5 Important Things to Consider When Buying Commercial Skylights

It's a great idea to install a skylight in your commercial building or property. A skylight has the power to transform the mood of any workspace by filling it with daylight. Skylights can also provide additional ventilation to rooms, which is helpful in restrooms and kitchens.

Modern models like Fakro skylights are trustworthy and readily available. New and innovative designs give you tons of options. Along with aesthetics, what else needs consideration? Let's find out!

#1: Purpose

The primary use of a skylight is to bring in more natural light, but how much light do you need? Because the activities carried out in each area necessitate varying degrees of light, the required light levels range from room to room.

Aesthetics: You can change the look and feel of a space by choosing the right location for your skylight. Depending on the positioning, you can add light to a dark corner or have sunlight reflect off a mirrored surface. Enhancing your room with skylights brings new life and dimension!

Ventilation: In spaces with high airborne or stationary moisture concentration, a vented skylight provides natural ventilation and helps regulate indoor temperatures, reducing reliance on air conditioning.

Safety: Flat panel skylights provide a safe, walkable surface on your rooftop, which improves safety when maintenance and repairs are required.

#2: Position and Placement

The amount of light that flows into your room depends on placement. There can be a distinct difference between morning and afternoon sunlight.

East-facing: Enjoy the morning sun

West-facing: Expect stronger afternoon sun

North-facing: Consistent light throughout the day; more heat gain

South-facing: Less light, but the room will be cooler

When installing a skylight, the room dictates the direction it should face. Be sure to place skylight shafts and diffusers close to the center of the room to disperse light more evenly.

#3: Size and Shape

When it comes to the amount of light entering a room, the size of the skylight has a significant impact. Because some designs deliver daylight more efficiently than others, the skylight's shape affects the amount of light it provides. You get less light with round shapes compared with square or rectangular.

Skylights come in many shapes: tubular, circular, square, and rectangular. Generally, non-rectangular units are glazed with plastic, although the best ones employ glass. For example, if you have a flat surface on the bottom and a concave section on the top, you can use "warped plane" glazing. Many different sites can benefit from the elevated design of pyramidal, arched, and domed structures, which permits light to penetrate at angles that flat or deformed planar units cannot.

The glazing's slope or curvature also allows water and leaves to be drained from the windows. There is no need for additional framing in these low-slope skylight designs to slope a flat skylight for proper drainage.

Compared to other skylights, tubular skylights are smaller in size. For example, they include roof-mounted light or solar collectors that boost daylighting potential without increasing their bulk. Using tubular skylights reduces the heat lost in the winter and gained in the summer because the rooftop solar collector is tiny.

#4: Glazing

When it comes to solar heat management, you can choose between plastic and glass, depending on the performance you require from a skylight.

In most cases, plastic glazing is more cost-effective and less prone to breakage than other types of glazing materials. Plastic surfaces can become brittle or discolored over time, making them difficult to clean and maintain. Because of their openness, plastics also allow most UV radiation (unless a protective film is applied), which causes the furniture to fade faster than average.

Plastic glazing made of acrylics and polycarbonates is the most common. In terms of strength, acrylics are inferior to polycarbonates but are also less expensive. Polycarbonates have strong impact resistance; however, some are yellow with time and exposure to sunlight.

Glazed skylights, which are more expensive, are more common. Glass lasts longer than plastics and is nonporous. Skylight glass must be "safety glazed," a term that encompasses both tempered and laminated varieties. Both prevent large, sharp fragments of glass.

#5: Installation and Costs

Consider the cost of commercial skylights ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The cost of skylights will vary depending on the style and size, in addition to the cost of installation.

Most skylights come with easy-to-follow instructions. Anyone can install skylights. However, some may require the expertise of a professional installer. If your roof is too flat or too steep, it may necessitate additional expenditures. Consider the cost of installing a skylight, its added features and accessories, warranties and guarantees, and other vital considerations.

Final Thoughts

Your business is one-of-a-kind, and your workplace is too! Use these pointers to make it easier to choose the best commercial skylight!

Contact Access Doors and Panels today! Our experts can help you make the right choice. Call (800) 609-2917 to start the process or request a quote!

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