Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Although standard skylights are great at illuminating otherwise dark interior spaces, they can be problematic in certain situations because you cannot “turn them off.” Fortunately, skylight manufacturers have worked around this problem by introducing integrated skylight blinds and shades.
Blinds or shades are also important for blocking heat loss at night. Clear skylights tend to lose a large amount of heat toward the night sky in winter, a principle called “clear night sky re-radiation.” Amazingly, the area around a skylight can drop 5 to 10 degrees below ambient temperatures due to this phenomenon. A shade or blind can help minimize this heat loss.
Most operable skylights include insect screening that mounts below the opening; some fiberglass insect screens reduce UV rays by up to 70 percent. Following are some types of skylight shades and blinds: Light-blocking shades (right) These virtually turn day into night. They are made of aluminum-coated fabric and are extremely energy efficient. Velux offers a new model powered by a built-in solar battery, which means no wiring.
Pleated or cellular shades (shown top right) Shades diffuse and soften the light coming in, reducing glare and protecting furniture and carpeting from fading.
Venetian blinds (right) Venetian blinds are great at redirecting and reducing incoming light. Their aluminum construction makes them ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and other humid environments. Pella makes skylights with blinds built into the space between the double-insulated glass.
Heat-blocking awnings (left) A heat-blocking retractable awning glides in tracks across the exterior of the skylight, entirely blocking heat from entering the house. Most are electric, controlled by a push button.
