Skylights: The pros and cons

If there’s a room in your home that doesn’t have much in the way of natural light, and there isn’t sufficient room or access for a normal window, you may consider a skylight.

Skylights are particularly popular in the upper levels of a home, such as loft conversions, bedrooms or even the bathroom.

They act as an effective way to brighten up your home and could even make your property more attractive on the housing market.

But as with anything, there are pros and cons for skylights and we assess both to give you all the information you need.


Benefits of a skylight

Of course, it’s impossible to discuss skylights without first mentioning their main advantage, which is filling any room with plenty of daylight. With this light you can open up space and completely transform the area.

With this natural light there’ll no longer be a reason to have artificial lighting on during the day. What this means straight away is you’ll be reducing your energy bills and allowing up to five times more light inside than with a normal window.

It’s not just daylight that’s the only advantage either. With a skylight you can also help to reduce noise pollution, ensuring a quieter home. Also it’s worth bearing in mind that the best skylights won’t be larger than 5% of your floor space, especially is there are already windows in place.

Drawbacks of a skylight

With a skylight, the positioning can be crucial. Obviously it could be directly facing the sun, meaning the room can heat up quite quickly, especially in the warm winter months. On the flip side though, if it’s on the north side of your home, you could have a cooler room in winter.

It’s worth knowing that your skylight can have energy efficient coatings such as the popular e-coating. This would help make the installation more energy efficient all year round.

Continuing on the energy efficiency theme, choosing the right frames is also important. Aluminium for instance is fairly inefficient, and you’d be better off with uPVC or hardwood.

With a skylight you may need to seek planning permission, especially if the exterior is in anyway changed. This is particularly necessary if you live in a conservation area or listed building.

Skylights can also be costly and could set you back up to £3,000. Of course, this means it’s not a decision to rush, but remember they can bring brilliant benefits to your home.

Global IT