what nobody told us about skylights-a lighthearted rant

We’ve got sky lights in our lounge, we live in a bungalow. We have masses of loft space as the lounge is the only room with a vaulted ceiling consequently there is loft space above the rest of the house. They do let the heat in but we live in the very North so never that much heat! We have masses of insulation in the roof so we don’t have a problem loosing heat in the winter. We have underfloor heating so the air circulates. We installed self cleaning glass so they stay clean.

We had a roof put on our conservatory a couple of years ago. It was always too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Problem solved a lovely space that is in. Instant use year rou;d.

In constant. Blooming auto correct.

We have 3 sky lights in our extension built 12 years ago. One of the best decisions we ever made was to have them (and the blinds) electricity operated. At the time we didn’t realise this as a ‘best decision’ but many times over have been so glad that we spent the extra cash for this option. Plenty of fresh air get in with them open, depending on the day it may be all or just one. The light is brilliant and that was the thing that was my main worry, building an extension that would be gloomy. An added bonus is that they close automatically when it starts to rain so I can dash out to the line and save my washing!! I use an extendable cobweb brush to keep the inside cobweb free and my window cleaner does the outside on his ‘not very often!’ Visits

Hello Girls.
I'm thinking of having an extension on the side of my house. At the moment I have a lovely bay window which lets the light in my kitchen . It's not the only window I have I have another two. I'm hoping to have a square extension with a front window and bi folding doors at the back looking into my garden. No skylight. Has anyone done this and also does anyone prefare the patio doors to bi fold. I just need a bit of advice to steer me on the right path.
Happy Sunday to you all xx

Has anyone had a sun tube/light tube installed? We have a bungalow with a very dark internal hall. This hall is the size of a room and is used as a dining room for family gatherings, but needs the light on all year!

I'm sure it wasn't a bit funny at the time, GrannyGravy, but I am sitting here practically wetting myself with laughter, sorry!

grandtanteJE65, I don't blame you we find it funny in hindsight ????

Trifold
I love mine, the don’t take up much floor space and it’s like taking our dining room wall down on a summers day - great for entertaining in the garden.
Skylights - Don’t have any downstairs but I love love love the sound of the rain on our upstairs landing skylight.

We thought long and hard about skylights. We demolished a west facing UPVC conservatory and built an extension onto our kitchen/diner, with bifolds instead. There’s a tiled, vaulted roof. Our trusty builder recommended us not to have skylights to reduce sun exposure. He was right! Bifolds have sun-proof glass and with the insulation, the room is neither freezing nor boiling. It’s such a massive improvement from the virtually unusable conservatory that it replaced. No need for any blinds. Am thoroughly enjoying my garden view. We now spend most of our relaxing time in the new extension. I’m also glad that we had a separate door put into the side of the extension - which we use for access into the garden far more than the bifolds.

Janecan
Having learned the hard way , errors. in the past over home
improvements, know what you have in mind, go to those who can carry out the work get your quotes then ask around and find out who has had what you want and their opinions /advice.

I wouldn't be without my conservatory. it was here when we moved in, it does get very hot in summer but there's a ceiling fan & blinds. I just love the sound of the rain on the roof and there's a built in wall heater for cooler days. I just wish they'd built it bigger! My husband who was most emphatic about a conservatory not being on his list of must haves when we were viewing has now claimed it for his favourite reading spot ?

When we lived in a top floor flat on the west coast of Scotland we had a huge skylight in the hall which would otherwise have been a bit dark. Unfortunately, it seemed that every seagull for miles enjoyed “tap dancing” on it. It was funny to look up to see their big fat feet stomping away on the glass .... our two Jack Russells were less amused and used to sit beneath the it howling in outrage at them.

I did accidentally find an easy way of cleaning the outside of my (ground floor) skylights - using one of those square velcro type plastic floor mops that has a pad attached...

We had a conservatory on our B&B which attracted birds as a dance floor. Also had a beautiful ginger cat who took umbrage at all these birds and regularly went up there to scare them off. Of course he never caught one and it was a pointless exercise. One morning he decided to "mark" his territory by doing a big poo in the middle. The guests having their breakfasts below had a variety of reactions - most of them had been laughingly watching his antics before he made his decision.

Had a conservatory built this year and love it! Glass roof so we can see the sky and stars at night, north facing so no need for blinds. Friend tells me that a sail works well, put it up in the summer for shade and wash and put away for the rest of the year.
We went down bifold v patio doors v French doors route for another extension and opted for patio doors that open in the middle. Much cheaper than bifold doors and don’t bang in the breeze like French doors can.

Thankyou Sarah. I've been looking around at other people's. I won't start till I know exactly what I want that's why I was asking for advice x

Patpat1, as I mentioned (further up the thread) I have light/sun tubes. They work very well and make a real difference on the landing. When the house was extended, it lost a window there so they compensate nicely.

Patpat1 I have 2 sun/light tubes fitted in my kitchen. They make such a difference to the brightness of the room. I would definitely recommend them, you won’t regret it.

I realise your post is lighthearted but there are some solutions - and maybe you've thought of them - but here goes anyway....

I'm surprised that whoever put them in for you, didn't sugges double hnges. These allow you the option of opening them inwards (or downwards) for easy cleaning. And opening outwards to catch what breeze there might be.

A through draught ought to keep you cool - along with thermal curtains.

One of my friends has a gorgeous open-plan rammed-earth house with windows like that and although he does have to climb a step ladder, it's comparatively easy.

Vaulted ceilings can be insulated without losing their beauty.

with no insulting space I bet there is when you're cleaning those windows!!

I have a slanted glass roof on my kitchen and absolutely love it. The sight of the morning sky above gives me such great delight after the previous closed-in kitchen we had before it was all extended and the roof replaced. I'm reminded how gloomy it was before only when it snows and a thick layer of the stuff makes the house feel gloomy and grey. (The roof is triple-glazed - the stuff isn't going to melt in a hurry!)

We used to have a glass roof on our conservatory but it got too hot to sit in, we extended the conservatory and put a tiled roof on and underfloor heating, we now have a gorgeous garden room that we can use all year round. Money well spent.

Would it be a terrible de-rail of the thread to add spotlights to the rant:

The bulbs NEVER go at the same time. You give up trying to have them all working at the same time. End up making do as they go one by one until its half dark