Solar Tube Skylights

What's with those Solar Light Tubes?

Solar Tube Skylights - Solar Tube Lighting is a super effective way to bring natural daylight into dark or windowless rooms. Consider the Pros and Cons before installing a tube skylight.

Solar Tube Lights

Bring natural daylight into walk-in wardrobes, bathrooms and internal rooms with tube skylighting.

Ideal for spaces you use during the daytime - like kitchens, offices, playrooms and studios - solar tube lighting passively delivers pure daylight right where you want it.

A tube skylight illuminates your home's interior while addressing many of the issues that plague traditional skylights. Solar tubes do not fade furniture or fabrics, have no noticeable effect on heat gain or loss and require no major structural adjustments to install.

Tips for Buying Solar Tube Skylights

• Decide where the light or lights will be installed. You'll need to calculate the distance between the rooftop location and the ceiling destination to determine if you'll need extra reflective tubing.
• Although you can extend the tubing in excess of 20 feet (up to 30 in some cases), the extensions will add to the cost of the sky tube. Additionally, there is a minimal loss of light that increases as the distance traveled increases.
• It's a DIY project for someone who is moderately skilled at handy projects. Read the instructions BEFORE you start. Little things (like placing the seams properly and securely taping the sections together to keep dust and bugs out) can make a BIG difference to the end product.
• The 10 inch diameter tube skylight will illuminate a small bathroom or closet (about 150 foot square). For larger areas use a 14 inch tube or more than one tube light evenly spaced around the room.
• Situate the light as close to the center of the area you want to light as the structural details will allow. Illumination will be most intense directly under the tube light.
• Tools required are; jigsaw, protractor (sometimes provided), claw hammer, roofing nails, drill & bits, drywall saw/knife, watertight roof sealant or roofing cement.
• Unless you're experienced at installing solar tube skylights, the install time will take longer than the 2 hours specified, sometimes significantly longer.
• Proper care on installation will ensure that moisture and condensation are not a problem. Use tape to tightly seal every seam to prevent the ingress of dust, securely seal the rims at roof and ceiling and insulate long tube areas.
• The dome shape of the structure, (which looks really cool on the roof) allows early morning and late evening light to be used, light that traditional skylights miss.

Solar tube lights are ideal for rooms where pure, natural light is essential like artist studios, sewing rooms and craft rooms.

From the inside they look like big recessed lights but they don't require ANY energy to work.

On bright days and even moonlight filled nights, solar tube lighting will cast a pool of diffused light into an area you select.

ODL's 10 In. Tubular Skylight with Asphalt Flashing is highly ranked among those who have installed them or had them professionally installed on their rooftop.

For double the light at a fraction more cost, the 14" Skylight is the ideal solar skylight for lighting a larger area.

Typical Amazon customer comments.

"The light is amazing. Even early in the morning way before dawn there is enough light to make the stairs safe..."

"This is the second tubular skylight in our home and the ease of installment and the quantity of light makes it our only choice for future purchases"

Where to Use Solar Tube Skylights

• Dim hallways
• Stairways

Note

Unless you're a family of very early risers, avoid installing tube skylights in the bedrooms.

• Walk-in closet
• Laundry room
• Art studio
• Sewing room
• Craft room
• Workshop
• Bathroom
• Office

Anywhere that you want pure daylight is a candidate for solar tube lighting.

Pros and Cons of Solar Tube Skylights

PROS

• Small Roof Opening The 10 and 14 inch diameter kits fit easily between struts and require no serious structural work.
• Handyman Installation If you're handy this is a fairly simple installation requiring more patience than skill.
• Natural Daylight Natural light has it's own special glow that can not be imitated.
• No cost lighting Solar energy is free for the using and in no danger of running out any time soon.
• No Furniture/Wardrobe Fading The diffused light that the solar tube delivers won't fade fabrics.
• Flexibility The unique tubing system allows you to collect sunlight from the rooftop and direct it indoors as much as 30 feet away.
• No noticeable heat gain or loss. Sun tubes do not encourage loss of heat or heat gain.

CONS

• Top Floor Only Although the tube can be extended several feet, unless you are very creative the uppermost floor gets the tube lights.
• Daytime Only Solar tube lights deliver sunlight. On dark and moonless nights, you'll still need to use lights in the space. Bright, moonlit nights, however, will provide enough light to dimly illuminate a room.
• Light Quality Depends Upon the Weather As with all solar products, deep cloud cover can affect the output of the solar tube.

In case you're wondering why the Solatube 290DS Daylighting System Skylight isn't featured on this page, it's nothing personal. They actually make a great product that delivers everything they claim. The price is what kept me from including the Solatube. When I recommend a product, there are several criteria that I take into consideration and cost is important. If I have 2 products that do the same thing and do it well, I choose the less expensive option. If money is not a concern, buy the Solatube.

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