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Well, I've only had Solatubes a year, so can't speak to long term. I can say that although I like the lower profile on the interior, I do feel I had more light in my last house with traditional skylights.
I've had traditional skylights in numerous houses & only had a problem once. Huge hail that broke them & the hail came into the house. I live in a high hail area though & it's luck of the draw. We had lived there 12 yrs before that happened. When they were replaced, they used a better quality 'glass' that is s'posed to stand up better to severe hail.
I've never had leakage in any of them & really like having them. I've had them for the past 20+ years in 4 different houses, but this is the first time with the Solatubes.
I had one in our master bath many years ago. I hated it. At certain times of the day, the sun would beat in through the skylight directly onto the bathroom mirror, making it impossible for me to do my hair and makeup in front of that mirror. I'd have to pack up my stuff and get ready in my kids' bathroom.
We have 8 in our house- all ventilating (opening). It's been about 20 years and we have only had trouble with one leaker- and we can't find where it is leaking from! We could be having a monsoon nor'easter and it will be dry as a bone- and then a few days later a spring shower and find a puddle- go figure.
In one room there is one above a fireplace and it will drip from condensation when the fireplace is first turned on, and the ones in the back side of the house (southside) need to be covered in the summer to keep the heat out.
I don't have (and probably wouldn't want) skylights ... but some of you have mentioned that they are LOUD when it is raining. Honestly, I read that and thought, "That's a BAD thing???" I would LOVE that! But then, I love "white noise" when I am sleeping or trying to sleep -- and the sound of rain, especially really heavy rain, is totally white noise to me.
I had one in my Master bath in my old house and also hated it. The room was freezing in the Winter and boiling hot in the Summer. I would hate to have one in a bedroom. Maybe in a living room or great room it would be okay.
I don't have (and probably wouldn't want) skylights ... but some of you have mentioned that they are LOUD when it is raining. Honestly, I read that and thought, "That's a BAD thing???" I would LOVE that! But then, I love "white noise" when I am sleeping or trying to sleep -- and the sound of rain, especially really heavy rain, is totally white noise to me.
We live in Western Washington. It rains a lot from Oct through April. That gets oppressive enough. I don't need to hear it.
From a construction viewpoint, what are some of the pros and cons of having skylights or solar tubes? In particular, are there any problems that may develop in skylights installed 20 or more years ago?
ps. If this topic belongs in a different forum, let me know. I'm still trying to figure out what goes where.
My parents have two in their family room - installed about 10 years post construction. No problems for a few years & then one started to leak. Had it fixed and no more leaks. A seal had gone bad, or something close to.
I couldn't stand them. Way too bright & made the family room hot. The noise when it would rain was so loud you could barely hear they tv or what someone was saying to you. Loved it when it snowed and the snow would stick around and keep those things covered.
My parents eventually had blinds sized to fit the skylights - after my father tried that "cut to size" self-stick tint plastic stuff. We rolled our eyes at him for that one. But he & my mother made sure those blinds were closed/shut when installed & haven't opened them to do anything other than clean them since.
I'm sure that skylights, as windows, have come a long way since the mid '80s. More efficient and sound proof?
Properly installed skylights shouldn't leak. They are also double pane glass and shouldn't get condensation in a properly insulated house. The condensation between panes is caused by a broken seal indication you need to get it fixed/replaced.
They make ones that have remote shadesktop that you can close in bdms.
I've had both skylights and solar tunes in homes, and really like them. If you live in an area that is prone to hail, you need to get ones that are shatterproof/more resistant.
Skylights come with plenty of installation options to offset issues people are blaming on them.
Unfortunately, too often they are improperly specified in application, cheaply spec'd, etc.
Of course, a skylight on an unshaded south or west facing slope may overheat a house, unless equipped with shutters or blinds. Just like any window will.
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