Much like skylights, sun tunnels (or solar tubes) bring the beauty of natural light into your home and can light up otherwise dark, windowless spaces. Unlike skylights, sun tunnels are quite simple to install and can also be more cost effective. In this guide, we will give you the “what’s what” on sun tunnels so you are in a better position to make an informed decision about what sun tunnel is best for you.
What is a Sun Tunnel?
We often hear skylights and sun tunnels lumped together in the same breath, but how are these two forms of natural lighting different? The key distinction between them is that, while skylights are basically ceiling windows, sun tunnels are systems that capture and magnify natural light from the sun. They channel sunlight down a reflective tube and diffuse it into an interior space through a circular medium that looks much like a recessed or pot light.
Advantages of Sun Tunnels
As compared to skylights, an obvious advantage of sun tunnels is that they can bring light into areas of your home or business that may not be possible to reach with skylights, such as closets, hallways and small bathrooms not attached to outside walls of the building. Sun tunnels are also more cost effective and less time consuming to install than skylights. Though sun tunnels do not bring in as much light as skylights, they do bring in the same gorgeous and warm natural illumination from the sun.
How to Choose the Right Sun Tunnel for Your Space
You’ve considered the space that needs illuminating, be it a laundry room, kitchen or closet, and have decided that a sun tunnel is the best option. But what kind of sun tunnel is the most right one? There are two main sun tunnel options to choose from.
Rigid Sun Tunnels
A rigid sun tunnel cannot bend and is best for areas where there is a straight and direct path for the tube to follow from the roof to ceiling.
Flexible Sun Tunnels
A flexible sun tunnel is useful for those areas where such a path is not available, as the tunnel can be bent around obstructions. The professionals at Davidoff Roofing can help you determine which sort of sun tunnel you will need for each space of your home or business.
Do Sun Tunnels Let Heat In?
Sun tunnels are not heating devices as they do not function like skylights. Current sun tunnel technology is quite advanced, in that you do not need to worry about cool air leakage in the summer or heat escape in the winter. A key benefit is that these units are air-tight and efficient.
Do Sun Tunnels Add Value?
Much like skylights, sun tunnels will not necessarily add value to your home in an automatic way, but they will contribute to the aesthetic appeal of your home’s interior and provide all the healthful benefits of natural light. That said, these positive qualities can certainly make your home more attractive to potential buyers, much in the same way as a new roof or updated siding will.
How is a Sun Tunnel Installed?
To install a sun tunnel, your contractor needs only to cut a hole for the tunnel tube from roof to ceiling. Then the tube, dome and interior light can be put in place. The entire process takes only a few hours, which means that you can save on the cost of labour in comparison to the more complicated process of installing a skylight.
Sun Tunnels in London, Ontario
For more information on sun tunnels, sun tunnel installation and to learn more about the benefits of roof lights, contact Davidoff Roofing today.