Skylight Guide
An informative resource to answer some common skylight questions you may have.
Three Most Common Types of Skylights
Glass Skylights
Glass Skylights are the most popular skylights in Southern California because of their energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal. For small glass skylights 6′ and under, we recommend Velux. Skylights for 3 reasons:
1. Quality – Velux glass is 5/8″ thick dual-laminated with a LoE3 coating that blocks 99% of UV light. California earthquake codes require laminated glass for all residential and commercial skylights.
2. Lead Times – Orange County Skylights stocks a variety of Velux standard sized skylights. For custom-sizes that are not stocked, the lead time is between 4-5 weeks. For more information on Velux standard sizes and how to properly measure your skylight, click HERE.
3. Options and Accessories – Velux offers all the bells and whistles to make your skylight do more! Solar Powered Venting Skylights and Manual Venting options allow you to open your skylight and circulate the hot air trapped in your home. Choose manual blinds or solar powered blinds operated with a touchscreen remote to control how much light and when you want it to shine through.
Dome Skylights
Dome Skylights are another type of skylight that is constructed with a plastic lens in lieu of glass. They are found all across Orange County from commercial properties, like an office building or warehouse, to residential homes. They are ideal for flat roof installations, as their curved-dome shape helps water run-off and prevent ponding on the skylight. Because dome skylights are made from acrylic, they do not block as much UV light and heat transfer as compared to today’s modern glass skylights. Orange County Skylights always recommends using double domes in lieu of single domes, because the two layers of plastic with an air gap in between provides better insulating properties. Domes are stocked in standard sizes as large as 8′ x 8′, but we can have a custom dome made to match any existing curb dimensions. To learn more about repairing or replacing your cracked or leaking dome, click HERE.
Solar Tubes
Solar Tubes, Sun Tunnels or Tubular Skylights are all names for a special kind of skylight that brings natural sunlight through a reflective tubing system down past your attic and into your home. They work great in tight places where a traditional skylight wouldn’t fit, like a small closet, laundry room, or hallway.
Installation is typically fairly straightforward and usually takes about 3 hours per tube. Orange County Skylights stocks both the 10″ and 14″ sizes in the rigid tube only. We always recommend the rigid tubes over the flexible tubes because they do a much better job at reflecting the light down into your home. To learn more about the benefits of having natural sunlight in your home, click HERE.
Skylight Mounts & Models
Skylights come in different models and can be mounted to the roof deck in a variety of ways. Below addresses the most common models and mounting styles of skylights found across Orange County and explains the benefits of each. This guide can help give you an idea of what type of skylight you might want and is especially helpful to know what type of skylight you have if it needs to be repaired or replaced.
Curb-Mounted
Curb-Mounted Skylights are the most common skylight found in Southern California because their design makes it simple if they ever need to be replaced. Prior to installation, a curb (typically made of 2×4 or 2×6 wood studs) is fastened to the roof deck and made watertight with flashing. The skylight then sits over top the curb like a lid over a box, and is secured down with screws. Typically no roof work is needed when replacing a curb mounted skylight.
Deck-Mounted Skylights
Deck-Mounted Skylights are also common across Orange County and are popular for their sleek and low-profile look. These skylights do not require a curb and are mounted directly to the roof deck and secured with mounting brackets. They sit lower on the roof and are great options if your skylight is visible from the street. The only downside with deck mounted skylights is they always require roof work when they have to be replaced.
Operable vs. Fixed Skylights
An Operable or Venting Skylight (like the one pictured) is able to open up to the outside and circulate all the hot air trapped in the ceiling of your home. They can be mechanically operated, hard-wired, or solar-powered venting. Velux’s solar powered venting skylight is eligible for a 30% tax rebate.
A Fixed Skylight is inoperable and secured to the frame and does not open to the outside.
Large Custom Skylights
Whenever the skylight dimensions exceed a size greater than 6′ x 4′, the skylights are custom made to order from a specialty skylight manufacturer. They can come in a variety of shapes and styles, but typically the lead time is around 6 weeks for fabrication. The frames are made from high-strength extruded aluminum accompanied with the best glass modern technology can make. The glass can come in a variety of tints and is typically over 1″ thick with dual-layers of tempered and laminated glass, with an air gap in between trapped with argon gas to provide a greater thermal barrier. The glass can also be equipped with a LoE3 Solarban coating, which is a metallic coating that blocks 99.9% of UV light. Think skyscraper quality glass! If you have a large custom glass skylight that is leaking or in need of repair, click HERE to learn more about resealing and replacing glass.
Here are some of the more popular styles of Custom Skylights:
Hip-Ridge Skylight
A hip-ridge skylight is rectangular shaped skylight with pitched glass on all 4 sides that meets into a horizontal ridge at the top. Their sleek design looks great from both the interior and exterior of your building or home. They are designed to sit on a flat roof or curb.
Ridge Skylight
A ridge skylight is also rectangular shaped but has no glass at the ends. It’s designed to sit flush on the roof, at the top of a ridge-line. The skylight sits atop a custom designed curb that has to match the same pitch as your roof line.
Pyramid Skylight
A pyramid skylight is square in shape, with all 4 sides being the same length, with the glass coming to a point in the center. Pyramid skylights typically have a very high pitch, which allows for a maximum amount of light to come inside. They also are designed to sit on a flat roof or curb.
Lean-To Skylight
Lean-to skylights are long rectangle shaped, flat glass skylights that butt up to a wall at the topside and follow the roof slope down. They work great on the edges of your home where bays stick out past the roof deck. Lean-to skylights act like a glass roof over your head allowing a maximum of light to come inside.
Flat Glass Skylight
Flat glass skylights are the most popular skylight model in Orange County. They are mounted on a prefabricated curb at a pitch to allow water to run-off. Most glass panels have a maximum size of around 2500 square inches (like 3′ x 6′ panel) in order to cut down on weight to ease the install. Larger pieces of glass have to be set in place with cranes.
Double Pitch Skylight
Double pitch skylights are much like hip-ridge skylights, only the end pieces rise straight up at 90 degrees making the ridge-line span across the entire length. The end pieces can be made in glass or metal frame (like the one in the picture). Double pitch skylights have to be mounted on a flat roof or curb.
Our Vendors & Resources
Velux USA – www.veluxusa.com – Velux is one of the top skylight manufacturers in the world and the most popular residential glass skylight found in the USA. They offer a full line of skylights and accessories.
Energy Star – www.energystar.gov – Energy Star is a coalition between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that helps develop energy efficient products to save you money
Lane-Aire – www.lane-aire.com – Lane-Aire is a local Southern California skylight manufacturer specializing in large custom skylights, glass skylights, domes roof hatches and more.
Hollywood Skylights – www.hollywoodskylights.com – Our sister branch Hollywood Skylights handles residential and commercial skylight services in Los Angeles County.
Inland Empire Skylights – www.ieskylights.com – Inland Empire Skylights is our sister company located in Riverside, CA. They are a full-service skylight company that services all of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
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