Any modern homeowner will tell you for a fact that the comfort which comes from an aesthetically appealing home cannot be compared to anything. Unfortunately, coming up with such a home calls for some kind of financial commitment. You will have to invest in quality roofing materials as well as exterior painting. One thing you won’t have to worry about is your skylight options. They come in a wide range of sizes, designs and styles. Choosing one that meets your needs should therefore be a walk in the park. You will however need to consider the following facts.

Never skimp on quality

Water tightness, energy efficiency, sound reduction, light control and other factors like wind and load resistance are extremely important considerations. You may also want to take into account other options like UV coating, ventilation and shading. While at it, note that most manufacturers offer quality skylights made from sustainable materials in a bid to protect Mother Nature. As such, do not ignore any brand that makes quality skylights from eco friendly materials.

Be careful when choosing placement

You cannot choose the right skylight placement on your own. The best way to go about it is to involve one or two experts. An interior designer should be able to give you an honest opinion on how light from the skylight will affect the allure of your room. A roofing expert on the other hand will be able to go by the interior designer’s instructions. Plan well and keep a blue print or space plan before you can cut out any section of your roof for purposes of installing a skylight.

Safety

The possibility of falling while repairing, installing, cleaning or replacing your skylight is real. Fortunately, most homeowners often ignore this possibility. First off, ensure that your ladder is flawless. It should be of the right height. You need to also ensure that you have appropriate footwear with proper traction. Protective clothing is also recommended especially if you will have to do some welding. Note that he slope of your roof may force to consider using roof jacks that can  firmly support  a 2" x 12" board to stand on as you work .  Secure and fasten your roof jacks with nails. Then make sure that all nails are driven all the way into the rood joists and not just through the sheathing.

Start from the inside

Never start from the roof. Once you are done with removing interior sheathing, drive screws and nails into the corners of the box outline which you will have marked for the skylight. This sounds complicated in theory but it is a piece of cake. What’s more, it will make it easier for you to find or locate the skylight opening from your rooftop.

Add drywall and extra insulation

This has everything to do with the quality of light coming in through the skylight. It is also about condensation. Adding extra insulation and dry wall will cut down on condensation significantly it will also ensure that the light coming in will be easy on your eyes.

Go for a self ventilating skylight    

This is pretty much self explanatory. Do not go for a skylight that cannot open. Proper ventilation should always come from everywhere, your doors and windows included. The best thing is to go for an electric ventilating skylight. It is of course a little bit costly compared to manual ventilating ones, but they are always worth it. But if by any chance you have enough ventilation in your room, consider fixed skylights. They sell for half the price of manual ventilating skylights.  Be careful when choosing electric skylights for your bathroom and kitchen.  This is because most electric skylights come complete with rain sensors. Steam from your bathroom or kitchen can therefore cause your skylight to close when you need it open.

Tinted skylights

Not so many people know about them, but there are actually tinted skylights.  You must however know what you are getting yourself into before going for a tinted skylight. The tint means that you may have more limited light in your room. It also means that the glass may get so hot and break down the adhesives holding dual panes together.  You may therefore be forced to maintain the tinted skylights from time to time.  Speaking of maintenance, it is a wise idea to always let roofing experts handle care and maintenance of your skylights. Most gutter cleaning and repair companies extend their services to skylight cleaning as well. Finding that maintenance expert should therefore be easy for you.

Brand

How much your skylights will last, how often they will let in leaks or how often they will develop glitches are factors pegged on the brand you choose. With that in mind, go for the best skylight brands. Consider reviews and customer testimonials before choosing your desired brand. In short, make informed decisions when shopping for skylights.