Category Archives: Skylight contractor

Did You Know You Can Increase Natural Light Without Windows?

Did You Know You Can Increase Natural Light Without Windows? - skylight contractors - Mares Dow

When the sun is at its highest point, how much natural light fills your home? Does light seem to pour in from every window and flood your home with the warm, comforting touch of yellow-orange light—or do you find your home needing a boost from lamps and ceiling lights? 

Electric lights are fine supplementary sources of light, but natural light is great for your health, mood, and electricity bills. A quick fix would be to open all your blinds, curtains, and uncover all your windows and doors, but that’s only temporary and reduces your privacy. A long-term fix that can maintain or even increase your privacy are solar tubes installed by skylight contractors.

Solar tubes funnel sunlight down from your roof to your ceiling

Like an extended window, a solar tube or sun tunnel is a tube of reflective sheet metal that reflects sunlight gathered from your roof to your home. From the outside, the exterior of the solar tube is a dome or a sleek low-profile lens. Inside, the other end of the solar tube appears to be an inset light fixture. Much like an electric light, you can’t look through it to see the opposite end of the solar tube, and people from the outside can’t look in.

The diameter range of solar tubes is 10 inches to 21 inches, with the smallest diameter providing the illumination of three 100-watt light bulbs. That’s enough to cover 200 square feet, making it the perfect choice for walk-in closets, bathrooms, and hallways. The largest solar tubes can illuminate large rooms and provide more light than your electric sources.

Solar tubes are perfect for dim rooms that need privacy

Two areas of your home that need the most privacy are your bathrooms and bedrooms, which means they often lack windows or sunlight. If these rooms are the dimmest in your home, they’re the best place to install solar tubes. You can significantly increase their allowance of sunlight by installing a single solar tube in each one. 

For most bathrooms, a small diameter solar tube will provide all the light you need from morning to the early evening. Master bedrooms could use larger solar tubes, if you don’t mind being woken in the morning with the warm touch of sunlight. Ask any homeowner with solar tubes about the benefits, and they’ll likely mention the increased sunlight without sacrificing their privacy. Those who also have skylights might mention the sheer brilliance of the solar tubes, which captures more sunlight than any skylight or regular window.

Mares & Dow — Solar Tube and Skylight Contractors

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home with new solar tubes or, if you’d rather have a view of the sky with your increased natural light, traditional skylights. We have over 40 years of installation and consulting experience.

The Best Places to Install Solar Tubes in Your Home

The Best Places to Install Solar Tubes in Your Home - skylight contractor - Mares Dow

When your family puts together a plan for a home remodeling project, it might cross your minds to contact skylight contractors for quotes on brightening up your living spaces. However, did you know that another option are solar tubes, which cost less than skylights to install and require less carpentry?

Home remodeling contractors often install one of two natural light fixtures: traditional skylights and solar tubes. There are benefits to both fixtures, and when choosing solar tubes, there are several key areas they work best in.

Where traditional skylights can’t be installed

Of all natural light fixtures, none are more complex to install than traditional skylights. Solar tubes can be installed on a wide range of roofs. Standard roofs have a slope between 15-60 degrees and rafters that are sparse 16 in on-center with gaps of 10-14 in, which are perfect for installing solar tubes. They can also be installed straight down from the roof into a room with a rigid tunnel, or at an angle with a flexible tunnel that curves around obstacles.

Conversely, skylights need to work much closer with your roof’s structure to maintain its structural integrity and will require more carpentry and interior finishing. Homeowners with incompatible roofs for skylights or lower budgets typically go for solar tubes, which can range in diameter from 10-21 in, and appear to be in-set light fixtures to the untrained eye. 

Areas that might be difficult to install skylights but easy for solar tubes include bathrooms, closets, staircases, and hallways. Solar tubes can come in diameters as small as 10 in, which provides plenty of light for small areas.

Where light is more important than views

The primary reason homeowners install skylights is to either increase their natural lighting or add views of the skies or outdoors. However, the lighting offered by skylights pales in comparison to the brightness of solar tubes. Solar tubes have two key points: a sheet metal tube and a light diffuser. The metal tube bounces light down the loft to the diffuser, which spreads the light throughout the room in a more efficient manner than skylights.

