skylight leaks come from flashing and underlayment details, not the product. Installing during a roof replacement lets the flashing kit tie into all-new underlayment and shingles.
See replacing skylights with a new roof and roof flashing explained.