Skylights are a trending home upgrade project, and their many benefits make it easy to see why. A properly placed and installed skylight adds a healthy dose of natural light to an otherwise unexciting space. It also ups the ambiance of any room, potentially increasing the home’s resale value.
As with anything, installing a new skylight comes with pros and cons. As a responsible homeowner, you’ll want to visit with your local roofing contractor in Wichita before moving forward. As you navigate the possibility of this popular roofing addition, here are some things to consider.
Skylights Aren’t Compatible With Every Home
One of the biggest items on your list should be talking with your roofing contractor in Kansas city about whether or not your home’s frame can support a skylight addition. Skylights work best in homes that have a stick-frame roof. That’s because the rafters are spaced to allow room for a skylight to be cut in without too much trouble.
The roof’s slope also dictates your home’s compatibility with a skylight. Flat roofs or mildly sloped roofs don’t work well because they don’t divert water as well. This makes your skylight susceptible to premature staining and weathering.
You’ll Have to Make Customization Decisions
Skylights are great for added natural light, but they can also increase the heat in your home and reduce your privacy. To thwart these negatives, manufacturers offer a variety of customizable options to meet your comfort and budget needs.
For example, you can choose glass (more insulating and resilient) or plastic (more cost-effective but with less UV protection). You can tint your skylight with a window film or install a specialty shade. Last but not least, some skylights offer a ventilation feature that lets you open and close the skylight quickly and easily, allowing fresh air to circulate. Each feature has pros and cons, so lean on your roofer to guide you. If you’re a person who suffers from decision fatigue, you may find installing a skylight a tiresome process.
Location is Important
Placing a skylight in your home is a strategic process. Not every room can support this addition, and poor planning can damage your roof. Your local expert on roofing in Wichita will want to assess your chosen location to ensure it meets the manufacturer’s slope specs.
You’ll also want to consider the direction of your skylight. North-facing skylights are the most popular as they provide the greatest exposure to the sun each day. You’ll also want to make sure your skylight isn’t facing any tall buildings or homes and steer clear of large overhanging trees. These obstacles can defeat the purpose of your skylight installation, blocking access to the sun.
Consider the Time of Year
If you’re sold on adding a skylight to your home, you’ll also want to consider the ideal time of year to tackle this project. The summer months are the best (in terms of timeline) because you’ll have long dry spells where the work can get completed quickly and with minimal delays. However, the winter months are best for homeowners on a budget because many roofers are less busy in the winter. Your roofing contractor in Wichita might offer a nice discount during the slow season, so make sure to inquire about this!
Ready to Install Your New Skylight? Let Shamrock Roofing and Construction Help!
Installing a skylight is a significant decision; clearly, there is much to consider. Our Shamrock Roofing and Construction team is primed and ready to help with all your roofing needs in Wichita. We’d love to help you navigate this big decision. Contact us today to speak to one of our professionals or to schedule a free roof inspection. We’ll help you determine whether a skylight is right for your home!