2. One effective way to bring daylight into the home is through the use of skylights which are windows
installed in roofs or ceilings. Well-designed day lighting features can deliver many benefits to the home
such as high light levels, potential for energy savings, a view and connection to the outdoors and light
wavelengths that help maintain human circadian rhythms and immune system health. Skylights provide
opportunities for ventilation. It should be properly installed to avoid water leakage.
SHAPES OF SKYLIGHT WINDOW
Rectangles, Circles, Ovals, Diamonds,
Triangles, Multi sided Tubular.
The skylight minimizes heat gain
during the day and heat loss during
the night but does not offer a view or
ventilation.
3. SKYLIGHT SIZE: The size of skylight is directly related to daylight levels and solar heat gain. the skylight
should not be more than 5% of the floor area in rooms with many windows and not more than 15% in
rooms with few windows.
ORIENTATION: Skylights on north facing roofs provide relatively constant illumination with a cool light
appearance while skylights on south facing roofs provide constant high illumination levels and the greatest
potential of heat gain.
ENERGY: Choose a skylight with an energy performance rating that is appropriate for your climate and
home design.
VENTILATION: Some skylights offer the ability to ventilate hot air that gathers near the ceiling. The skylight
may open manually or automatically.
MOISTURE CONTROL: Poorly installed skylights can be prone to water leaks. Skylights are best installed by
professionals in accordance with manufacturer instruction.
4. TYPES OF SKYLIGHT
1. GLASS SKYLIGHTS
For any flat skylight the optimal material is glass. Most glass skylights will be composed of tempered safety
glass or laminated safety glass or a combination of the two.
Tempered glass is heat-strengthened glass if it breaks; it explodes into thousands of tiny pieces.
Laminated glass is glass with a plastic inter-layer which is designed to hold in place when it breaks.
Low-E glass was originally developed for energy efficiency, but it has the additional benefit of blocking heat
gain as well as heat loss through a skylight. It provides a very comfortable light without darkening the
skylight such as in the use of tinted glass.
2. DOME ACRYLIC SKYLIGHTS
Dome skylights are designed to shut out severe weather, are shaped to wash themselves in rain, can be
insulated (double domes), will provide ventilation, access to the roof and even help fight fires Dome
Skylight Use
For all commercial, industrial, institutional or residential buildings.
With flat or sloping roofs, any construction.
For new construction or renovation of existing structures.
For conventional applications.
Acrylic dome materials proven to resist discoloration, hazing and loss of strength in more than a half-
century of successful outdoor use.
5. 3. FIXED SKYLIGHTS
Fixed skylights provide an economical alternative in creating a spacious home that is filled with natural
light.
They capture abundant daylight for rooms in which maximum lighting is the only requirement and are
perfect for visually expanding areas such as hallways, stairwells and other closed-in, dark spaces that can
be transformed with light and sky.
4. VENTING SKYLIGHTS
A venting skylight enables Opening for maximum fresh air, the manual venting skylight contributes to a
home’s proper moisture balance and comfort level by allowing stale, humid air to be released creating a
“passive air conditioner” or “chimney effect”.
This effect releases hot air accumulating at the ceiling while bringing cooler, fresh air in through windows,
in turn, reducing electrical needs for A/C and allowing fresh air to circulate through the home.
6. BENEFITS OF SKYLIGHTS
Rooftop windows and skylights can give a number of advantages to homeowners. They can increase the
overall value (equity) of your home, and they can solve certain issues in stuffy, cold or dark rooms.
Adding natural light (and solar heating) to your spaces
The biggest benefit of skylights is how they let natural light into your space. And with that light comes solar
heat. Why does that matter for you? Natural light is known to improve mood and even help with
performance in workplaces. And heating your home with sunlight can save on heating costs during the
chilly seasons.
Letting in fresh air and better ventilation
Skylight windows can open to let in the fresh air. This helps with cross ventilation in stuffy rooms, freshens
up the air and cools down your living spaces without turning on the air conditioner.
Saving on energy costs (electric and heating)
As we mentioned above, sunlight can heat up your spaces and cross ventilation can cool them down. Each
can cut down on your energy costs (just make sure to install a skylight that’s leak-proof and has laminated
glass!)
