Skip the Skylight – Go With Elevated Windows

Thinking about helping out your windows by putting a skylight in your home to increase the amount of natural light that comes in?While wanting to use less electricity by using more sunlight is a wonderful idea, accomplishing this with a skylight may not be the best course of action. Skylights are known for being the cause of a number of home repairs that can be on the expensive side.To get more light in your home and avoid the problems associated with having a skylight, consider installing small windows in the upper part of your walls instead.Why High Windows Should Be ConsideredWindows that are located high on the wall can provide just as much natural light as a skylight can, thanks to the elevated positioning. Windows are also better for your home in the long run because you don’t have to worry about them being directly exposed to weather or the sun like a skylight is.Windows:

• Are usually protected by the eaves of your home, so they are not pelted by the rain, snow, and hail from every storm that comes through the area.
• Any precipitation that does make it to the window does not stay on the windows long thanks to their vertical position.
• Windows are only exposed to sunlight during a portion of the day thanks to the shading provided by trees and eaves, and also because they are on the side of the home.

Skylights:

• Are exposed to rain, wind, hail, and snow every time a storm rolls over your home.
• When precipitation does fall on the skylight it is more likely to stay in place and puddle, rather than continuing to move. This leads to water leaking into your home.
• Skylights increase the chance that ice dams will form on your roof in the winter.
• Skylights are in the sun all day (unless it is cloudy) leading to the materials that make up the skylight to become sun damaged.

Great Places to Put High WindowsHigh windows are great anywhere you want natural light or need some extra light. They work well in closets, hallways, bathrooms, and anywhere else that is dark and normal windows cannot usually be installed.For more information contact one of our windows specialists today!