adding a skylight to kitchen, possibly other rooms...horrible idea?

[MNSvenska]

We have a 12 inch solar tube in our windowless bathroom.
I am amazed at the way that it lights up the whole room so evenly.
Best upgrade ever!

[urbex]

Originally Posted by Bummer

and, above all, much less noise[/color].

Noise? How does a skylight make noise? (no matter how I word this in my head...it sounds smart-alecky to me..that's not at all my intention, genuinely curious. Noise level isn't something that ever occurred to me with a skylight)

[DogLovinGal]

Does a solar tube illuminate the room/space more then a skylight?

We have a skylight in our bathroom (about 12" by 12") but it has a square channel running all the way up to the roof. If a solar tube would do a better job of illuminating the room, would this be worth a switch?

[slowesthand]

Originally Posted by Bummer

I agree with Kurt . . .

About six years ago, I replaced my old skylights with Solar Tubes (total of five) in my fairly small (1400 sq ft) home and LOVE 'EM.

More light, less heat in Summer, less cold in Winter and, above all, much less noise.

did you install the solar tubes yourself? If so,what was that like?, and ever had problems with leaks? Thx.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by urbex

Noise? How does a skylight make noise? (no matter how I word this in my head...it sounds smart-alecky to me..that's not at all my intention, genuinely curious. Noise level isn't something that ever occurred to me with a skylight)

I was equally as amazed, Urbex . . .

Although never mentioned / addressed while I was doing my research, after installation I noticed much less day to day noise inside my home.

Just the usual stuff we have become so accustomed to such as Helicopters and Airplanes flying over, Emergency Vehicles with sirens blaring plus the biggee . . . RAIN.

My home originally had a big 4' Skylight in the Kitchen and three 2' Skylights, one in each bathroom and one in the entrance hallway. Although fully insulated, the Skylights must have been acting as "ear drums" and basically amplifying exterior noises. Not huge but definitely an advantage and a point to consider.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by slowesthand

did you install the solar tubes yourself? If so,what was that like?, and ever had problems with leaks? Thx.

Sorry, Slowesthand . . . too much for me to attempt. They were professionally installed but from what I observed, not all that complicated.

So far, NO LEAKS (knock on wood), however, I did have a few leaks from the original Skylights before the switchover.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by Bummer

I agree with Kurt . . .

About six years ago, I replaced my old skylights with Solar Tubes (total of five) in my fairly small (1400 sq ft) home and LOVE 'EM.

More light, less heat in Summer, less cold in Winter and, above all, much less noise.

Yep! Solar Tubes are a great invention, Bummer!

[AZPam]

My husband had two solar tubes put into his garage to create more natural light. He loves it. I get confused and think that somebody left the garage door open, it's so bright in there now.

Once again, the home shows came thru for us. We found 3 different vendors and got quotes from all 3 before deciding which one to go with. One stop shopping!

[urbex]

Originally Posted by Bummer

Just the usual stuff we have become so accustomed to such as Helicopters and Airplanes flying over, Emergency Vehicles with sirens blaring plus the biggee . . . RAIN.

Now that does make sense....after thinking about it that way, I can see where a large chunk of plastic would do that, similar to the effect of sitting in the rain inside an old car with no head liner - sounds like it's raining gravel as it hits the roof of the car, lol.

The upshot for me is that I'm moving out to the country, so the hope is that I'll be hearing far less of traffic, sirens, and the like anyways.