Contemporary Window Solutions – Skylights and Roof Windows in Your Bathroom
Here’s a trick question for you, how do you flood your bathroom with natural light without taking up valuable wall space? Answer; look up, look way up as the friendly giant would say. The roof is for more than just shingles you know. The sky or skylight is really the limit. Skylights in your bathroom now allow you to augment lighting in your bathroom and reduce lighting costs. You can now bring natural light into that bathroom that traditionally didn’t have wall windows. Or you may choose to add a skylight to simply retain your privacy while enjoying the benefits of daylight with a beautiful view of the sky while soaking in your tub.
Back in the middle of the nineteenth century plastic bubble skylights were the only option available to you, thankfully today you can get a wide assortment of roof window fixtures that offer you all the amenities of a regular bathroom wall window. Unlike traditional skylights that you couldn’t open, from crank shafts to remote control units, you now have the option to open the skylight or not if you so choose. This is perfect after a hot steamy shower because we all know that hot air rises, so this is an excellent way to ventilate your bathroom in moderate climates. Some units even allow you to crank the window inward for easy cleaning of the outer pane. As is to be expected the fixed skylight will cost you less than a remote controlled unit, add a little more if you want to include built in blinds which can help you avoid potential glare from light bouncing off a wall window or mirror.
These bathroom skylights come in many different shapes and sizes ranging from flat to ridge, pyramid and dormer or bubble shapes. You can also purchase a traditional skylight that streams in sunlight in a straight downward fashion or you can get a “splayed shaft” which is “v” shaped to distribute sunlight more evenly through out your entire bathroom. This inevitably will be more work to install but the results can be quite dramatic. Placement of the skylight is important too, placing the unit near the center of your bathroom will potentially flood your entire bathroom with natural light. You should note here that to avoid heat loss of heat gain always install insulated double pane windows with low E coating.
Don’t forget to check out our other categories on privy renovation ideas, water closet design, powder room remodeling tips, WC trends and restroom product reviews for the latest information.