Skylights don’t filter natural light, or UV rays, so what you see outside is what you’ll get indoors. In other words, skylights are windows for your roof. Solar tubes, also called sun tunnels, are electricity-free light fixtures that turn “on” with the sun.

Areas where light is more important than views are bathrooms and closets. Other areas might be bedrooms and kitchens, but guests can be entertained by seeing the sky when they wake or grab a bite.

Mares & Dow — Solar Tube and Skylight Contractors

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home with new solar tubes or traditional skylights. We have over 40 years of installation and consulting experience.

Solar Tubes vs. Skylights: The Key Differences and Similarities to Consider Before Your Renovation

Solar Tubes vs. Skylights- The Key Differences and Similarities to Consider Before Your Renovation - skylight contractors - Mares Dow

Have you been thinking of opening up your roof to let in more light and cut down on your daytime electricity usage? Your local skylight contractors have two key options for you: skylights and solar tubes. If you haven’t thought about either of these options before, your contractor can walk you through both and their respective models.

Both choices are great for increasing your home’s access to natural light, but one might be a better fit for your needs. First, it’s good to get an overview of each option and what they can offer.

What are skylights?

Skylights are sometimes called roof windows because they seem to be glass openings in the roof. But instead of opening your home to a view of the outdoors, it allows the sky to fill your home with sunlight and moonlight. Skylights come in different sizes and shapes, from squares to rectangles to single panels to rows. Contractors can install them with tinted glass, retractable shades, remote-controlled venting, and frame them with wood, metal, or vinyl depending on the roof structure and rafter allowance.

Skylights can cost around $2,000 for installation, and are more costly than solar tubes because they require more installation. They also need wiring installed for remote-controlled venting and retractable shades, and usually need a lot more interior finishing to blend it in with the home interior. Contractors will have to work within your roof to make sure the structural integrity won’t be compromised. In trickier cases, contractors will work around the beams and use specific frames to accommodate the roof slope.

The best places to install skylights in your home include living rooms, dining rooms, master bedrooms, kitchens, and other large spaces where people can enjoy the view of the sky above their heads.

What are solar tubes?

Solar tubes have flexible/rigid sheet tunnels attached to domes that carry sunlight into the home. At the bottom of the tunnel is a porthole that diffuses light through the room. Their diameters begin at 10 inches and can fit into small closets and bathrooms. 

Generally, solar tubes are easier to install than skylights and cost less, at an average of $700. They’re more energy efficient because they diffuse light while blocking UV rays at the exterior dome. Solar tubes are ideal for homes in hot areas, as they provide more natural light than skylights but without substantial heat gain. Conversely, skylights can warm homes up in cooler environments.

Solar tubes are commonly installed in areas with little access to sunlight, such as enclosed stairwells, hallways on the bottom floor of a multi-story residence, bathrooms, and walk-in closets.

Should you install a skylight or solar tube?

It’s good to get a professional opinion before you decide on one or the other—or both. Generally, if you prioritize light over views, you’ll probably be most interested in a solar tube. If you want a view of the sky as it shifts throughout the day, go with a skylight. Skylights are also better if they’re on a roof that sees a lot of direct sunlight, and if you want to brighten your remote workdays with an enjoyable view.

Mares & Dow — Skylight Contractors for Bay Area Homes

Contact the skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to learn about the latest skylight or solar tube models. We’ll help you understand the similarities and differences, then help you determine the best fit for your home or office. With over 40 years of experience, we offer the best in residential and commercial skylight installation.

Solar Tubes: What You Should Know Before Installing Them

mares_dow_commercial_skylights_velux_sun tunnel

As part of your home or office remodeling plan, you might increase your interior’s exposure to natural light by installing a skylight or solar tube. Skylight contractors can help you decide which is best for your needs, but if you’re leaning toward solar tubes or sun tunnels for whatever reason—whether functionality or cost—you should fully understand what they are, how they work, and how they differ from traditional skylights.

What are solar tubes?

