Better than LEDs
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
Went into a Mennonite-owned quilt store in/near Harrisonburg, VA, last year where they were using these and I was astounded how brilliant --- as in light intensity and in intelligence!!--- they were! I went home with a brochure about them, which I have now misplaced darn it.
IF I were to ever build a place I'd use these things for sure. The store automatically switched to electric lighting when there was not enough sunlight. COOL!
Jan in VA
IF I were to ever build a place I'd use these things for sure. The store automatically switched to electric lighting when there was not enough sunlight. COOL!
Jan in VA
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: other side of the black stump, Perth Western Australia
Posts: 1,902
I agree with everyone how good the skylight or solar tubes are. We installed one a couple of years ago and we got the one that has a switch so you can turn off the sunlight or turn it on. It was a bit pricey but glad we got the one with the switch as we do turn it off occasionally, mainly in summer.
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,497
I built a house last year and since, had decided to install a solartube in the hallway from the garage. Builder here two weeks ago and Told me it wasn't worth the expense because going straight up would put it in the valley on the roof and would not provide me light!!! I just think he did not want he job!!!
#14
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,585
I would contact SolaTube directly, they will be able to tell you if your contractor is full of hot air or if his concern is valid. We had a SolaTube rep professionally install ours and haven't had a single issue in 9 years.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Beautiful Wyoming
Posts: 374
LOL One of the purposes of a solatube is to be able to place the outside "window" in a location that is not necessarily directly above the inside placement of the skylight. The tube can snake around in the attic and the ceiling part can be placed in just the right spot. I think you're right...he didn't want the job.
#17
We call them 'skylights' here. We have a round tube one in the dining room, a square one in the hallway leading to some bedrooms and one big square one in the end bathroom (it has no exterior windows). They are fantastic, we have never had one leak and they don't seem to contribute to overheating in the summer (it is not a glaring light as the top bit on the roof is generally opaque. Our tube one could do with replacing (it is over 35 years old), but the others are fine.
When I first moved in to this house (they were installed by former owners), for ages I would try and 'turn the light off' in the dining room....the kids thought it was hysterical.
When I first moved in to this house (they were installed by former owners), for ages I would try and 'turn the light off' in the dining room....the kids thought it was hysterical.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 453
I've had a number of solar tubes in my homes. I never had any problems in AZ with them heating up my home, but when it's over 100 outside you've still got the AC on. When we had a new roof put on in OR, my DH thought he would have a solar tube put into the hall bathroom. I don't know if it's the paint or the way they placed the tube or even if it's because it's in a smaller area, but it does heat up that bathroom. I find that in the summer (this summer for sure), that I keep the doors closed on the hall bathroom (1 door into the hallway and 1 door into the laundry room). So to answer your question in most cases it doesn't, but it can sometimes.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,140
Skylights serve as a beautiful decorative feature to a home, but solar tubes typically provide about the same amount of light & offer much more flexibility in placement. I have seen them run down to a kitchen on the 1st floor of a 2-story house and it's bright enough to do intricate knife work. A skylight could not be installed in that location (with a finished floor above the space).
#20
If you live in an area that has a lot of sunshine, you might want to consider a solar tube for lighting your sewing room. I had one installed about a month ago, and the only time I turn on the lamp is at night or on a rainy, cloudy, dark day. There is so much bright light in that room, you want to turn off the light when leaving, but there is no light on. It's all coming from the sun. Amazing!! It takes less than two hours to install, it's about ten inches in diameter, and is flush on the ceiling. Just thought you might be interested in knowing this is out there.
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