When deciding on a skylight for your home or rental property, there are two major factors to consider, location and use. Do you want a skylight to increase the natural light of a bedroom or living area? Or maybe you want a skylight in a kitchen that can open to vent smoke or steam. Depending on your answers some types of skylights may not be able to meet your needs. Read along as we at Northeast Architectural explain the different types of skylights and which are your best options for skylights that open.
Types of skylight installations
We can’t talk about skylights without a quick look into the installation process. There are two methods of skylight installation, curb mount installation and deck mount installation.
Curb mount skylights are installed in three main steps. First, a box-shaped structure is built that is slightly smaller than the requested size of the skylight, which is called the curb. Then, that structure is “flashed in” with the material of your roof. Finally, the skylight itself is placed over the curb like the lid of a shoebox. This style is the most common and allows for easy replacement of the skylight with less labor required.
Deck mount skylights are a more all-in-one option as the curb and the skylight are one and the same. This means that deck mount skylights protrude less than curb mount skylights. However, if any part of it breaks, the entire structure needs to be replaced and flashed in once again.
Vented skylights versus fixed skylights
These are the two main types of skylights you can expect to see and their differences are pretty clear.
Fixed skylights or non-operating skylights are the types that remain shut and are skylights that do not open. The main use for these would be for bringing in natural light, especially for dark rooms. There is also very little risk of leakage with these types of skylights.
Vented skylights or operating skylights are the skylights that open. As their name suggests, they also allow for air circulation in addition to bringing in natural light. As they are designed to open and close you can install a hand crank or motor with your skylight. Motorized skylights can be paired with a remote or app that automatically closes the skylight on command.
Here at Northeast Architectural we sell high-quality, Velux skylights and can meet your needs with skylights that open or are fixed!
Are you ready to install a skylight in your home or property? Request a quote for your skylight on our website.