Aesthetic changes add to the resale value
Cosmetic changes like skylights can add equity into your home, upping the resale value and giving certain
rooms an attractive, natural light atmosphere.
Natural views and “adding space” to a room
Similar to adding mirrors on the walls, skylights can make a room “feel bigger” and more spacious. Plus,
you can get a view of night sky or nature during the day.
7. DISADVANTAGES OF SKYLIGHTS
Every cosmetic change to your home has potential disadvantages and skylights are no exception. As
professionals who have installed numerous skylights for homeowners, we can tell you that many of the
drawbacks come from poor (or uneducated) decisions before the skylight is installed.
Investing in poor quality equipment without solid warranties
Choosing the placement of your skylight without proper consultation
Hiring a service professional without experience in skylight installations
Doing it yourself (no offense to those hardcore DIY-ers out there)
Cost to replace or repair a bad installation
Here are a few to consider:
Losing heat through the skylight if it’s not
properly installed or done with poor-quality
equipment. (This is one of the main
reasons we only install No Leak Velux
Skylights, industry’s finest warranty – click
here for specifics.)
Placement of skylight brings in too much light
or too much heat during the day. That’s why a
proper consultation is a good idea, so you
install a skylight in an area that will fit your
needs without letting the natural benefits get
out of control.
The features of the skylight fall short of your
expectations. Do you want to be able to open
the window remotely? Or have your windows
close automatically before a rainstorm? These
types of features are important considerations
(usually thought of after the fact!)
What if a tree limb falls on the skylight and
shatters the glass? It’s possible, but it doesn’t
have to be a dangerous situation. We
recommend our customer purchase laminated
glass in case of breakage. This type of glass is
covered with a thin film which holds the
broken glass in place, instead of shattering
and falling into the house.
8. Dormer Window
A dormer window is a vertical window provided on the slopping roof.
Such a window provides ventilation and lighting to the enclosed space below the roof.
These windows very much improve the appearance of the building.
Located on the sloped side of a roof, a dormer window brings natural light into an attic, loft, or any room
with a vaulted ceiling. This type of window sits vertically in a framed structure that juts outward from the
pitch of the main roof and features a little roof of its own above the window. Dormer windows are often
associated with Colonial, Greek Revival, and cottage-style architecture, but they can be found on virtually
any style of house that has a sloped roof.
Dormer windows first appeared in residential roofs in 16th Century Britain, where they were used to direct
natural light into attic sleeping areas. The word “dormer” comes from the French “dormeor,” which means
“sleeping room.”
9. Dormers have an even earlier predecessor, however: an architectural feature called a “lucarne” that first
appeared the 12th Century Europe. Lucarnes—tall, narrow roofed projections—were often found on the
tall spires of Gothic Cathedrals. They were designed to promote fresh airflow through the tops of the
spires, which could get quite hot during summer months. A good example of Gothic lucarne architecture
still exists on the Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. While the lucarnes of old didn’t have glass windows,
tall narrow dormer windows today are sometimes called “lucarne dormers.”
In residential construction, the use of dormer windows hasn’t changed much over the last few hundred
years. They’re still valuable for bringing light into attics and lofts, but today, homeowners are more
interested in choosing a style of dormer window to complement their house design.
Dormer Window Styles
The style of a dormer window is defined by the style of the roof above the window. The following dormer
window styles are commonly found on today’s homes:
Gambrel dormer: The roof on a gambrel dormer features a gable at the peak of the roof, but then
descends into two steeper roof slopes on the sides of the roof. This gives the gambrel dormer
a barn-like look.
10. Gable dormer: The most common style of dormer window, it features a gable (a triangular roof
with slopes of equal pitch) over the window.
11. Hip dormer: A hip dormer features three roof planes, one on each side and a third parallel to the front of
the dormer. All three planes slope upward and meet at a common point at the peak of the roof.
Shed dormer: This dormer has only one roof plane that slopes in the same direction as the slope of the
main roof, but with a much shallower pitch. The pitch of a shed dormer is sometimes so slight that it
appears to be almost horizontal. Some slope is necessary, however, to allow water to run off.
