Solar Light Tubes
 

Opinions please!

Planning on adding two Solar Tubes in home!

There are three companies in the area here that all have different sales pitches as to why they are the BEST.

Question: Who installed yours? Why did you pick that company? How has it worked out? Problems to watch for?

Those without them need not respond!

Thanks

:welcome:

We have had excellent service from The Solar Guys - friendly and efficient, and left the place clean after instal

solar tubes have been trouble-free (no leaks etc.)

I don't know who installed ours because they where there when we bought the house, but we really like them. I still find myself trying to turn off lights when we leave the house during the day, even though no lights are on. We did learn from our friends house a couple things about the solar tubes. First, don't put them in bedrooms (or a master bath attached to the bedroom) if you don't want to be woken up by bright light as soon as the sun comes up. Second, don't put them in a walk-in closet because the bright sun light will quickly fade the color on the clothes in the closet. Good luck with the project.

I have never heard anything negative about Solar guys on this forum.

Our 2 were installed by Solar Lights & More in 2006. Absolutely no problems since install (and definitely no problems during the install). I no longer remember why we chose them, but have no regrets about selecting them. They were efficient, and I remember being surprised at how clean the whole install proved to be.

Solar Guys. Had 1 in kitchen and going to get a 2nd one. Just don't pay their "list price" because they always give $100 off.

Love the tubes that Solar Guys installed. One in kitchen and another in windowless second bath.

or above a ceiling fan or the light show will drive you (and your cat) crazy

Solar Guys!!

We were told by our builder to NOT have any additional penetrations or to not mount anything on our roof--installed additional recessed lighting in the MBR

IMHO, I would but in a switched ceiling light, much lower cost and easily controllable, but if you want a solar light, be sure the tube is sealed very well to the flange at the ceiling. My neighbors was not and they had bugs inside the solar tube. No idea who did the installation, as it was done by the prior owners. Good luck with your project.

So much for the "Those without them need not respond!"

We are planning on having one installed in our laundry/pantry room, however we are going to add the optional LED light kit, as there are times we need additional light.

Also, while I do not have any of these, I have helped my neighbor repair theirs, and double check the mechanism that attaches the trim ring to the flange. This failed on theirs also, the trim ring and plastic lens kept falling to the floor. The solution was to remove the "snap" attachments and replace with stainless steel sheet metal screws. After I applied to sealant (mentioned above) they now have a bug free solar light that does not fall apart.
So bottom line look carefully at the construction for the product, and ask about the details of the installation.

Back on topic
 

I recommend the Velux products. They offer accessories that the solar guy does not. Sure they both have different defusers and light kits. But only Velux has light tube shades, a energy efficiency option to increase the R value and reduce heat, and even a diffuser that looks like a light. Also look at the solar guys flashing, it is smaller than Velux.

Two houses, four solar tubes, two solar fans, and radiant barrier. You would not want better people to do business with the Solar Guys. Never had an issue.