Homeowners can increase the natural light in their homes with a solar tube system. Quick and easy to install; they especially work well in dark rooms and areas of the home. They are best known to brighten a darker room such as a closet or hallway. A large space can also benefit from solar tubes. A solar tube also costs less than a skylight. Some call them sun tunnels, light tubes or tubular skylights. Their low-profile design creates a sleek appearance on any roofline. Their pre-fabricated light tunnel kit makes them quick and easy to install. In this article, you will learn all about solar tubes.
What are Solar Tubes?
Inside your home, a solar tube looks similar to canister daylighting. They lay flat against your ceiling. From the outside, they look like a vent. They channel sunlight through a weatherproof polycarbonate globe dome. Light shines through, even on cloudy days or when covered in snow. On moonlight nights they provide a nice quite light in dark areas. A solar tube generally measures 10 to 14 inches in diameter. They reflect captured light with their polished metal interior which acts like mirrors. This channels the daylight all along the tube and into your home.
Solar tubes come are generally made in two designs: flexible and rigid. The flexible design allows the installer to install the tunnel around objects, such as pipes, that might get in the way. If you have a clean run between the entrance and exit, you will not need a flexible pipe. A rigid tube goes straight from roof to ceiling. The rigid tube generally allows full light to enter the home. The reflective walls of flexible tubes still bring great amounts of light.
Benefits
People use solar tubes in dark hallways, closets, stairways, bathrooms and kitchens. The only place they aren’t recommended in above a TV or computer. They offer much more light than a regular light. For example, the smallest option (10-inch) equals the same lumens of output as three 100-watt bulbs. The smallest solar tube brightens 200 square feet. A 14-inch tube brightens 300 square feet.
A solar tube captures light creating pure light with no color shift. And unlike a skylight, it does not transmit UV rays. This protects your furniture from discoloration while providing natural light. It also provides energy-free lighting without the added heat from the sun. This makes solar tubes an energy-efficient lighting option for the home.
Cost and Installation
Because installation is so simple, sun tunnels cost less than half-the-price of a skylight. A new solar tube can be installed, on average, in two hours. The installer begins in the attic. They take measurements, identify rafter locations and mark where the holes go. Next, they cut a hole in the roof. They install the upper portion of the tunnel, the top collar, lens and flashing. Inside, they cut a hole where the light will go. Then they add the lower portion and connect the two holes with the tunnel. They finish by sealing seams and installing the diffuser and trim ring.
Many people have become fans of solar tube systems. They are a cheap alternative to glass windows, skylights and electric lights. They are perfect for residential as well as business offices. The Specialty Home Products company has extensive training becoming VELUX certified 5-star skylight specialist. Their solar tube option is called a Sun Tunnel. We install the VELUX Sun Tunnel© Skylight in an afternoon, making it one of the fastest and most inexpensive ways to transform your home with natural light. Contact us to schedule a consultation.