Solatube helps light up dark interior settings. They are made up of a waterproof transparent head that is fitted into your roof membrane. And a reflective pipe that runs beneath it to transport sunlight to the area of your house.
When compared to skylights, Solatube has a few downsides. The most notable of these is that they do not provide an expansive view of the outdoors. And have a limited capacity to absorb heat from the sun during the winter months.
However, Solatube does have a number of key benefits that should be taken into consideration. The most important of which is their relatively cheap installation costs, high energy efficiencies, and simplicity of installation.
In this article, we will describe how sola tubes work, and examine how they differ from skylights. And discuss the sola Tubes that we believe are the best options for residential use.
· What exactly is Solatube, though?
Solatube, which may also be referred to as “sun tunnels,” “light tubes,” and “daylight pipes,”. Solatube brings natural light from the outdoors into your house.
They may not provide a pleasant view of the outside world. But they do give a natural, cost-effective way to naturally brighten gloomy interior rooms without the need for electricity. This is a benefit despite the fact that they do not allow for a view of the outside world.
·The function of the Solatube:
Solatube is simple to install between the beams of a roof due to its compact size. Your worries concerning the stability of the roof’s structure will reduce as a result of this information. Solatube reduces the amount of heat that is gained and lost in comparison to skylights.
They are an excellent option for bringing natural light into cramped and dimly lit parts of your house. Such as corridors, laundry rooms, closets, and bathrooms, and are a fantastic choice overall.
· What exactly is the mechanism behind solar tubes?
Solatube heads come in a variety of sizes that vary from around 1 to 2 feet in diameter. And are optically designed to focus as much light as possible into the tunnel below. The diameter of the solar tube heads is about 1 to 2 feet. They are often shielded from the elements by a dome made of transparent, UV-resistant acrylic.
The length of the tube skylight pipe may be increased indefinitely. And it is coated with a highly reflective “continuous mirror” material. All along its interior to magnify the effect of the direct sunlight. As it travels through to its destination.
· The majority of models come with low-profile tubing:
The majority of models come with low-profile tubing that is flexible. So you won’t have to deal with the inconvenience of cutting sheet metal to size. And fitting it as you would with rigid solar tube types.
The industry leader in the production of solar tubes is our company. Instead of being heavy domes. Their solar tube variants have the appearance of little skylights that are integrated into the face of your roof. If you place a high value on a more streamlined appearance. Then you should give these aspects significant thought.
· How much more expensive are solar tubes than standard skylights?
Installing Solatube is far more cost-effective than putting up skylights. The typical price of a Solatube, including expert installation, is $750. Prices for skylights typically range from $1,500 to $2,500, with the higher end representing higher quality materials and installation.
DIY Solatube kits may be purchased for about $300. And installed by someone with the necessary skills, assurance, and time. See whether your roofer still offers a guarantee and make sure it is still valid. DIY Solatube installation is risky and may violate your warranty.
Almost no models are suitable for flat roofs or very slanted roofs. Therefore, make sure your roof has a pitch angle between 3 x 12 inches and 20 x 12 inches. Although adapters are available, most Solatube systems are designed for clay tile roofing material.
·Do Solatube really generate energy? In what ways are they different from skylights?
Solatube is, in fact, a very efficient method of providing illumination for dimly lit interior places such as laundry facilities.
However, when compared with skylights, Solatube offers a number of significant benefits as well as a few significant disadvantages. The next section will discuss them.
·Comparative advantages of Solatube and skylights:
1. Cost savings
Solatube is quite a useful addition to a house that has a large amount of unused attic space.
Instead of building pricey header beams, new drywall, and skylights. You can create a comparable lighting effect by piping sunlight through a solar tube, And the cost will be a quarter of what it would be otherwise.
2. The installation of Solatube may be completed quickly and easily.
Solatube may be simply installed between the beams of your roof. Due to the fact that they have a very tiny footprint. While a huge window is simply inserted into your roofing membrane. Installing skylights is a more difficult operation that requires adequate attention to be taken to guarantee.
3.Conservation of energy
Each outlet for Solatube may be thought of in the same way as a light fixture in your house.
There is a large reduction in the need to keep those lights blazing. Which results in a significant reduction in the monthly energy cost. This may be accomplished by piping sunshine into a frequently used place, such as a dim dining room.
Contradictions between solar tubes and skylights:
1. Lack of access to a wide-ranging vision of the outer world
There is nothing quite like being able to get lost in your thoughts. While looking at gently swirling cloud formations outside your living room window. Or being able to glance up through a large window in your living room. Skylights, as opposed to Solatube, will provide you with a richer opportunity to view the splendor of our natural surroundings. Regardless of whatever escape you choose. This is particularly the case if you have a tray ceiling that you can conceal inside.
2. A little amount of heat from the sun’s rays
In terms of their capacity to integrate passive solar design into the efficiency of house heating. Skylights offer an advantage over solar tubes.
The low winter sun, when it shines through windows. And skylights that face south, produce an effect similar to that of a little greenhouse. Which warms the inside of your home.
In the winter, heat may easily escape through the glass in passive solar designs. Although these designs can create far more heat than that. Solatube does not have a diameter that is sufficient to produce this effect.