Happy Fourth of July

A Nation’s Strength
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1904)

...Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor’s sake
Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation’s pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.

~~~

Our office will be closed Monday, July 3 through Tuesday, July 4.We will resume our regular hours on Wednesday, July 5. 

Cool Your Home with VELUX Fresh Air Skylights

Is the heat getting to you? Find out how venting skylights use physics to cool your home.



Ready to have venting skylights installed in your own home and feel their cooling effects? Give us a call today for a free estimate at 707-527-5330.

Before You Buy: New Home Skylight Checklist

The spring housing market has sprung! If you're looking for a new home, it's easy to be overwhelmed by all the details to consider. If the home you're interested in has skylights, it's important to find out their condition before you buy.

Here's a checklist to help you find out the condition of the skylights and if it might be more costly than usual to replace them, if necessary: 

·       Perhaps most important, look for signs of past water damage or discoloration on the frame and the ceiling around the skylights. This is a sure sign that the skylight will need repair or replacement, if the work has not already been done. 

Example of water damage on a sheetrock ceiling.

·       Find out how old the skylights are: skylights usually don't last more than thirty years, less if they are not high quality.

·       Are they plastic bubbles or flat glass? If they are dual-paned, lowe3, tempered glass they will be more energy efficient. 

The white skylight is an example of a plastic bubble,
while the near skylight is an example of flat glass.

·       Are they operable skylights? If so, do they open and close properly?

·       What size are the skylights? If they are unusually large (over four feet in both dimensions or over six feet in one dimension) or unusually shaped, they will be expensive to replace, and it may even be difficult to find someone who can or will replace them. 

·       How steep is the roof and what is the roof material? It is more difficult, and so more costly, to replace skylights on especially steep roofs and roofs that are a material other than composition shingle. 

Example of a Composition Shingle Roof.

Example of a Curved Tile Roof.  

Example of a Standing Seam Metal Roof.

Example of an especially Steep Roof. 

Part Four: Four Reasons You Need More Natural Light

Last week, in part three, we looked at how having more natural light can Reduce Eyestrain and Headaches. If you missed it, you can read it here.

This week we will look at how having more natural light can make A Happier You.

Studies have shown that employees and students in buildings full of natural light are happier, healthier, and more productive than those who are working under electric or fluorescent lighting.

Ever heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? During the winter, people don't receive as much Vitamin D from the sunlight and can suffer the consequences, such as depression. A similar problem can occur year round if you spend a lot of time under artificial lighting rather than natural sunlight.

Having enough Vitamin D is an important way a person can stay in a good mood. And this vitamin has numerous other benefits as well, including immune system regulation, body weight maintenance, asthma symptom control, and helping the brain to continue working efficiently into later life. The best way to increase your body's Vitamin D generation is exposure to natural light.

While no home is the same, you have a plethora of different choices for adding natural light to yours. Skylights are a perfect solution for improving the brightness in any room in your home. Small skylights or tube skylights can even fit into small spaces where you wish you had more light, including bathrooms, stairways, hallways, closets and laundry rooms. Venting skylights can lower temperatures and improve the air circulation in your home. New, high quality skylights are much more energy efficient than skylights from even ten years ago.

             

 

If your house is dimly lit, it may be time to add natural lighting. Naturalight Solar offers a large selection of skylights to help you live a healthier, brighter life. With our experts here to help you, you can find the right skylight and have it installed in a matter of days.

You can receive a complimentary budget estimate to enhance your home or office 

if you call 707-527-5330 or click here.