If you’re looking for a way of transforming your home, flooding it with natural light, and increasing its value in the process, look no further than skylights.
Whereas skylights have always been a popular home feature, in recent years skylight sales have really taken off, and when you consider the different styles and designs out there to choose from, it’s really not surprising.
Skylights can transform virtually any room in the home and offer a huge range of advantages. With so many different options out there to choose from, however, it can get a little overwhelming when deciding upon which design to go with. Then of course, there’s the costs.
Different types of skylights provide different benefits, yet in terms of costs they can vary hugely. But just how many different types of skylights are there to choose from, and what are their typical installation costs?
Different Types of Skylights
Skylights are essentially windows that are fitted into the ceiling. They not only let sunlight into your home, but they can also help keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. On top of that, they’re ideal for stargazing.
But just what are some of the different types of skylights out there to choose from? Here are a few popular examples:
Fixed Skylights
To begin with, we’ll take a look at fixed skylights. Fixed skylights are not only the most popular type of skylight design out there, they’re also the most common.
As the name implies, fixed skylights are ones which are fixed in place. They’re typically made from glass, or UPVC, and feature a frame surround to assist with the aesthetics and water resistance as well.
Fixed skylights are inexpensive and are a great way of letting more natural light into the home. They can also assist with insulation. The downside is the fact that they cannot be opened, so won’t offer much in terms of ventilation or cooling.
Ventilated Skylights
Up next we have ventilated skylights. Also known as vented skylights, these skylights are very similar in appearance to fixed skylights, except for the fact that they can be opened outwards.
This is very useful for ventilation as you can help to rid the house of steam, smoke, cooking odors, and excess moisture. It’s also great for letting some fresh air into the home and keeping it cooler during the warmer months of the year.
Ventilated skylights are especially popular in rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens. They can be operated manually with specialist tools, though many of them are now operated via remote control. Some even have moisture sensors so will automatically close if they detect rain, snow, or moisture.
Walk-On Skylights
For homes with flat roofs that are accessible by foot, a walk-on skylight could be a fantastic solution.
These skylights are designed specifically to be walked upon and so they are reinforced and built to withstand heavy weights. They’re ideal for letting more light into a property and provide very interesting talking points as well.
These skylights are particularly popular in homes with flat roofs designed to be walked upon, as well as properties with subterranean living areas as well.
Tubular Skylights
Ideal for smaller living spaces, these skylights are ideal for people on a budget looking for a smaller, more affordable alternative to fixed skylights.
Tubular skylights are made up of a light reflector which is mounted upon the roof, along with an interior fixture and a reflective tube, hence the name.
Because of their size and design, these particular skylights don’t provide as much natural light, nor are they particularly good when it comes to insulation. For smaller living spaces however, they’re very useful and a great alternative to fixed skylights.
Pyramid Skylights
As you can see from the name, these particular skylights come in the shape of a pyramid.
Because of their clean geometric shape, pyramid skylights are perfect for people looking for a design that is unique and stands out. The design isn’t just for aesthetics however, it’s also for practical reasons as the sleek edges help to channel natural sunlight from different angles.
Dome Skylights
Dome skylights are, as the name suggests, skylights which are decidedly dome-shaped in terms of appearance.
They too allow light to enter the home from all angles and are also fantastic for those looking to avoid glare from the sunlight and more privacy in the process.
Dome skylights are fairly modern and are ideal for those looking for ways of giving their homes a unique and modern-looking appearance. They are also incredibly well insulated and can therefore help to keep the home warm and help reduce energy costs in the process.
Different Types of Skylights and Their Installation Costs
Now that we have a better understanding of some of the most popular types of skylight designs currently available to choose from, it’s now time to look at the costs. Remember, skylight costs can vary hugely depending on a whole host of different things, so the figures we are going to provide are only very rough outlines.
For a fixed skylight for example, as of this writing, the costs including installation are between $1,500 and $4,000. A ventilated skylight, including installation, will cost anything between $1,600 and $4,700.
For a tubular skylight however, the average costs including installation are much lower, ranging between $500 and $1,000.
For fixed skylights in more unique designs, including both dome and pyramid shapes, you’re looking at between $2,000 and $3,000 for the skylights themselves, and that doesn’t include installation.
Remember, the prices listed above are only very rough average prices and should not be taken too literally. How much you pay for a skylight and its installation will depend on a number of different factors. With that said, you should now have a better idea of how much it will cost to have a skylight installed in your home.