Hello dear community,
I would like to ask for your advice and opinions again regarding our new build project:
Our general contractor (GC) included a skylight in the base package during planning. The skylight provides natural light to the hallway on the ground floor, the stairwell, and the hallway on the upper floor.
Now we are considering whether we really want to keep the skylight or if we should rather remove it from the plan. I have attached pictures of the floor plan/exterior view as well as a photo from the show home.
Advantages of the skylight:
- More natural light—or natural light at all—in the hallway/stairwell
Disadvantages of the skylight:
- Expensive: GC credit unknown, plus an additional €1000 (about $1,100) for an electric shutter (which would be a must for us)
- Difficult to clean
- Disturbs the roof surface, preventing full, uninterrupted installation of photovoltaic panels
- Possible weak spot in the roof for moisture penetration over the years
- Potential issues with overheating in summer (which means shutters would likely often be closed anyway)
- Possibly noisy during rain/hail
- Possible weak point for burglary
Questions:
(1) How would you decide? Keep the skylight or remove it?
(2) What would you most likely use to replace such a skylight? (Smart home is planned, so lighting with motion sensors is no problem)
I would like to ask for your advice and opinions again regarding our new build project:
Our general contractor (GC) included a skylight in the base package during planning. The skylight provides natural light to the hallway on the ground floor, the stairwell, and the hallway on the upper floor.
Now we are considering whether we really want to keep the skylight or if we should rather remove it from the plan. I have attached pictures of the floor plan/exterior view as well as a photo from the show home.
Advantages of the skylight:
- More natural light—or natural light at all—in the hallway/stairwell
Disadvantages of the skylight:
- Expensive: GC credit unknown, plus an additional €1000 (about $1,100) for an electric shutter (which would be a must for us)
- Difficult to clean
- Disturbs the roof surface, preventing full, uninterrupted installation of photovoltaic panels
- Possible weak spot in the roof for moisture penetration over the years
- Potential issues with overheating in summer (which means shutters would likely often be closed anyway)
- Possibly noisy during rain/hail
- Possible weak point for burglary
Questions:
(1) How would you decide? Keep the skylight or remove it?
(2) What would you most likely use to replace such a skylight? (Smart home is planned, so lighting with motion sensors is no problem)
M
motorradsilke12 Feb 2024 12:42We have a glass door in the bathroom (with a pattern, so it’s not transparent) that also lets light into the hallway. If you like something like this, it’s a more affordable option.
NickCH83 schrieb:
The lighting in the rooms where people spend time is much more important to me. There is no need to decide to forgo windows in living areas.
NickCH83 schrieb:
During the day, especially in summer, you will often keep them closed, With a small roof hatch and insulation placed between rafters acting like a funnel, this is less of an issue.
NickCH83 schrieb:
than having to build around a perfect surface for a roof window Well, to achieve a perfect roof surface, the house could have been positioned better in the first place.