Natural lighting for bathrooms can come from two different sources. The first is a window in an exterior wall. The alternative is a skylight. These can look like a window in the ceiling; or they can be a bit more inconspicuous, such as a solar tube.

It’s often simply inconvenient to have a normal window in the bathroom. It takes up too much wall space that can be used for other things such storage, mirrors, etc. For a bathroom that is centrally located, a window isn’t an option at all. In contrast, skylights are out of the way and do not require an exterior wall.

Some people suggest installing skylights with venting units that can be opened to increase airflow and reduce humidity in the bathroom. Often, such systems are inconvenient to operate. They simply don’t get opened nearly as often as they should. A completely sealed, fixed skylight unit is usually a better choice. A separate vent fan unit should be installed to control the ventilation in the bathroom properly.

Additional Considerations in Skylight Selection

If a roof has load bearing trusses in the area over the bathroom, a large skylight can be a significant problem to install. While conventional rafters can be adjusted, trusses should be left alone. An improper redistribution of the loads could cause the roof to eventually warp or even collapse. A possible solution to avoid this is to install several small skylights instead of just a single large one.

Tubular skylights can be more efficient at capturing the sunlight from any angle and diverting it into an interior bathroom. They’re typically easier to install than rectangular types and will fit into most tight spaces.

Don’t buy the cheapest brand. Over several years seals can break. Condensation can build up on the glass. Rain can seep into an already humid environment. It’s best to buy a brand with a lengthy warranty that is durable enough to last for most of the lifetime of the house.

Related posts:

1. Skylight Windows – Treatment Options
2. Skylight Windows
3. Bathroom Heater Options Overview
4. Bathroom Window Privacy Options
5. Bathroom Linen Cabinets: Inside and Out

Tags: Bathrooms

This entry was posted on Friday, December 17th, 2010 at 6:58 am and is filed under Bathrooms, Replacement Windows. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.