VELUX

Saving on AC Costs in the Summer

As our world heats up, cooling costs increase. Installing VELUX® solar venting skylights is a great way to help decrease the costs of cooling your home.

Our innovative VELUX® skylights let in all the sunlight and fresh air you want, without letting in the rain, summer heat and harmful UV rays you don’t.

As heavier, cooler air flows in through the windows, it pushes lighter, warmer air out through the skylights above. When placed all throughout the home, this can significantly cool a house, even during the hot summer months without running so much A/C.

Solar-powered skylights can be programmed to open and close. Helping you control air quality and heat. Opening regular windows and skylights create what’s known as the “chimney effect”, pushing lighter, warmer out through the skylights as cooler air flows through the windows.

Plus, since the skylights are solar-powered there are no energy costs! Our venting skylights qualify the entire purchase–parts and labor—for a 26% tax credit!

5 Tips for Dealing with Storm Damage

Skylights, Sun Tunnels, and Storms

 

As we move into the Summer months, storm damage from hail, wind, and heavy rain can become a major concern. While new VELUX skylights and Sun Tunnels are built to stand up to many types of severe weather, older skylights, from any brand, are not always so resilient. If you experience a break or a leak in your skylight, the project can feel daunting from the beginning. Here are a few tips to make sure you are in good hands while dealing with storm damage.

 

Stay Calm – If you notice a leak in your skylight or Sun Tunnel during a storm, your first instinct may be to rush onto the roof and get it covered. In the middle of a storm, this can be dangerous and could even provoke further leak issues. Instead, take a deep breath, place a bucket under the area where the leak is most prominent, and check on it periodically to see if it needs to be emptied. It may be helpful to research a few local contractors while you wait out the storm, so you know who to call when you are ready to have someone assess the damage.

 

 

Shop local – When a big storm moves in, often storm chasers come with it. While working with a nomadic business does not necessarily mean the work will be low quality, it does mean that the contractor will be more difficult to get ahold of if future issues occur. Working with a local business ensures that warranties will be honored, and you will have access to the business for follow ups, service calls, and future work. VELUX offers an installer locator, which can help you find a local contractor that is backed by the VELUX guarantee. Remember to always check reviews, and ask around for recommendations!

 

 

Get multiple estimates –  While a sense of urgency is to be expected, going with the first estimate you get may mean you do not have all of the information to move forward. This is especially true if your estimate does not come from a skylight specialist. Even though finding a reputable contractor can take some time, it is well worth the wait, to ensure that your skylights are replaced by someone who knows what they are doing, and will keep you in the loop on the project. One person you shouldn’t forget to call is your insurance agent. Often, storm damage is covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. This could mean the difference between paying out of pocket, and having all of the repairs covered!

Coordinate roof damage – Generally, a storm that breaks through your skylight will also cause significant damage to your roof. Since the most cost-efficient time to replace your skylights is during re-roof, coordinating these two projects can save you money and offer coinciding warranties. Often, a roofing contractor will contact a local skylight company, and set up the installation themselves, which can save you the trouble of coordinating both jobs. Informing your roofer that you would like both projects completed at the same time will ensure that the skylights are not skipped over.

 

 

Be proactive – When you choose a contractor to work with, they can help you put a plan in place to make sure that you are prepared to deal with the next storm that moves in. If you are in an area that is prone to golf-ball sized hail, consider adding impact glass to your skylights or Sun Tunnels. If you are concerned about future leaks, ask about the VELUX no-leak guarantee. Equipping your skylights for the next storm will leave you feel peaceful and prepared.

 

 

5 Ways to Customize Your Sun Tunnels

Upgrade to a custom diffuser –  The diffuser and trim ring are all you see on the interior of the home, so if you do not like the standard frosted option, consider this: VELUX offers 5 different diffuser upgrades, including wavy lines, bubbles, and prisms, to help satisfy the style in every home! The best part is, you can swap these diffusers out at any time to change up the room a bit!

Warm up the light – While natural daylight offers many health benefits, the cool white light may change the atmosphere in your home, or bother your eyes. It may help to have an amber photo-gel laid over the diffuser, which can turn the cool white light into something closer to the light you see during the sunset. Because the gel is not glued down, it can be removed at any time, or switched to a different color at different times of the year!

Install a solar night light – Think of the rooms in your home that have a night light plugged in; The kitchen, bathrooms, hallways and stairwells. Whatever the reasons, there are many rooms in the home that you’d like to navigate without waking up the whole house. The solar night light sits in the tubing, collects solar energy during the day, and turns on once it is dark out to help light the way without using electricity. The best part? When the solar night light is installed in the Sun Tunnel, the whole project qualifies for a 30% federal tax credit!

Use the Sun Tunnel at night – While Sun Tunnels completely transform the room during the day, they can only bring in so much light from the moon. Adding a light kit to your Sun Tunnel means you can keep the light output going during evening hours. Once the light kit is hooked up to power, the light bulb turns on with the flick of a switch, just like a regular overhead light fixture! The super reflective tubing will even amplify the light coming out of the bulb, so one light will generally do the trick for the whole room.

Go with the flat glass – Whether you are going for a sleek look, or trying to stay inside HOA restrictions, the flat glass may be a great fit for you. Especially in a Southern exposure, the flat glass Sun Tunnel brings in the same amount of light, without the appearance of bubbles on your roof.

April 2018 Featured Project – Skylights

With hail season right around the corner, we wanted to share one of our money-saving tips for skylight replacement. A full inspection from a trained skylight specialist will reveal the scope of the work necessary to bring the skylight up to warranty standards.  Often times, a skylight can become damaged in a hail storm, even though the flashing, curb, and surrounding area are still in good condition. In these cases, we recommend a Pop-on replacement of the skylight only.

This homeowner experienced a hail storm which cracked the out layer of their bubble skylights. opted for the sleeker look of the VELUX flat laminated glass skylights, and added solar powered blackout blinds.

Prior to replacement, the older bubbles cast a more yellowish light, due to the glazing on the double dome. The outer layer of the dome became cracked during a hail storm. Though the crack did not cause a leak, the integrity of the skylight was compromised, and the pattern of light became distorted in the area where the skylight was cracked.

The new skylights are far more durable against hail, offering a 10 year hail warranty for the glass. The LoE 3 glass has a 98% UV block, which helps reduce the need to squint when looking up at them. This means that light shining through can be clear as day! The blinds help with daylight control and insulation, and when they come factory installed in the skylights, they qualify the whole project for a 30% federal tax credit!