What to Expect During Tubular Skylight Installation in Phoenix

What to Expect During a Tubular Skylight Installation in a Phoenix Home

A tubular skylight can change a dark interior room without the scale of construction associated with adding a new exterior window. The system uses a rooftop dome, reflective tubing and a ceiling diffuser to carry daylight into the room below. Elite Home Daylighting Systems installs tubular skylights throughout the Phoenix Valley on tile, shingle, flat and other roof types.

For homeowners considering the project, one of the biggest questions is simple: what actually happens on installation day?

Start With the Room You Want to Brighten

A good installation begins inside the house. The installer needs to understand where daylight will be most useful and what size system suits the room. Elite lists smaller units for bathrooms, closets, hallways and pantries, with larger options for kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms and great rooms.

The ceiling location is only one part of the decision. Roof framing, ductwork, electrical components and other attic obstacles can affect the route between the ceiling and rooftop collector.

That is one advantage of a tubular system. Reflective tube sections and elbows can provide flexibility when a perfectly straight path is not available. Elite offers reflective tubing and elbows as part of its residential daylighting systems.

The Roof Is Checked Before Any Opening Is Made

Phoenix Valley homes use several roofing systems, including tile and shingle roofs. The flashing needs to match the roof type and be installed correctly because the roof penetration becomes part of the weather barrier.

Elite says its systems use one piece aluminum flashing, with a separate aluminum tile roof skirt and gasket for tile installations. The company also offers curb, tile, shingle and flat roof mounting options.

This is why the best location inside the room still has to work with the roof above it.

The Daylight Tube Connects the Roof to the Ceiling

Once the rooftop assembly is in place, the reflective tube creates the path for sunlight. Elite describes its tubing as rigid mirror finish aluminum with high reflectivity. At the bottom of the system, a ceiling diffuser spreads the incoming light through the room.

The diffuser is the part homeowners see every day, so appearance matters as well as performance. Elite offers several diffuser styles, plus accessories such as electric light kits, solar night lights and daylight dimmers.

Installation Is Usually Less Invasive Than a Traditional Skylight

A tubular skylight requires openings through the roof and ceiling, but it does not normally require the large framed shaft associated with a conventional skylight. Solatube Home, a Phoenix competitor, markets tubular skylight installation as a same day project and says many systems can be installed in about two hours.

The exact time for an Elite installation will depend on the home, roof, attic access, tube route and number of units. Homeowners should therefore treat quick installation claims as a general guide rather than a promise for every property.

Choose Placement for the Way You Use the Room

The brightest possible location is not always the best location. In a kitchen, daylight may be most useful over a preparation area. In a home office, placement should avoid unnecessary glare on a computer screen. In a hallway, the goal may be even illumination along the route. Competitor daylighting guidance similarly recommends matching placement to the way each room is used.

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that daylighting can reduce reliance on electric lighting when windows and skylights are placed strategically. A tubular skylight works best when the installation is planned around the room rather than simply placed wherever the roof makes the job easiest.

Schedule Tubular Skylight Installation in the Phoenix Valley

Elite Home Daylighting Systems has provided tubular skylight and solar powered fan installation services since 2001 and serves Phoenix, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert and communities throughout the Valley. If you have a dark room and want to know whether a tubular skylight can bring natural daylight into the space, call Elite Home Daylighting Systems at 480 708 5583 for a free installation quote. A professional assessment can help determine the right size, ceiling position and roof location before any work begins.