Is a Skylight or a LED Light Better for My Home

If you are looking for lighting solutions for your home, windows and skylights offer excellent daytime lighting. Skylights, in particular, open up a room and create a brilliant transition between the indoors and outdoors. The natural light provides an unmatched feel that accentuates the beauty of the interior space. Unfortunately, skylights cannot fit on every roof, hence the need for an LED skylight. As the name suggests, the LED skylight utilizes LED bulbs to achieve the same effect as a traditional skylight. Nonetheless, there are a few differences. Here is the difference between a skylight and an LED skylight

Design 

Traditional skylights have a simple design consisting of a frame and a transparent glass plane. Generally, skylights use tempered or laminated glass. The two options offer enough strength for a roof placement; however, the former is inexpensive. Moreover, clear glass is used, but the strength rating is not as good as the other two options. Unfortunately, traditional skylights are limited by their design. They can only be installed on slanted roofs to avoid an accumulation of rainwater or debris on the surface. 

On the other hand, LED skylights have no limitations on placement and installation. They can fit perfectly on slanted and flat roofs. The design of the fitting consists of numerous LED strips fitted on a plane to mimic a skylight. The LED bulbs emit light that can pass for sunlight. Since LED skylights are powered, installation can be done on any roof/ceiling design. 

Versatility

Skylights are versatile fittings. They can accommodate different sizes and shapes. However, since traditional skylights also serve as part of the roofing structure, strength and durability play central roles in the selection of the size, shape, and material. Large skylights need stronger glass planes and frames to sustain all the structural forces, while smaller fittings can accommodate a simple design. Therefore, if you are not willing to pay for a complex installation, your options are limited. 

Alternatively, LED skylights have no limitation on size or shape. Since the fixture is independent of the structural design of the ceiling, all you need is your imagination to decide the final design. Unlike traditional skylights, LED skylights to allow users to adjust the light intensity and quality. Moreover, some units allow color change. Although smart glass planes are used in modern natural skylights, the versatility doesn’t match the LED option. 

Additionally, LED skylights offer 24 hours of running time. During the day, they look like traditional skylights, while at night, they serve as central lighting fittings. The traditional skylights are only limited to the daytime function, and lighting decreases with cloud cover.

Also, Read: Four Foot LED Shop Lights for Commercial Lighting

Cost

The price tag on a skylight depends on many factors; design, size, shape, and installation. Generally, LED skylights have a low installation cost. Most units are fitted onto the ceiling without much modification. However, flash designs require some work on the ceiling to accommodate the LED panels. On the other hand, traditional skylights have to be included in the structural design of the roof. Because of this, installation is complex, and it’s often done during roof construction. As a result, a traditional skylight is bound to leave a deeper hole in your pockets. 

Nonetheless, the operation costs of an LED skylight and a traditional skylight are low. The latter has zero costs since everything is natural. However, LED skylights require some power to keep them running. Most units utilize solar energy to independently run the units, while others are connected to the mains. The power consumption is relatively low but a cost all the same. 

Lighting Quality

Although LED skylights have succeeded in mimicking traditional skylights, they are not a complete replacement. Traditional skylights have the advantage of natural light, which changes independently in terms of quality and intensity. Moreover, the light comes in with some heat which adds to the quality of the final feel.

Nonetheless, some users want control over the skylight and consider heat an unnecessary inconvenience. LED skylights are ideal for such users. Settling the debate of which option is better is difficult since personal preference weighs heavily on the final selection. 

Ultimately, traditional skylights and LED skylights have unique pros and cons. Which one is ideal for your home or office building depends on the structural design, your budget, and personal preference.