Around the time VELUX Skylights was established in 1941, skylights became popular as a hot new design concept that also provided natural light. The idea of looking at the clouds in your own home was an architectural marvel that caused homeowners around the world to buy skylights. Over time, as lower-quality products attempted to meet demand, skylights themselves, unfortunately, developed a reputation of either leaking or requiring costly maintenance in prevention measures.

But at VELUX, we never stopped providing weatherproof skylights made of the highest-quality materials. And over the years, we have improved upon our designs to create modern-day skylights for modern-day homeowners: Skylights that are smart, energy efficient, versatile, and yes, able to stand tough in strong weather (even hurricanes!).

Reasons to Install Skylights Today

Architectural Upgrade

In the early days of skylights, your options for installing a skylight in your home were often limited to places with high ceilings and large rooms. Today, skylights are available in many sizes and design options making it possible to upgrade just about any area of your home. The inclusion of natural light and fresh air from the ceiling adds depth and space without having to do a major structural renovation. They can turn a dark, stale room into a bright and spacious oasis at a fraction of the cost you would normally spend to expand the room.

Save Money on Your Energy Bill

Modern skylights benefit from better installation methods and new technology, in a way that they can actually help you save money on heating and cooling costs.

• Preinstalled, solar-powered shades can help prevent too much heat in warmer weather by automatically opening and closing during the hottest parts of the day.
• Venting skylights, like VELUX Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights, can help save money by automatically opening on summer nights to vent the heat of the day out of your home. In fact, venting skylights can help with whole-home airing when opened at the same time as vertical windows. This helps cool air refresh your home without fans or air conditioning in a phenomenon we call the Stack Effect.
• South-facing skylights, for example, increase the temperature of a space because they pick up more of the sun’s rays than skylights facing other directions. This can be used to your advantage in the winter by letting the sunshine heat your home, saving you money on your heating costs.
• Utilizing smart skylight technology can also help your home’s energy efficiency. Products like VELUX ACTIVE connect your skylights with your smartphone to automatically monitor indoor air quality – temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels – and adjust your skylight and shades according to your personal preferences.

Adds Value to Your Home

Like swimming pools, skylights are seen by some homebuyers as an asset and valuable addition because of the way they brighten your home and save you money. Between varying installation costs – usually based on type, the number of skylights, and location – different housing markets, and homebuyers having differing priorities, it can be hard to put an exact number on a skylight’s ROI.

When installed correctly (within warranty, insurance, and HOA guidelines), skylights won’t depreciate your home. Often, they add value in the eyes of certain homebuyers.

Debunking Myths About Skylights

Skylights Are Bound to Leak

Leaks plagued skylights in the early years. However, VELUX has developed three patented layers of flashing and underlayment to pair with our skylights, so they are completely weathertight and won’t allow water through.

VELUX also offers a 10-year warranty on skylights installed with our flashing, ensuring a worry-free installation.

Too Much Light Can Cause Sun Damage

While it is true that too much sun pouring into your home can cause it to heat up and rugs, carpets, furniture, and other random household items to fade, skylight shades can help combat the harsh sun from above in the summer months. And if you’d rather not have to open or close your shades yourself, you can always use VELUX ACTIVE to program them to automatically close during the hottest part of the day.

Skylights Are Too Expensive

Skylights are a great option if you are looking to improve the way a room looks without having to spend thousands on structural renovations. With natural light and fresh air, skylights have the power to transform a room – even if you don’t change anything else. Compared to other remodeling projects that would have the same transformative effect, like completely remodeling your bathroom or kitchen, skylights are relatively inexpensive and much less time consuming.

• Average cost to install a skylight: $900 – $2,300
• Average kitchen renovation: $21,000 – $80,000
• Average bathroom renovation: $10,000 – $30,000