Carrying Out Building Work Around Your Home

You should already know what a skylight is — a window set in part of your roof to provide natural light and unobstructed views. However, you might not know about sun tubes. These use a small dome set above the roofline to capture sunlight and send it down a reflective tube. Where the tubing comes out, natural light is provided.

There are several benefits that come with fitting a tubular skylight over a standard skylight, but there are also several reasons why skylight windows continue to be the preferred option among homeowners. Here are just four.

1. Ventilation Options

One of the major drawbacks of a sun tube is that you can't open it. If the room feels a little stuffy, you'll simply have to put up with it. Most skylights can be fully opened to bring plenty of fresh air into your property.

2. Provides a View

Added light is only half the appeal of a skylight —homeowners also love the wide open views they provide of the sky above. Beyond bringing in light, skylights make a room feel larger and more inviting, and they add to its style by opening up those views of the great outdoors. This is just one reason why they tend to increase resale values. Unfortunately, sun tubes don't bring the same benefits.

3. Less Fussy to Fit

Tube lights can be a convenient way to bring natural sunlight into a room. Unfortunately, they don't work well with every home. For example, you'll need to ensure your roof has the right slope, and you'll only get the best results if you orient the tube so it gets the most sunlight. If there's a lot of tubing between the dome and the room you're lighting, costs are going to rise dramatically, and any twists or turns will reduce the amount of light that gets through. Skylights are much easier since they can work with practically any type of roof and get light from any direction.

4. Works in All Parts of the Country

As if the logistical problems associated with sun tubes weren't enough, you should also consider the climate in your part of the country. If you frequently experience periods of high humidity, a sun tube might not be for you since condensation can build up along the interior. This can be hard to get rid of, and it can result in leaks dripping down into the room your sun tube connects to.