HOW SKYLIGHTS WORK

If you opt for a skylight with ventilation capabilities, it works by letting out the hot air that
naturally rises in your home. Using passive cooling, skylights will help you maintain a comfortable in-
home temperature. The chimney effect can further assist this ventilation. If you have your skylight open,
then open a window on the first floor of your home and the cooler air will flow in and actively push the
warm, stale air out of the skylight. This is a huge way to reduce the use of your air conditioning unit
while maintaining cool indoor temperatures. Both passive cooling and the chimney effect contribute to a
more energy efficient home.

There are options for both manual and automatic skylight units. For manual units you’ll have
some sort of mechanisms—pole, crank, or chain of sorts—that you can use to open and close the
skylight throughout the day. Automatic skylights are also available and can be opened or closed using
switches, remotes, or buttons. Some automatic skylights are even equipped with sensors that detect
moisture levels in the air so they automatically close when it’s raining. Not surprisingly, automatic units
tend to be more expensive, but many people find the cost justifiable due to the added convenience.

THE BENEFITS OF VENTILATION

Having a well-ventilated roof and attic is imperative to the efficiency and comfort of your home. While
there are a few drawbacks to having a skylight, proper installation and set-up will mitigate them. It
makes having a strong ventilation system well worth it and you’ll reap the benefits. Some of which
include:

REDUCED ENERGY COSTS

When you have a well-ventilated roofing system, your home will stay cool when you want it to. Your air
conditioner won’t need to work as hard to keep you comfortable and when your air conditioner isn’t
constantly running, your electric bill drops. This makes an even bigger difference on two-story homes.

MORE COMFORTABLE HOME

Ventilation systems help the hot air escape rather than trap it on the second story of your home. This
results in a more uniform temperature throughout your home, making sleeping conditions much more
comfortable.

LONGER ROOF LIFE

Your roof already faces a number of stressors. Harsh weather and direct sunlight eventually lead to its
demise, especially when you are dealing with cold climate The proper ventilation will allow the warm air
from your home to escape and effectively melt the snow without causing strain on your roof. This helps
elongate your roof’s lifespan. Similarly, in the summers, ventilation gives hot air a place to escape and
reduces the chance for shingle damage. Skylights can help you increase the efficiency of your home’s
overall ventilation.
REDUCES MOISTURE

Airflow helps keep your home dry. Without it, moisture can build up in your walls, attic, and even
ceilings. This leads to problems with mold and mildew that can affect the structural integrity of your
house and create extremely unpleasant odors. Ventilation reduces moisture in your home, keeps
insulation dry, and helps reduce problems that can contribute to unsafe living conditions.

DETERS PESTS

Finally, with the proper ventilation, you’ll experience fewer problems with pests. Warm, moist attics are
a breeding ground, but with the proper insulation, you’ll reduce the likelihood of this happening.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SKYLIGHT VENTILATION

Depending on your needs, you can choose from many different styles of skylights that will provide
varying degrees of ventilation. The type of skylight you choose alongside any additional features will
have an impact on the energy performance, so it’s best to discuss your options with a professional
roofing contractor. Some of the main types of skylights include non-vented, passive ventilation, dome
fans, skylight fans, and opening skylights.

NON-VENTED

This type of skylight provides an enclosed environment suitable for air-conditioned rooms. It's designed
to allow natural light into the interior of the house and is more cost-effective than using a light bulb
because it provides the goodness of natural light to any room. Non-vented skylights have no working
parts and cannot be opened. Non-vented skylights are the most common type of Skylight, they provide
natural daylight for your home and if they have clear glazing a better view of the night sky too!

PASSIVE VENTILATION

This type of ventilation systems is designed to regulate the internal air temperature as well as bring
fresh air in and send stale air out without energy consumption. This is achieved through the vents which
act as a source of air as well as an exhaust. The Ventilation is made up of a permanent perforated metal
strip around the external skylight frame. This means that the skylight is a constantly venting fixed
skylight. Passive ventilation also serves as a cooling measure to lower the temperature of the room.
Passive ventilation relies on the natural force of hot air rising and flowing through the vents and allows
the exchange of cool and warm air that circulates in the room. Residential houses often use natural
ventilation, especially in the bathroom, toilet and Laundry. One negative of passive ventilation is that it
cannot be turned off so they will contribute to heat loss, this can be an issue for areas that have colder
climates.