A solar tube is a polycarbonate or acrylic dome that protrudes from a roof, capturing sunlight into a highly-reflective sheet metal tube that has a light diffuser at its end. The light diffuser looks like a porthole that glows pure white, and the smallest diameter (10 in) can diffuse light up to 200 square feet, which is the equivalent of three 100-watt light bulbs. They can range up to 21 in in diameter, making them a versatile lighting source.

How are they different from skylights?

Here are the main differences between solar tubes and skylights:

  • Solar tubes cost less than skylights with the average installation totalling $500-$1,000, as opposed to skylights running a total bill averaging $1,250-$3,500+.
  • Solar tubes are easier to install because they require less carpentry
  • Solar tubes block UV rays, but skylights need a window film to block 99% of UV rays
  • Solar tubes don’t have a view of the sky, and can pass for a regular light fixture
  • Solar tubes are more energy efficient because they don’t allow the heat gain of direct sunlight, but provide far more light than a skylight

Where are the best places to install solar tubes?

Solar tubes can be installed anywhere your roof can support them. Your roof should have a slope between 15-60 degrees, and standard rafters that are sparse 16 in on-center with a gap big enough for a 10-14 in tube. Certain areas of your home or office might not have the appropriate roof layout, while others might be perfect.

The best places to install solar tubes include rooms that don’t receive much sunlight from windows. Popular places include walk-in closets, bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms if you don’t mind waking with the sun. They can make a small home feel less stuffy and more spacious. Solar tubes, especially VELUX Sun Tunnels, are also great for rooms that can’t accommodate a skylight, but might be able to fit a small solar tube. Though you won’t get the views of a skylight, you’ll get powerful and UV-filtered lighting.

Mares & Dow — Bay Area and Concord Skylight Contractors

Contact the skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to learn about the latest skylight or solar tube models. We’ll help you understand the similarities and differences, then help you determine the best fit for your home or office. With over 40 years of experience, we offer the best in residential and commercial skylight installation.

How to Make Your Small Home Feel Less Stuffy and More Spacious

How to Make Your Small Home Feel Less Stuffy and More Spacious - home remodeling - Mares Dow

Is there a certain area of your home that feels stuffier than the others? Several factors could be contributing, such as a lack of daylight, the color of your walls and flooring, and bulky furniture. Fixes can range from minor changes, like removing unnecessary furniture, to larger ones likes hiring skylight contractors or home remodelers.

Simplify your furniture to make space

If your home is stuffed corner-to-corner with extra couches, chairs, tables, or an abundance of houseplants, you could benefit from some rearranging. Take inventory of your furniture and decide if any of them are unnecessary or could be replaced with something more compact. 

Overstuffed furniture can take up much needed space, and can block your windows, closing you off to sunlight. Low-lying furniture, like couches with short backrests, can give your home more “air space” as well.

Also make use of vertical space. Add shelves to bare walls, floor to ceiling, to maximize your storage and clear up your home. Cover your bathroom walls with mirrors. Also get creative with your storage options, such as using below bed storage, putting baskets on top of wardrobes or cabinets, and filling empty luggage with out-of-season clothes.

Change your wall paint or flooring to brighten your interior

A common cause of stuffiness is dark decor. From dark furniture to dark walls and flooring, it’s better to have bright colors. If you’re able to work with a home remodeling contractor, consider installing light wooden panels or carpet, or repainting your walls to be brighter. When they reflect light, they’ll give your home a more expansive feel.

If you can’t change your flooring or walls, a quick getaround is to roll out bright rugs, throw blankets, or change your curtains and drapes. You could also hang bright paintings and photos, but don’t go overboard or you’ll crowd out your home. Try to keep it simple.

Increase your home’s access to daylight

If you’re thinking of home remodeling but don’t want to tear out your floors or repaint, you can look skyward. Have skylight contractors recommend the best spots to get optimal sunlight. This will chase away shadows, which is a major culprit of rooms feeling small. If coupled with leaving your windows uncovered, you’ll get a dramatic increase in perceived space.

Mares & Dow are your local skylight contractors

Contact the skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to install the latest VELUX models. With over 40 years of experience, we offer the best in skylight installation.

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