Tubular Bathroom Skylight
A tubular bathroom skylight brings the warmth and beauty of natural sunlight into dark bathrooms. Many bathrooms have no windows, or the only window is separated by a wall or door. Tubular skylights, also called solar tubes and sun tunnels, are the best and least expensive method to bring daylight into your bathroom.
How do they work? Sunlight shines on a clear acrylic dome on your roof. This dome is attached to a reflective metal tube that runs to the interior bathroom ceiling and shines through a reflective lens cover. Solar tubes can be anywhere from 10 to 22 inches wide and provide lots of natural sunlight even on cloudy days.
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When is the Best Reason for a Tubular Bathroom Skylight?
Bathing the bathroom in natural light is the top reason for a tubular skylight in the bathroom! Many smaller bathrooms do not have windows, or the window is in a separate water closet. In many cases, to protect privacy, the window has a shade. The need for natural light and private space makes bathrooms a good choice for skylights.
There is nothing better than natural light when applying cosmetics. Natural overhead daylight offers the best opportunity to utilize natural light without glare, direct sunlight, and excessive shadowing. Installing the correct size in the best location, a tubular skylight in the bathroom will fill and surround the bathroom with natural sunlight.
It feels good to enter a bathroom that feels airy and roomy. The natural light provided by a tubular skylight eliminates that dark, cramped, and stuffy feeling. Your bathroom will feel and look spacious, open, and fresh.
Can a Skylight be Installed in Any Bathroom?
There are only a few situations where a skylight won’t work. There must be a roof directly above the bathroom. First floor bathrooms generally can’t install a skylight because there is a floor above it. There are also instances where the design of the roof makes installation of a skylight impractical.
Single story homes and bathrooms on the second floor are always excellent candidates for a tubular bathroom skylight.
Are They Expensive to Install?
Tubular skylights generally come in four sizes. These are 8, 10, 12 and 14-inch. The 8-inch skylight is the most common size in a typical 5 x 8 to 5 x 12 guest bathroom. Larger bathrooms typically use a 12-inch skylight. An 8″ diameter tubular skylight will illuminate up to 150 square feet. The 12″ diameter will light up to 300 square feet.
Price is largely determined by manufacturer and the quality of the skylight. Solar Industries offers an 8-inch and Velux a 10-inch tubular skylight. These are two of the best brands. Both tubular bathroom skylights retail for around $300.00. If you need extensions and roof flashing kits, this figure adds around $800 – $1,000.
Installation labor and miscellaneous materials adds another $500 – $1,000 depending on the complexity of your installation. This makes the overall approximate cost between $1,600 – $2,300. From my experience, Solar Industries makes the best tubular skylight.
What Should I Look for When Considering a Bathroom Skylight?
The installation of a tubular bathroom skylight requires cutting a hole into your roof. Make sure you only hire a licensed and insured bathroom general contractor with experience – someone like DAD’s Construction.
Warranty is the first thing to consider. Solar Industries offers a lifetime warranty. Velux has a 20-year warranty.
Maximum light collection and transmission using a high-quality true cast acrylic double dome design that preserves the UV properties of the acrylic. This ensures the domes experience minimum yellowing. According to Solar Industries, their tubular skylight will only yellow about 3% after about 20 years. This contrasts with some other brands that use an injection molded plastic dome which can yellow as much as 15% after only 5 years. The inner dome should distribute the light evenly down the tube.
The heart of the design is the pipe itself.
Solar Industries uses a finish on their aluminum that fuses a silver plasma etching versus a film finish. Finishing with a film, although cheaper, causes distortion of light. Moreover, the silver plasma finish will never peel or delaminate, unlike most films will after time.
Lastly, when properly installed, a tubular skylight requires no maintenance. This means no dust, cobwebs, or bugs in your skylight. High quality seals at all points of entry will provide this level of worry-free care.
Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Bathroom
Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction. We are experts in bathroom remodeling who can manage projects in an efficient manner. DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders. Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements. Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract. We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you. If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.
How Can I Receive More Information on Remodeling my Bathroom?
If you would like more information on enjoying the best bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free in home consultation. DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California. This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Aliso Viejo.
