[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Rzepecki

I usually follow your same logic, not wanting to mix companies because, if there’s a problem, they’ll get into the blame game. But with solar tubes, it’s a different situation IMO. I think you need to live in your new house, see where the dark areas are that you’re always turning on lights during the day, then decide where to locate the solar tubes. Solar Guys does such an excellent job that I don’t think you’ll regret waiting. Also, I prefer solar tubes to electric light during the day, but you may find, after living in your house, that you prefer an electric solution.

We have a window in the kitchen so really don't need to put on lights during the day to see. Having said that, one of the best things we had done was LED lights above and below the cabinets. The glow of those soft white LEDs is so glorious, I do put them on during the day just because they look so pretty and highlight the items I have on top of the cabinets. At night, there is nothing better than those LED lights above and below the cabinets.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Bethwill

I'm not a fan of the light solar tubes provide. I prefer to use 100 watt led DAYLIGHT bulbs over the kitchen sink (pendants), daylight fluorescents in laundry room, and daylight LEDs above vanities in bathrooms. It's like sunshine everywhere.

I'm not a fan either. I find the light to be too bright and harsh. Maybe the manufacturers have made improvements in them.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by CBarrett

I wish we would have put one in the laundry room and in the guest bath. Both are very dark w/o turning on the light.

We have an interior laundry room. I keep a night light on during the day so I can easily see when I walk through the room to go into the garage. No need to turn on a light.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

Absolutely incorrect, you can black out light tubes and return them to open.

This is quite easy to verify by a Google search.

Just did a Google search as you suggested. I found out that the light can be adjusted from 100% down to 2%. That is a good option but the only way I would consider a solar tube is if 100% of the light could be blocked when I do not want any light at all coming in.

[cbmerl]

Originally Posted by Troy8432

Bought a new Begonia and close next month. I plan on having developer install prior to closing to avoid any possible conflicts between developer and non-developer installer in case of a leak. We know we want at least one in the kitchen over the sink and one in the master bath. Not sure what size or additional locations. Interested in recommendations.

I have a new Begonia and the kitchen was terribly dark. I had the Solar Guys install two tubes in the kitchen. One is just over the counter along side of the sink and the other is back by the table nook. I love the results. I do not want to have the lights on all day and this completely solved the problem. I'm all for natural and bright light so to me this is an amazing solution to a very dark room. The front of my house faces west so your orientation and sunlight may differ. I don't need any in any other place in my house except, maybe the laundry room. I haven't decided yet. But, Solar Guys are definitely the ones to use.

[Baywayric]

Originally Posted by Troy8432

Not sure what size or additional locations. Interested in recommendations.

12-14”, dead center, guest bathroom. Perfect!

[donassaid]

Large one in the middle of the kitchen, smaller one in the laundry room. Get the kind that have a built in night light.

[Red Rose]

I have a Whispering Pine and put 1 solar tube between the living room and dining room and 1 in the guest bath. Have had them for 14 years and love them. We have had many storms and 1 tornado during that time and the solar tubes sustained no damage whatsoever. The Solar Guys installed them and they are the best.

[Troy8432]

Many thanks to all respondents. Plenty of good information to consider. I contacted my Villages realtor to verify who does the work. After all, the Villages realtor was the person that suggested I get it done before closzing to avoid blame game.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Just did a Google search as you suggested. I found out that the light can be adjusted from 100% down to 2%. That is a good option but the only way I would consider a solar tube is if 100% of the light could be blocked when I do not want any light at all coming in.

I am glad that you Googled it and pleased that you took the time to come back here and share the results.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Troy8432

Bought a new Begonia and close next month. I plan on having developer install prior to closing to avoid any possible conflicts between developer and non-developer installer in case of a leak. We know we want at least one in the kitchen over the sink and one in the master bath. Not sure what size or additional locations. Interested in recommendations.

First off, don’t ever put real skylights in your ceiling in Florida. They will really heat up the house. Solar Tubes, of course, are different because they are smaller and well sealed. But, they will also need to be between two and five feet long to penetrate your ceiling and your roof, and that decreases the light. They take the place of insulation, and they do heat up a little, so are they energy efficient? No, not really. Only get them if that is the sort of light you want.

I have three Solar Tubes in my house in Pennsylvania, all 10”. My dad has a couple 14”. I like them.

Do NOT trust the web site when it says it lets a lot of moonlight in. It doesn’t. My dad has them in two small white bathrooms. When the moon is shining, I can see, but sort of like a one watt nightlight diffused over a bigger area. In the daytime, in the bathroom, I don’t need to turn on a light. I usually do, but I don’t need one. It makes the bathroom brighter and more pleasant, though.

In my house, one is in my bedroom. In the winter it adds a bit of light, but in the summer it adds very little due to tree shading. In the guest room, one 10” solar tube adds a LOT of light, doubling what I get from a large window and making the room bright and cheery. Not necessarily a place for a nap if you need darkness. I have one in the bathroom, which has only a small window. The 10” there is enough so I don’t need a light to look in the mirror, but it’s not nearly as bright as in the bedroom. Still, I like it a lot.

I would say think about one in a bathroom without windows. Possibly think about one in your shower stall. Both make the rooms more welcoming and less cave-like. Over the kitchen sink? If the window isn’t enough, perhaps a light would be better. My living room is 20x35’. One end has two double French doors. The other has no windows. I might put a big one there.

You have a shingle roof, and that makes things easier. My roof in Pennsylvania is steel, and that is harder. My dad has a built up roofing roof, and that is harder. Still, the flashing around SolarTubes has to be meticulous. It’s not a good do-it-yourself project. You do not want a leak during a heavy storm that soaks your insulation and drywall and then drops it onto your bed. Leaks can be expensive to repair.

I bought my Solar Tubes from the company. I think they were about $250 each. I think I paid my contractor $400 each to install them. Cost effective? Not at all. Nice? Yes. As someone here says, there are LED ceiling mounted lights (that don’t penetrate your ceiling) you could burn for a century for much less money. I would recommend against putting a SolarTube in a walk-in closet for that reason. An LED light in your closet might use a quarter’s worth of electricity in a year in a closet, compared to, say $800 installed for a SolarTube..

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Labanz

Agree with last comment. I cannot understand installing solar tubes instead of additional LED fixtures. When I priced both payback on solar tubes were over 30 years.

I don't financialize every decision, I like the way they operate, I like the switches which were included, and the night time dimmer.

sportsguy

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Wing-nut2

We have one in the kitchen, one in each bath and one in the dining room. If you put one in the bedroom, a lighting storm will turn your room into a disco.

Best comment yet!

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by mbauls@aol.com

Unless something has changed, the developer will NOT install solar tubes. You will need to arrange for them after closing.

Something has changed, the developer installed our solar tubes during construction of the begonia in Marsh Bend.

sportsguy

[Hopeful2]

Originally Posted by New Englander

In the hot/sunny summertime, do solar tubes bring heat into the area where they shine light?

No, they do not bring in any heat at all, just beautiful natural light with no glare. We have 4 solar tubes (kitchen, living room, guest bathroom, laundry room) and we love them. Yes, at first you will think that someone left the light on. (We get a kick out of guests telling us that they can't figure out how to turn the bathroom light off.) We used the Solar Guys and they were excellent.