Why Choose Advanced Glass and Sealants
Advanced Glass and Sealants opened its doors in 2019 with a focus on serving the communities in the Greater Anchorage area and offering expert, customer-focused services. Our team of licensed and insured professionals is ready to help out with everything from window and door repairs to expert skylight installations in Anchorage, AK.
Contact us today, and we’ll send someone over to discuss options, placement, and the best course of action for your new skylight!
Is Your Home Skylight Ready?
Signing up for a new skylight installation in Anchorage, AK, takes a bit of planning. Your home needs to be set up and prepared for the new skylight. So, before you jump into shopping, let’s take a look at the factors that go into ensuring your home or business is skylight-ready.
Roof Pitch and Structure
We wish it were as easy as dragging and dropping a skylight in, but sadly, that’s not how things work. The angle of your roof and what it’s made out of directly affect the success of a skylight installation. The pitch of your roof affects how water drains away from your skylight, and extremely shallow angles can make waterproofing a big challenge.
Traditional roofs are great candidates for skylights. The structural setup of individual rafters makes it easy to cut through between them. However, something like a trussed roof can make an installation more complex (but not impossible).
Roof Orientation and Direct Light
The direction your roof faces and the amount of direct sunlight it receives are major factors in skylight placement. A skylight that catches the sun for most of the day will obviously draw in more natural light, but it will also heat up the room significantly during hotter/brighter months. If neighboring buildings are close, or trees and other shading objects are nearby, you’ll obviously want to avoid placing a skylight in their path.
Area Underneath
Your roof isn’t the only concern when adding a new skylight. The room under your new skylight also affects how easy or complex an installation will be. If there isn’t a large ceiling void between the room and the spot in your roof where the skylight will go, things are much simpler. Larger ceiling voids make for more complex installations and can lead to difficulties.
Roof Health
All of the above could be perfect, but if your roof is damaged or in poor condition, you won’t be able to install a skylight. Moisture damage and other structural issues have to be addressed before you even consider a skylight.
Types of Skylights
Skylights come in all sorts of flavors, and if you don’t have some basic knowledge going into looking for a new one, it can feel overwhelming. If you’re considering a skylight installation in Anchorage, AK, we’ve put together a quick list of some common skylight types for you to look over.
- Tubular skylights: AKA sun tunnels, are smaller, cylindrical skylights that are perfect for more compact spaces. A reflective tube helps diffuse light into the space, and they’re great for areas where a traditional skylight just can’t fit.
- Fixed skylights: One of the simplest skylight designs, this low-maintenance option doesn’t open and lacks any moving parts. They’re great for areas without ventilation needs.
- Vented skylights: Vented options can open up to the outside and usually come in electric or manual setups. Perfect for rooms that experience moisture, like bathrooms or kitchens.
- Pyramid skylights: These large, pyramid-shaped skylights are ideal for areas with ample space and roof availability. If you want maximum lighting, this type of skylight is the way to go.
- Dome skylights: As the name implies, these dome-shaped skylights help move water and snow away with their curved design. They also let light in from multiple angles and are extremely durable.
- And more!
If you don’t see a type that’s particularly attractive, reach out to Advanced Glass and Sealants, and we’ll go over other options for your skylight installation in Anchorage, AK.
Skylight Installation FAQs
Can I install a skylight on a flat roof?
Yes! There are specific skylight designs (called flat-roof skylights, believe it or not) that work perfectly with this kind of setup. They require a different approach than traditional skylights, and waterproofing needs to be taken seriously to ensure longevity.
Will a skylight make a room uncomfortable in summer?
Without proper placement and consideration, yes, a skylight can drastically increase the temperature in the room where it’s installed. However, your technician should take the roof slope and direct light into account when placing a skylight to ensure it won’t overheat your space.
Is a fixed or opening skylight better?
What really matters here is whether ventilation is necessary in the room it’s being installed in. If you’re looking to add a skylight to your kitchen or bathroom, then going for a vented skylight that can open is the better choice to deal with the inherent moisture in those rooms. If the room in question already has adequate airflow, a fixed skylight should be just fine.
