Quote:
Originally Posted by markmorris24@yahoo.com
We are thinking about adding a skylight or two in the living room of our house in order to provide more light. I’m interested in comments from others who may have skylights in The Villages. When did you get them? Are you happy with them? Not happy? Any problems (leaks, etc.)? Thanks in advance for your opinions and the reasons behind them!
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One suggestion and one observation regarding solar tubes. First of all, I have them and have had them in past houses. They are great and trouble free! I love them (but in the right place).
Now my suggestion, unless you are putting the unit in a small closet, do not buy the small 10" model. It gives some light but not a lot in any larger room. The 14" model produces twice the light (simply a matter of physics). Even in a bathroom, if you want great light go with the 14" model you won't be disappointed.
Second, my observation. I considered getting a couple of units in the dark kitchen of my Amarillo. I convinced one of the salesmen to let me see the two units he had placed in his home of the same model. However, I was not impressed. What I realized was because of the cathedral ceilings in these units, even with two 14"ers the light was so defused that there was a negligible amount of increased light on the work surfaces. Again it's a matter of physics. For every doubling of the distance from a light source the intensity drops by a factor of 4. With a 14' ceiling, the amount of light at eye level (6' from the floor or about 8' from the ceiling) is only 1/4 of the light available 4' from the ceiling. The drop off in intensity is dramatic. So, if you are considering putting them anywhere in your house where there is a high ceiling, be careful. Make sure the salesman can refer you to a previous customer who has the same or similar type home and go see that home. SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE AND MAKE YOUR DECISION BASED ON YOUR OWN OBSERVATION, NOT WHAT THE SALESMAN TELLS YOU.