Should You Try a Skylight Installation Yourself?

Many of us have noticed the increasing rise in costs for day-to-day expenditures, and as a result we have begun to tighten our wallets and find new ways to reduce costs on electricity bills and be more environmentally-friendly. Solar panels and energy-efficient light bulbs are just two of many methods people have found to save money. Another popular technique to help the planet is skylight installation in the home.

Defining the Skylight

So what exactly is a skylight? In essence, it’s a hole in the roof which delivers light into the room below. There are two general types of skylights: one type which are round and shaped in a dome, and the other which is flat and square like a window frame. The difference between standard windows and a skylight is that a skylight admits more light per unit area, allowing for brighter rooms due to even distribution in an area.

Benefits of a Skylight Installation?

So why bother getting a skylight? In the long run, installing a skylight can save you a lot of money from your electricity bill. While prices vary between brands, materials, and the size of the skylight, the general cost is $200 up.  What would a skylight installation cost you if you let a builder do it?   I’ve been quoted between $45 and $54 an hour for labor costs.   Estimated times to do complete the installation was about 6-8 hours.  I would personally estimate even more than that depending on outside conditions…like snow, ice or rain.    So roughly if you do the quick math you’re looking at around $350 to $500  to have the light installed.   If you are using a product like SolaTube, a tubular skylight installation can sometimes take less than that since much of the frame work needed for a normal skylight isn’t necessary.   All in all, you are looking at close to one thousand dollars for the light and installation.  At least that is the going rate in the Chicago marketplace where I live.   Your mileage may vary…especially now when the economy is tough and contractors are looking for work.   Deals abound for sure. In any case, no matter what you decide as far as price goes, remember that skylights can also be built with ventilation around the dome or frame if required, allowing for natural air ventilation in the home.

In that case, couldn’t they allow for condensation buildup and leakage? Not exactly – nowadays, skylight installation technology is so advanced that it removes all this with the correct sealants and materials used, causing water to harmlessly slide off the skylight. They are extremely weather-resistant and hardy, and will generally last for a long time.

Common Problems with Skylight Installations

The only common problems with skylights deal with temperature. In warm seasons, transparent glazing increases the heat buildup in the home, however this can be countered with translucent acrylic above or below the skylight glazing. The opposite applies to colder seasons, where heat loss occurs through the tube.

In terms of location, the best place for skylights are in rooms which have no external windows, such as corridors or rooms in the middle of the house. Other great locations for skylights are in rooms which have windows facing away from the sun, disallowing direct sunlight to enter the room. Skylights can greatly reduce electricity costs, and are environmentally-friendly, making them ideal for any low-cost or environmentally friendly homeowner.

Skylight Installation Video

Here is a nice video that shows how you will need to waterproof the skylight with appropriate roofing membrane materials when installing it.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXVbrdGYJcc