Sunshine Renovation: Skylights
by Candice Mancini
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
When it comes to home renovation, nothing accessorizes any style, color, or room like sunshine. Unless you're going for the chic dungeon look, a skylight would work well in any room directly beneath the roof.
A Bright Renovation
The three main skylight classes include the ventilating skylight, the fixed skylight, and the tubular skylight. There's more here to look at than aesthetics when making a choice. For instance, for obvious reasons, the ventilating skylight is great for kitchens or bathrooms. The fixed skylight, which does not open, works well in very tall rooms. And the very small tubular skylight is perfect for hallways.
The style--which includes flat, round, polygon, dome, hip ridge, ridge, lean-to, and barrel vault--is left more to aesthetics. Still, some styles won't work in some rooms. Your roofing contractor will be able to help you here.
Finding the Right Contractor
While there are some very special contractors who can do it all, most specialize in something or another. Most likely you'll need a roofing contractor to install your skylight. As with any home renovation, get more than one bid; just letting him/her know you're receiving a few bids can significantly lower any single contractor bid. With costs ranging $1000 to many thousand per skylight, even a small savings can be worth at least a nice dinner out.
When speaking to contractors, though, ask about more than price. For instance, you should learn how long they've been installing skylights; how soon they can start on your project (if they say "tomorrow," be wary); and whether they have photos of finished projects. Even better if you can view their projects (and speak to their former clients) in person. This is definitely a home renovation that needs a great contractor (unless you're hoping to add a sun-shower feature to a room). A skilled roofing contractor will know how to install a beautiful, leak-free, skylight.
About the Author
Candice Mancini is a writer, a teacher, and a homeowner always on the lookout for a good contractor. She has an M.A. in Education and B.A. in English and history.
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