You may be considering a skylight in your home to give it a welcoming, airy feel. However, choosing the right model can be complicated. Here are some factors to bear in mind.

Brightness Level  

While a bright room is pleasant, a glary one is uncomfortable. So you need the right type and size of skylight for a particular space. Skylights are not one-size-fits-all. A large square traditional model may bring in too much light if your local area has predominately bright days full of sunshine. In such a climate, you could opt for a tubular device. These devices consist of a roof dome that channels the light through a tunnel to the ceiling. As the dome is smaller and the shaft narrower than a traditional square design, it will capture less light.

If you live in a cloudy climate, however, a traditional skylight may be more appropriate. The shorter, wider shaft will let more brightness inside. In any case, regardless of the climate, a skylight can be fitted with diffusers to soften the incoming light flow, and some models have shading options such as blinds.

Heat Gain

Another factor you should consider is heat gain. Like a vertical window, skylights not only bring in light but allow heat gain. Whether this is desirable depends on your local weather.

If you want to minimise heat gain, you might opt for a sun tunnel that will allow less heat transfer than a standard skylight. Alternatively, you could install a skylight fitted with efficient glazing options such as double glazing or Low-E panes.

Your installers will fit the skylight in the best position on the roof to get the overall effect you desire. The placement of a skylight or sun tunnel is limited somewhat by the direction your roof faces and its angle. However, models are built to have particular effects. For example, some skylights have a dome shape to maximise the capture of the morning and late afternoon direct sun and to block it when directly overhead. This will help control heat and brightness.

Roof Architecture

Your choice of skylight will also be affected by the roof architecture. If your home has a pointed cathedral ceiling with little roof cavity space, you could fit roof windows. These models are similar to vertical windows, though they're fitted to a roof. They're often openable, as are many standard skylight designs, to allow for fresh air to filter inside.

Sun tunnels are also handy due to their flexible design. The tunnel can extend relatively long distances within a crawl space, and it can even turn corners. Thus, sun tunnels can be fitted to many different building shapes and sizes.