Skylight Replacement: Renewing Their Purpose

Interior Building Systems

Skylights are common across the United States. Many older homes and a significant amount of new builds in Minnesota feature these charming and beneficial additions. Yet, depending upon their age and installation, they can suffered degradation. If not attended to, this can result in serious issues. While it is possible to repair some skylights, in other case, this is not. Instead, you will have to turn to another option – a skylight replacement.

The Basic Purposes of Skylights

Skylights have always served more than one purpose. Throughout the long history of their existence, they have provided those who lived and worked in buildings the chance to:

  • Feel the warmth of the sun either directly or indirectly while staying inside
  • Created a visual connection with the elements
  • Allowed fresh air to enter a room from above

Today, skylights also have another purpose. They help to make a structure sustainable. They can aid in reducing the use of energy by utilizing the power of the sun. They provide a passive form of solar heating and, providing they are operable, allow for improved air quality and fresh air exchange.

Such characteristics make them attractive to those who are environmentally concerned. The same qualities are also an inducement to those people who want to save money on their energy bills.

The Psychological Benefits of Skylights

Yet, skylights are more than a source of light and/or fresh air. Their worth extends beyond the admirable desire to achieve energy efficiency and decrease dependency on oil and gas. By not succumbing to a skylight replacement with a window, by replacing an older version with a new one or installing one where one never was before, architects, skylight installers and homeowners are providing their clients with a psychological boost.

This is obvious in homes. For those where little light can penetrate naturally and windows are scarce to almost non-existent e.g. the middle home of a row house, the addition of a skylight and introduce the well-known benefits of the sun. Research also indicates the addition of a skylight, therefore allowing light into such places as shopping malls and institutions can improve the overall mood and productivity of people. Shopper may feel more inclined to purchase while students are more productive. While this is an area requiring greater study, the preliminary results are indicative of a direction well worth taking.

Skylight Replacement

Skylights have several purposes. Some such as access to fresh air and sunlight are obvious. Today, we also look at them as being capable of reducing energy bills by employing passive solar power. Yet, they also have another purpose. Psychologically, the presence of natural sunlight can exert a positive effect. This should be one reason why a skylight replacement in a home in Wisconsin should not equate complete skylight removal from the structure.

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