A guide to adding skylights to the attic
Converting attic space into living space can be a great way to create more room in your property without the expense and construction work involved in building an extension. It could be a solution to avoid the overhaul of selling your property and moving house.
Whether you want to add an extra bedroom, home office or simply use your attic space for better storage, adding a skylight or several skylights can be an integral part of this. With skylight installations, you can transform a dark attic into a bright, welcoming space. The natural light can make the room feel bigger and the sky views can boost wellbeing and productivity.
If you are wondering - can you have a skylight with an attic?; then this guide should answer any questions you have and highlight all the benefits of adding a rooflight into your attic roof, as well as provide some attic skylight ideas to inspire you.
Why add skylights to the attic?
The most common reason to add a skylight to the attic is to provide much-needed natural light into the area. If you are converting an attic into a bedroom, natural light will reduce the requirement for artificial lighting and create a more inviting living space. Dark bedrooms can impact your mood, so installing a skylight and benefitting from the sunlight flowing into the room will ensure it feels a more comfortable and mood-lifting space.
If you want to turn your attic into office space, natural light is essential for creating a productive and healthy workspace. It can help to reduce eye strain and ensures that your office is a comfortable place to spend long hours.
Another benefit of installing skylights in attic bedrooms or offices is that you can minimise energy consumption, as there will be less reliance on artificial lighting and heating. Installing a window in the roof, rather than the wall, is the best way to direct natural light into a room, as it will be facing the sun and will benefit from longer periods of sunlight.
Maximising light with an attic rooflight
As we’ve mentioned, the major benefit of installing an attic bedroom rooflight or any other type of skylight is the increased amount of natural light you will gain. Before you get started, it is a good idea to carefully consider how to maximise the amount of light by choosing the best design and positioning.
South-facing skylights will be exposed to sunlight for the longest time throughout the day. Choosing a low-E (low emissivity) coating for your window will also help to optimise the amount of light that pours into the room.
Another factor to consider is the size of your skylight, as larger roof windows will capture more light. Or you might want to install multiple skylights to increase the volume of natural light. Some homeowners choose to add a skylight into each corner of a room to provide balanced lighting throughout.
The positioning within the room of the skylight will also be important, you might have darker areas that you want to brighten up or if you are setting up a work desk, positioning the skylight above it will ensure that area receives the most light.
Planning an attic skylight
In addition to the positioning, there are several other factors to consider, such as:
Fixed vs Opening
There are pros and cons to both but fixed skylights tend to be more affordable and provide a higher level of security and insulation.
Privacy glass vs Clear
Will your skylight be overlooked by other buildings? If so, you might prefer a skylight with privacy glass, especially if it is going to be in an attic bedroom.
Energy efficiency
As a roof is one of the areas of the home where the most heat is lost, skylights with a low U-Value will provide better thermal and insulation performance. You might also prefer triple glazed for the additional energy efficiency it provides.
Roof pitch
The angle of the roof will determine the type of rooflight you require and also has a big impact on the amount of light the roof window will capture. So, if you have the choice of installing into a pitched or flat roof, the flat roof will provide optimal light compared to an angled roof. The steeper the angle, the less light you’ll benefit from. Flat roofs are also easier in terms of the installation process, which we cover in the sections below.
Attic skylight cost
Another consideration when you are choosing your skylight will be the cost. Installing multiple smaller skylights will usually cost more than installing one large one. The cost for a 1000x1000mm frameless fixed flat rooflight will cost from around £420 plus VAT. Meanwhile, installing 2 x 500x500mm costs around £165 plus VAT each (£330 plus VAT for both).
However, the labour costs for installation will be higher for two skylights, as there is double the work involved when fitting two skylights. The labour rate for skylight installation will typically be between £150 and £300 per day.
DIY installation vs professional
If you have a decent level of DIY skills, you might think about doing the installation work yourself. Choosing a more simplistic design will make this easier. If you’re not 100% confident of your DIY skills, it is a fairly straightforward job for an experienced tradesperson and one skylight can usually be installed in half a day, so you shouldn’t be looking at massive labour costs.
Read our How to Install a Skylight guide to see whether you think DIY installation will be the right option for you.
Hopefully this blog will have covered all the questions you might have about adding an attic bedroom skylight but if not, our team at Rooflights and Skylights UK will be happy to help.
Please contact us if you have any queries about attic skylight options or installation.