Skylights can bring ambience to a room, flooding it with natural light, and bringing the outside in.

Whether you are looking to brighten up a dark room or add a design element to your home, installing a skylight can be a great decision.

However, choosing where to install that skylight requires a little bit of attention. In this guide, we'll look at key factors to keep in mind when selecting the perfect spot for your skylight.

Assess Your Roof Structure

Before you get too invested in the idea of skylight installation, it's important to assess your roof structure. Look at the slope, material and age of your roof. Different roofs may require specific installation techniques, plus, the slope of your roof will influence the positioning and angle of your skylight. 

Most importantly, you need to ensure your roof can support the weight of the skylight and that there are no structural concerns.

Think About Purpose

What are you hoping to achieve by installing a skylight?

Do you want to bring in more natural light? Is it for ventilation reasons? Or do you just want an interesting, architectural feature?

Understanding the reasons for installing a skylight will help you figure out where to put it.

For example, if it’s to add a design feature, you will want to install the skylight in a room that is used frequently. Or, if it’s to bring in natural light, you should install the skylight in a darker room.

Figure Out Sunlight Patterns

This is a really important deciding factor and one that should not be underestimated.

Understanding the path of the sun throughout the day, and through the seasons, is essential when you are choosing a location for skylight installation. You want to install the skylight in a spot that offers ample sunlight, but you don’t want to cause excessive glare or heat. 

South-facing skylights will receive the most direct sunlight throughout the day. North-facing installations will get a good amount of diffused light all day. East-facing installations will get gentle morning sun whilst west-facing will bring in the warm glow of afternoon sunshine.

Protect Your Privacy

Privacy concerns should also guide your sunlight installation. You might dream of a big skylight over the bath, to admire the stars whilst you soak in the bubbles. But, if that spot is overlooked by a neighbour… it’s a big no-no!

Consider areas of your roof that are more private. Also, think about the position of neighbouring buildings or trees, as these might prevent sunlight from filtering in through your skylight.

Speak to a Professional

Once you’ve got a rough idea of where to install your skylight, it’s time to speak to a professional. At Hi-Sky we supply custom skylights for homeowners across the UK. If you would like to enquire about a skylight installation in your home, just get in touch.