Why You Should Consider Installing A Dormer Window
A dormer does more than just raise the roof, so to speak. Here are some solid perks that come with
installing one:
Let there be light: The right type of window can work wonders if you are looking to illuminate an
underlying living space. It can also be a smart way to lighten up a usually dark attic, which you can
then utilize for other purposes such as a reading nook, playpen, or as extra living space. Also, if you
are tired of using a window air conditioner, you can install a dormer to improve ventilation and
cooling.
More space: Do you need more space in your home? Look to the roof—installing a new structure
up there can solve the problem. In addition to this, a window higher up in the house can provide a
spectacular view of the outdoors.
Aesthetic value: If you are tired of having a plain, old, sloped roof over your head, adding a dormer
could spice things up. The extra illumination, ventilation, space, and outward beauty might boost
the value of your home if you decide to sell it.
12. What to Consider Before Adding a Dormer Window
Cute as they may seem, a lot goes into installing dormers in your roof. Before taking your roof apart, a
couple of things to bear in mind are:
Costs: The cost of installing a dormer could range depending on factors such as size, style, and
roofing materials. Local building permits could also add to the construction price tag.
House style: Construction experts recommend building a dormer whose style complements that of
your house including the roof and windows. For example, barrel dormers might be an excellent
choice for adding sharp contrast to a plain roof. The gable type generally suits most house styles
while the eyebrow dormer works best on a house with similarly curved or arched windows or
doors.
Utility: Do you want to install a dormer for extra living space, additional illumination, and
ventilation, or is it purely for aesthetics? Barrel and eyebrow windows work just fine to let in more
light but might not do much if space is your concern. On the contrary, installing a shed, gable, or
wall roof might make a big difference.
A dormer window might be a more cost-effective alternative to remodeling an attic or a loft. When done
by a professional, this type of window can add character to your house all while letting in much-needed
light and air. Before installing one (or several), bear in mind all the related costs, the style of home, and its
long-term usefulness.
13. Clerestory window
A clerestory window is a large window or series of small windows along the top of a structure's wall,
usually at or near the roof line. Clerestory windows are a type of "fenestration" or glass window placement
found in both residential and commercial construction. A clerestory wall often rises above adjoining roofs.
In a large building, like a gymnasium or train station, the windows will be positioned to allow light to
illuminate a large interior space. A smaller home may have a band of narrow windows along the very top of
a wall.
Designers who wish to maintain wall space and interior privacy AND keep a room well-lighted often use
this type of window arrangement for both residential and commercial projects. It is one way to use
architectural design to help your home out of the darkness. Clerestory windows are most often used to
naturally illuminate (and often ventilate) large spaces such as sports arenas, transportation terminals, and
gymnasiums. As modern sports stadiums and arenas became enclosed, with and without retractable
roofing systems, the "clerestory lens," as it's called on the 2009 Cowboys Stadium, became more common.
14. The use of clerestories
A row of windows well above eye level—stretches all the way back to temples in ancient Egypt. Since then,
they’ve been a favourite feature in religious structures for their ability to flood vast spaces with natural
light, creating interior environments so open and bright they can feel downright heavenly.
Today, the architectural feature is employed in modern homes for exactly the same reason, although extra
sunlight isn’t the only benefit. Whereas lower windows can let in sun in a direct and sometimes harsh way,
a row of windows up high lets in a more ambient light.
Even better if the clerestory windows open, as this allows for air to flow and circulate. As for aesthetics,
placing windows higher affords more open wall space at eye level for displaying books, curios, or a gallery-
style arrangement of artwork.
15. Clerestory windows may be one of the lesser-known window styles, but they have a lot of advantages over
more conventional window styles.
Where Are Clerestory Windows Usually Installed?
Clerestory windows are installed on the topmost portion of tall walls. Homeowners usually install them if
trees and branches are blocking sunlight, preventing light from entering the windows on the lower
portions of their homes.
Like any other window, clerestory windows can increase the amount of natural lighting and improve
ventilation indoors.
16. More Natural Lighting Without the Glare
Depending on the time of the day, the light passing through the windows can be harsh. But the placement
and angle of clerestory windows reduce this harshness and distribute ambient lighting more evenly
throughout the room.
Improved Attic Ventilation
Inadequate ventilation in the upper portions of your home, most notably your attic, is one of the primary
reasons for roof damage. Increased temperatures combined with trapped moisture can quickly degrade
your roof’s underlying layers.
