What are Skylights?

The natural light offered by a skylight is simply unbeatable. It's a feature that can really transform your home, or at the very least offer a significant upgrade to a dim room.

Skylights, also known as roof-lights, aren't as common in American homes as they are in European homes but we do receive inquiries for them every once in a while. In this post, we'll provide a little more information on skylights including some problems homeowners sometimes run into with this type of window.

Use the links below to skip ahead:

What are Skylights?
Pros and Cons of Skylights
Who Sells Skylights?

What are Skylights?

While windows transmit light into your home from the sides, a skylight does so from above. In the simplest possible terms, a skylight is a window on your roof. That being said, installing one is a bit more complicated than installing a window on a vertical wall.

Skylights have been around for centuries, and there are records of their use dating as far back as Ancient Rome. Advancements in glass manufacturing made them more widely available during the 19th century Industrial Revolution.

Pros and Cons of Skylights

A skylight might sound like a great option, and in many homes, it is. But there are both pros and cons to a roof light, and it's important to weigh them all carefully.

                    Unexpected character encountered while parsing value: P. Path '', line 0, position 0.

                    Unexpected character encountered while parsing value: P. Path '', line 0, position 0.

                    Error parsing NaN value. Path '', line 1, position 1.

                    Error parsing NaN value. Path '', line 1, position 1.

                    Error parsing NaN value. Path '', line 1, position 1.

Who Sells Skylights?

While some window manufacturers also offer skylights, most do not. Skylights are typically a specialty item, and are built by companies that specialize in their design and construction. Top skylight brands include:

American Skylights
Sunoptics
VELUX Skylights
Bristolite
Wasco Skylights
Sun-Tek

If you're searching for windows that will allow more light into your home you should also consider replacing the windows in your home. Many homeowners today are opting for windows without grids and casement windows option to maximize the continuous glass surface. More glass means more light, plus, the glass used in modern windows means you won't have to sacrifice on energy efficiency.