The Truth about Skylights
Skylights seem like such a great idea to bring in extra light and brighten up a space, yet most homebuilders will urge you to consider this option very carefully before you proceed. They are lovely, but the potential for problems is significant.
Our Concerns with Skylights
When you have been building homes as long as we have, you learn a thing or two along the way. Any time your home fails to perform the way you hope, it is heartbreaking, and we never want anyone to experience that. We have just two concerns with skylights, but they are significant.
- Energy Loss. Consider that you live in Canada, where we have four seasons, and often some extreme temperatures. When you install a skylight, you are literally cutting a hole into your roof, a critical part of the structure of your home, and trading the insulation value of actual insulation and other materials that are designed to protect you from the elements for – a piece of glass. Learn more about insulation values of glass. Even if you opt for a higher end skylight, the insulation values are substantially inferior.
- Potential Leaks and Condensation. As above, you are literally cutting a hole in your roof! Anytime you disrupt the integrity of your roof, you are putting yourself at risk for moisture leaks. Consider the amount of snow we enjoy in Canada and the strain it can put on the seal of even the best installed skylights. Over time, seals will wear out. Moisture leaks may not show themselves as an obvious drip from skylight to your floor – it could manifest itself to be a leak into your roof, which is a whole other level of sadness. Typically, these things happen many years later, which means that it would not be included as a homeowner warranty item, putting you on the hook for these expensive repairs.
There are some benefits to installing skylights, of course, there is a reason so many of us love the way they look. They really are beautiful. The good news is that construction technology advances every day. If you really have your heart set on a skylight, we can do that! We would highly recommend you have it installed at the time of build and that you are committed to performing the homeowner maintenance required to ensure that you will love it for a lifetime.
If you have more questions about skylights, just reach out to one of our Housing Consultants and they would be happy to speak to you in more detail.
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Want to dig a little deeper? Here are some more resources for you:
- The Pros and Cons of Adding Skylights – House Tipster
- An Honest Guide to the Benefits and Drawbacks of Skylights – Dwell
- Skylights Pros and Cons – Are they Worth the Money? – Renovations Roofing