By Michael, on July 6th, 2012 
Kitchen Skylights
If you have a dark and gloomy kitchen, you know important it is to have the proper lighting. If you're chopping vegetables or moving boiling hot pots and pans you could do yourself serious injury if you can't see what you're doing. But rather than flicking on the light switch have you thought about improving your kitchen with a skylight? Not only can it help brighten up your kitchen and save you money in the long-run it can add an attractive talking point too.
Natural Light Benefits
The moment you add a skylight you instantly introduce more natural light into the room. Compared with traditional windows, skylights create open and airy spaces because they are effectively a window to the sky. Studies have shown that they allow up to five times more natural light into a room, which will immediately enhance the illusion of space. This will provide better definition of objects, better aesthetics and better color - making your kitchen feel bigger than it is.
Cooking Benefits
Having more light in your kitchen will instantly make it a much safer place than it was before. If you can see what you're doing you're less likely to have an accident - so they improve home safety too. If that wasn't reason enough to get one, they help protect your home's structure too. This is because whenever you boil water you know how much steam is produced. From bubbling pots and pans to kettles, condensation can quickly build up on walls and ceilings. This can cause structural damage by making brickwork damp, it can lead to ugly patches of mold growth. If you've not got proper ventilation in your kitchen, a skylight is a perfect solution.
Save Energy and Money
In the cold winter months, when the sun only comes out for a few hours (if it does at all!), having a skylight installed will reduce the need for you to put your lights on, saving on electricity costs. They can also help you save money on your heating bill too - if they face south they can provide you with passive solar heating when the sun comes out in those chilly winter months - even just a few degrees can result in not having to turn the heating up so much. In addition the materials they are made from can reduce the amount of heat lost from your roof in winter and can keep your home cooler in summer.
They add value to your home too...
When it comes to selling your home, making it stand out from the crowd is particularly important - particularly in these tough times. A skylight is a perfect solution. Coming in all different shapes and sizes, they make your home look more modern and fashionable and create an interesting talking point. On top of all of these benefits for your home, skylights can actually add value to your home.
Planning and Installation
Depending on which direction your kitchen faces will dictate the type of skylight for you. If it faces south, you'll not want to go for a sloping skylight because the sun will overheat your room. Believe it or not the sun moves, so it will beat down on your kitchen all day. If it faces North, a flat-panel skylight won't make much difference as the sun won't have much effect. Consider the direction your kitchen faces and pick a skylight accordingly.
However, although the amount you pay for your skylight will determine its size, you don't want to scrimp on quality and buy a low-quality or a skylight which is far too small for your kitchen. The cost of installation will be the same regardless of the one you buy, so remember this when it comes to picking one.
Kent Yuen is a writer for Granite Transformations, a home remodeling company with exciting ideas for home improvement.
