Imagine walking into a home where every room feels brighter, fresher, and more alluring, without flipping a single light switch. Rooms that look bigger, feel warmer, and function better. That’s the power of adding skylights during construction.
Skylights are a great way to give homeowners a daily dose of wellness through improved air quality, better sleep cycles, and a natural lift in mood. Here are five factors to consider when adding a skylight during the construction of your new home.
Adding a Skylight Brings Immediate Benefits
“Adding skylights during construction is one of the smartest ways to maximize natural light and bring life to interior spaces that might otherwise rely heavily on artificial lighting,” said Ross Vandermark, national product manager for VELUX.
“Because skylights bring light in from above and due to their position on the roof, they distribute it more evenly, bringing natural light much deeper into the room than a vertical window can. This allows for a much more efficient way to have a room filled with natural light and helps rooms feel larger, brighter, and more inviting. It makes a big difference in how a home feels day to day.”
How Do Modern Skylights go Beyond Aesthetics?
Skylights have moved far beyond the old-school rectangle cut into your roof. Modern skylights come with solar-powered venting systems and shades to control the lighting and thermal conditions.
“Today’s skylights are built for performance just as much as beauty,” said Vandermark. “Our solar powered ‘fresh air’ skylights are powered by the sun, open and close with a remote, and include a sensor to automatically close at the first sign of rain.
“Pre-installed shades provide total light control and improve thermal performance by reducing heat loss in winter and blocking heat gain in summer. Research shows that when the double-pleated, room-darkening solar shade is in the down position, it enhances the already industry-leading thermal performance by up to 45%.”
Vandermark also notes skylights also have massive wellness benefits. “According to the EPA, indoor air is typically two to five times more polluted than outside,” he said. Studies show that skylights maximize ventilation in a home, replacing indoor air with cooler, fresher air 15 times faster than just vertical windows alone.”
What to Ask Your Builder if You Want to Add a Skylight
So, what should you ask your builder if you’re considering skylights as part of your home design or smart-home upgrade package?
“Start by asking if skylights can be integrated into your floor plan, especially in areas where you want more light or ventilation,” said Vandermark.
“If your builder doesn’t mention it, don’t forget to ask about shades. They’re so beneficial, and homeowners can now get pre-installed solar-powered shades as standard with any skylight. Shades have historically been overlooked before skylight installation and can be difficult to add later. It’s one of the most common feedback points we get from homeowners – they wish they had added a shade.”
Maximizing Your Skylight Position to The Fullest
What design and placement options should homeowners consider to maximize the benefits of skylights? The obvious choice is to place them in a sloped ceiling, but there are a range of positions to mull over.
“Many options can work for flat ceilings as well,” said Vandermark. “It’s also common to consider skylights in interior, dark, or small rooms that will feel larger and brighter with more natural light.
“Bathrooms and kitchens are also great options as they both benefit from being able to ventilate humidity, smells, and pollutants. Other people love skylights in their bedroom for natural light in the morning, especially with smart home integration and shades that allow for total light control and automatic opening to sync with when you want to wake up.”
Installing Skylights During Construction is Most Cost-Effective
Skylights can help lighten the load on your pocketbook when it comes to electrical bills.
“Daylighting and ventilation benefits can help decrease reliance on artificial lights and mechanical air conditioning, which can lower energy bills over time and reduce the load on HVAC systems year-round,” said Vandermark.
But what about installation costs? The best way to get the most bang for your buck is to incorporate them during construction rather than retrofitting, for a few reasons.
• You roll the cost into the sticker price of the house. Even if your builder considers skylights a premium upgrade, installing as you build likely won’t raise your monthly mortgage payment too much.
• You don’t have the hassle of financing them separately – no extra bill to worry about, no extra credit check, no dent to your savings.
• You avoid retrofitting costs such as demolition, debris haul-away, and installation fees.
• You can obtain cleaner rooflines and optimized placement, according to Vandermark.
“Because modern skylights can come solar-powered and self-contained, there’s no wiring or added electrical costs during installation, and long-term maintenance is minimal,” Vandermark said.
The Bottom Line: Adding skylights during construction isn’t just about style. Skylights are smart investment in natural light, energy savings, and everyday wellness that pays off from day one.
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Erin Nicks
Erin Nicks has written for various publications for more than 20 years. She has covered new home construction for industry-leading websites and publications, such as Livabl, ARCHITECT, Multifamily Executive, and Builder Magazine.