Sky lights

Want to lower your energy costs and make your home more beautiful while you're at it? Install sky lights. When you have natural light shining into a room during the day, there is little need to turn on your lamp or overhead light.

Why not add a sky light to a room that feels dark and cramped? Here are some tips to help you decide what type to install:

• Placement -- if possible, align your sky light well with the wall. This creates a continuous plain for light to wash down.
• Shape -- for more light shining on the wall, use a long and narrow window well instead of a large square one.
• Well depth -- the depth of your well depends greatly on where you are installing it. Keep in mind that a more shallow well will provide more light than a deep one.
• White -- you will get more reflectivity when sky lights shine off a white well as opposed to one that has a wood finish or is another color.
• Flared -- instead of creating a well with straight sides, use one with a flare to distribute more light.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when deciding to install one or several sky lights. It is best to speak with a contractor before getting started on a project. Find out where is the wisest place to add one (based on your roof, lighting needs, sunlight reception, etc.) or if it is even possible to do so. Discuss such things as whether glass or acrylic is best suited to you and your home and what type of glazing option you should use.