Bob “Duke” Dutkiewicz, National Sales Manager, Kennedy Skylights
We are all aware that skylights are very popular in the Florida market. Glass, polycarbonate and tubular skylights dot roofs throughout the state. As modern kitchens moved away from exterior walls to become the central focus point of the home, we starved this area from natural light, which increased the popularity of skylights and tubular skylights. With many of the new home now designed with windowless kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms, the use of skylights and
tubular skylights will continue to increase.
Here is some basic information on skylight choices. Hopefully this information will help you when discussing skylight options with your customers.
Polycarbonate and acrylic skylights are a popular choice. They are relatively inexpensive, light weight and extremely strong. Polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than glass which makes this a popular choice in our state’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). You will find most polycarbonate skylights are compliant with the Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade code. Most manufacturers will offer these units as curb mount, self-flashing or available on 2-inch, 4-inch and 6-inch aluminum flashing bases. There are also drawbacks to these types of skylights. There is little to no insulation value compared to argon filled glass skylights. Also, they tend to be noisy during rainstorms and from outdoor noise, airplanes, traffic, etc.
Most professional skylight installers agree that glass skylights are the best product available for residential use. Glass will generally provide a clearer view and can have insulating factors that just aren’t available with plastic skylights. There are several glass glazing choices which differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Choices include:
■ tempered double insulated
■ tempered double insulated with LowE coating
■ tempered double insulated with LowE coating and argon gas between the panes
■ tempered with LowE coating, white or bronze tint and argon gas between the panes
■ tempered over laminated glass with argon gas between the panes
■ tempered over impact glass with argon gas between the panes.
Some of these options may be dictated by your local building codes. For example, some cities, counties and states may require tempered over laminate glass. Here in Florida, tempered over impact glass is required in both Miami-Dade and HVHZ.
Other important factors when choosing a skylight is energy ratings: R-Value, U-Value and shading coefficient. R-Value and U-Value are both measurements of heat flow, while shading coefficient measures solar heat gain. When looking for energy efficiency, you want a higher R-Value number and a lower U-Value. In Florida, you should look for a lower rated shading coefficient measurement. In many northern states, customers will look for a higher shading coefficient number to provide extra warmth from the sun. You may also see a visible light transference (VLT) or a UV blockage number. Both of these options look at the amount of sunlight that is transmitted through your skylight. Skylights that have a tinted glaze can lower your VLT rate and increase the UV blockage if the possibility of sun damage is a concern.
There are a number of accessories available when installing, replacing or upgrading skylights. These accessories include shades, which are available in sun diffusing, room darkening and blackout shades. These shades can be operated manually, electronically or by solar power. Another option is ventilating skylights. These skylights are very popular in bathrooms or kitchens for venting heat and humidity. The operation is similar to the shades and also can be opened and closed manually, electronically or by solar
power. Custom size skylights are available in both self-flashing and curb mounts that will satisfy any customer’s needs.
Tubular skylights are another popular product in the Florida market for bringing natural sunlight to darkened areas of your home. Tubular skylights range in sizes from 10-inch to 29-inch diameters, the latter, mainly for commercial use. Most residential skylights that we find will range from 10-inch to 18-inch.
The sunlight enters through either a high-impact acrylic or polycarbonate dome or, alternatively, flat glass or plastic. The sunlight is transmitted through a highly polished, mirrored-finished aluminum tube through an attic or crawl space and then emitted through a ceiling diffuser. Most homeowners are amazed by the amount of natural light that comes through their new tubular skylight. For example, a 10-inch model at full sunlight will cover an area up to 150 square feet, which
is equivalent to a 300-watt light bulb. The 13- and 14-inch models will cover an area up to 300 square feet, equivalent to a 500-watt light bulb. Homeowners joke about trying to find the switch to turn off the light when leaving a room equipped with a tubular skylight.
There are several accessories that can be used with these products. For example, extension tubes for large attic crawl spaces. Most manufacturers recommend the maximum length of no more than 20 feet. Also available are 0-to-45-degree adjustable elbows. These elbows help navigate around obstructions in the attic space like electrical wiring, plumbing or air conditioning ducts. Other options are solar and electrical light kits that allow your ceiling diffuser to be used after the sun goes down. Solar powered shades and electrical dampers are also available when room darkening is required.
Hopefully, this article has provided a basic understanding on some of the skylights that are available to the consumer. Homeowners will enjoy the energy savings, the natural sunlight benefits and the aesthetic beauty skylights provide.
Bob “Duke” Dutkiewicz, National Sales Manager for Kennedy Skylights, has worked in national sales via wholesale distribution for over 30 years. He joined the Natural Light Energy Systems (NLES) sales team, located in Phoenix, Az., in December 2011. In May of 2013, NLES had the opportunity to acquire Kennedy Skylights which opened a new opportunity for Duke. Duke is now the National Sales Manager for Kennedy Skylights which allows him to travel from coast to
coast promoting Kennedy products through wholesale distribution.
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