SHINING LIGHT ON SKYLIGHT MYTHS Look Up For The Most Efficient Method To Bring Natural Light Into The Home

The most efficient option available for bringing balanced natural light into a room is, in some people’s minds, the redheaded stepchild of fenestration. When compared to windows and exterior doors, the other primary sources of natural light, skylights continue to fight the battle for equal recognition. According to Joe Patrick, senior product manager with VELUX America, the number one concern homeowners, as well as some architects, builders, and remodelers express about skylights, is fear of leaks.

Architects are sometimes hesitant to specify them because they can’t control the installation process. They know the products are dependable, but they aren’t the ones cutting the hole in the roof, installing the unit, and applying the flashing.

Builders and remodelers, who don’t always directly control the installation process, don’t want to have to worry about callbacks. Even when the leak issue is put to rest through proper installation with matched flashing kits, there are concerns about heat gain and fading from the sun’s direct rays.
So how does a product with so many mountains to climb continue to grow in use and acceptance? Simply by demonstrating that the myths don’t hold up.

Patrick says that, “modern skylights from leading manufacturers, just like windows and exterior doors, are totally dependable when properly installed. Anytime a hole is cut in the frame or roof of a home, the potential for air or moisture enerting exists. But proper installation techniques and materials can take care of those concerns.”
A point often lost on homeowners, Patrick says, is that skylights offer as many or more ways to control heat and light as do vertical windows.

(more)

Page 2 of 2 – Shining Light on Skylight Myths

“There are Venetian blinds to adjust the light, cellular shades to diffuse the light, lightblock shades to (you guessed it) block the light, exterior headblock awnings to (once again) block heat before it enters the room, and even electrochromic glass that can be darkened or lightened electronically by remote control without blocking the view to the sky,” he points out.

And even before accessories are added, skylight glazings are among the best in the fenestration industry. Quality units employ double-pane construction with argon gas between low-E coated panes for control of heat gain or loss. These glazings control up to 83% of the sun’s fade-causing rays and resist condensation so well that a home can contain up to 50% more humidity before condensation will occur. Quality units contain tempered and laminated panes for safety and maximum protection against fading. There are even impact glass models available that meet the strictest code requirements for wind-borne debris protections in hurricane-prone areas.

And now is a particularly good time to consider upgrading existing skylights or adding new units to qualify for a tax credit of up to $200 under the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005.
For information on skylight selection and the benefits of natural light call 1-800-283-2831 or visit www.veluxusa.com. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency visit www.energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit www.nfrc.org or www.efficientwindows.org.

# # #
Image/s caption – TBD
VELUX America Feature Series No. 15/06 – Shining Light on Skylight Myths – Apx. 515 Words – 2nd Qt. - 2006
Media Contact:
Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc. - 9413 Greenfield Drive -
Raleigh, NC 27615-2306 - Phone – 919.844.0064 - E-mail – khobbs@nc.rr.com
For quick access to natural light feature material and background information, news releases, press kits and high-resolution images visit www.veluxusa.com and go to the News Media Home section under “Professionals.”