How to Choose A Skylight?
It is very worthwhile to spend time learning how to choose a skylight before deciding which one you want. Making the right choice in terms of skylights means considering several factors that will determine whether you are making a wise investment or a costly mistake.
We would be more than happy to contact you via email( cassie.fu@skatewindow.com )Guide you through the selection process, but this guide will help those of you who are curious or have D I. Y. Conscious people. Pick up a pen and paper, and use useful question prompts to list all the factors to consider when choosing an ideal lighting solution.
What is the purpose of choosing a skylight?
The main purpose of a skylight is to increase the free natural light in a given area.
But how much light do you actually need?
Do you know that?
A skylight can provide more than three times as much light as a vertical window of the same size!
A common method of measuring light is in lux units. This is the amount of light that falls on a certain area. The further away from the light source, the smaller the number. Here are some references for you:
- outside in the shade, at midday is approximately 20,000 lux,
- an overcast day is between 1,000-2,000 lux,
- and night-time is 0 lux.
require 300-400 lux
require 150-200 lux
require 100-200 lux
require 100-200 lux
Any other
purpose?
Ask yourself:
Do I want to enhance the appearance of the room?
Ask yourself:
Do I need ventilation besides light?
Ask yourself:
Do I want to use the skylight as a way to roof?
How to determine Orientation&Placement?
The direction of the skylight on the roof will affect the amount of light captured, while the placement in the room will affect the distribution of light.
The skylight facing east will receive morning sunlight, while the skylight facing west will receive stronger afternoon sunlight. A skylight facing north will capture more constant light throughout the day and allow for more heat to increase, while a skylight facing south will capture less light while being cool. The room where a skylight is installed usually determines the direction of the skylight.
By placing the skylight axis or diffuser near the center of the room, the light will be more evenly distributed throughout the entire room.
ASK YOURSELF:
Which orientation (north/east/south/west) is the roof facing above the room I want the skylight installed in?
How to determine the appropriate size and shape?
The size of the skylight directly affects the amount of light entering the room, so the larger the better. The shape of the skylight can also affect the amount of light transmitted, as some shapes are more effective in transmitting sunlight. For example, a 400mm square sunroof provides 21.5% more area than a 400mm circular sunroof.
The three most common shapes of skylights are square, rectangular, and circular. In addition to the amount of light allowed by each shape, the shape itself also plays a role in aesthetics. The straight lines of squares and rectangles give a sense of reliability and safety, while circles look softer and gentler.
The main factor in determining which skylight size and shape is suitable for a given building is the spacing between roof trusses. If the spacing between the roof trusses is 900mm, skylights with a width of 800mm or less should be installed. In most cases, cutting the roof truss should be avoided to prevent weakening the structural integrity of the roof itself.
Generally speaking, the size of the skylight should be 3-5% of the room's floor area. For example, a room measuring 4 meters by 3 meters (12 square meters) requires a skylight measuring 800 millimeters by 600 millimeters (0.48 square meters). Rooms without or with few windows may require larger skylights.
CALCULATE IT YOURSELF:
1.Measure the length and width of the room and multiply these to get the floor area, e.g. 4m x 3m = 12m²
2.Multiply the floor area by 0.04 (4%) to get the skylight area, e.g. 12 x 0.04 = 0.48m²
3.Select a skylight size that matches (approximately) your required area from the table below.
| Size (mm) | Area (m²) | Size (mm) | Area (m²) |
| 400 x 600 | 0.24 | 500 x 800 | 0.4 |
| 500 x 500 | 0.25 | 600 x 800 | 0.48 |
| 400 x 800 | 0.32 | 700 x 700 | 0.49 |
| 600 x 600 | 0.36 | 800 x 800 | 0.64 |
What type of skylight is suitable for you?
Now that you have understood the many factors to consider when choosing a sunroof, it is time to choose the type of sunroof that best suits your specific requirements. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different types of skylights, so that you can be confident that you have made the right choice. Please remember, if you want to clarify, our friendly expert team only needs one email (cassie.fu@skatewindow.com).