OPENING SKYLIGHTS

An opening skylight can be opened and closed to control air ventilation and circulation, this is perfect in
rooms where air humidity, moisture levels and heat can build up. An opening skylight is simple to install,
however, they cost more than non-vented skylights because they have moving parts and more
complicated construction, some models also include a motor for remote opening. The opening
mechanism can be controlled manually with a pole or handle or electronically using a remote-control
system. An opening skylight allows control of airflow depending on the time of the day or the season in
the year. Manual opening skylights are prone to unexpected elements like rain, dirt snow or hail if you
forgot to close the skylights during precipitation. Most Electric or Solar opening models have rain
sensors and will close automatically giving you peace of mind.

SKYLIGHT FANS

Skylight Fans is a ventilation system ideal for bathrooms, toilets and laundries or anywhere you need to
exhaust large volumes of air from a room which also requires natural light. The fan motor is supplied by
240 Volts and is plugged into the electrical system and activated by a wall-mounted switch. The Fan is
located in the Skylight frame at the roof level. The air is mechanically sucked up the at skylight shaft and
forced outside via the perforations in the metal Skylight frame. The design of this system means you
only have one roof penetration and one ceiling fixture that provide your ventilation & natural lighting
solution saving ceiling space. From outside the Skylight looks like a standard Skylight with no objects on
the Dome.

DOME FANS - CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE

A Dome Fan is installed onto the Skylight Dome of a Non-Vented Skylight. The Dome Fan ventilation
system ideal for bathrooms, toilets and Laundry’s or anywhere you need to exhaust large volumes of air
from a room which also requires natural light. As the Dome Fan is the outside of the Skylight Dome the
noise of fan is quieter than other fan systems. The fan motor is supplied by 240 Volts and needs to be
hard-wired into the electrical system by an electrician and activated by a wall-mounted switch. The air is
mechanically sucked up the skylight shaft forced outside via the Dome Fan’s external waterproofing cap.
The design of this system means you only have one roof penetration and one ceiling fixture that provide
your ventilation & natural lighting solution saving room on the room's ceiling.

SKYLIGHT SIZES
Skylight sizes do not follow a strict standard dimension as they can be customized into any size
depending on the homeowner’s requirements and specifications. They are available in different widths,
lengths and heights and the sizes may vary too depending on the type and design of the skylight.

STANDARD SKYLIGHT DIMENSIONS

Rectangular skylights and flat tempered glass skylights typically have widths that range from 14 to 72
inches or 36 to 183 centimeters, while their length ranges anywhere from 16 to 96 inches or 41 to 244
centimeters. For curb mounted skylights, the inside and outside curb dimensions are both defined and
usually these measurements have a difference of between 2 to 3 inches. Tubular skylights usually have a
diameter of 14 ½ inches or 36 centimeters and they normally do not exceed 22 inches or 55 centimeters.

TYPICAL GLASS THICKNESS OF SKYLIGHTS

The thickness of the glass used in skylights also differ depending on the design and size, but normally the
bigger the skylight is, the thicker glass it requires. The typical thickness of glass used for skylights
normally varies from ⅛ inches or 3.2 millimeters to ¼ inch or 6.35 millimeters.
BASED ON INDUSTRY STANDARDS, a skylight should be approximately 5 percent of the floor area of a
room with many windows. On the other hand, if your room has few windows, it should be at least 15
percent of the floor area of the room. This will ensure that your skylight is energy efficient.

To determine the total floor area of a room, simply measure both the length and the width of the floor
using a tape measure. Multiply the length of the room by its width, and the resulting number is the total
area of your room.

If the room is well lit and has plenty of windows, multiply the total floor area of your room by .05, while
if it has few windows and is generally dark, multiply it by .15. If the room falls just in between or is
neither dark nor well lit, just use the middle value of .10 and multiply it to your room’s total floor area.
The resulting number is the approximate square footage or total area of your skylight.

To ensure that you select the correct size replacement for your existing skylight, there are several
practices that you need to follow in measuring them based on their type.

First, is to try to identify what brand the old skylight is. Skylights typically have tags found on the inside
frame, exterior sash or etched on the glass that include its brand name. If you know the brand, you can
contact your supplier and they can find the right one that matches it. However, even with the
information found on the ID tag, it is still important to measure the old skylight to ensure that your new
one will fit the opening well.