What Should You Do With That Old Skylight

You have a skylight in your house that you are not sure what to do with! It leaks, it is not your style, the house came with it. Is it really that simple to replace or remove a skylight? Here are some solutions to what you should do with that old skylight. 

Your new house has old skylights. What do you do now?

Rather than installing skylights, many homeowners purchase homes with them already installed. Many find this to be an exciting feature. Others see skylights as a hassle. If your home has an old skylight model that leaks, or if it is falling apart or has discolored plastic, it makes sense why you'd want to change it. But what's the plan? Would you like to replace the skylights or board them up?

The first thing to do is...

It's often better to have an old, discolored skylight than no skylight at all. It is likely that you already depend on that extra light throughout the day without even realizing it. Be sure you can live without that natural light before you decide to board it up.

Put a tarp over the skylights on your roof. Or you can cover it with a blanket from the inside if you'd rather the neighbors not see. If you board up your skylight, you can experience what life will be like without natural light.

Decide if you want to lose natural light

Using a tarp to cover your skylight quickly helps homeowners realize they do not want to lose their natural light. This kind of added light has grown accustomed to them, so anything less makes the room feel especially dark. Rather than board up the skylight, they investigate replacement options, many of which offer structural and technological upgrades that make living with a skylight a luxury, rather than a burden.

The Perks of Replacements

Upgrade your skylight rather than board it up if you want these benefits:

• Keep the natural light. It's brighter, easier to see, and makes the colors in your decor really pop. In addition, it helps reduce your artificial lighting usage, resulting in a lower electric bill.
• Add some natural ventilation. If you replace a fixed skylight with a venting skylight (one that opens), you can add fresh air to your home as well as natural light. You will have cleaner and healthier air to breathe.
• Easy, remote light control. There is nothing new about skylight shades and vents; they have only evolved in terms of control. In addition to remote controls that can operate skylights and blinds without the need to turn a crank or control rod, some skylights let you operate them right from your smartphone.
• Increased energy efficiency. Besides reducing your electric light usage, new skylights equipped with Smart Home Technology can help you improve your home's energy efficiency by automatically opening and closing skylights and shades to maintain an optimal indoor climate.

You decide you would rather part with the old skylight

Some people realize the skylight doesn't need to be lit because the light coming in from the windows is sufficient. Some people also just want to get rid of the leak and the water damage caused by the old skylight. There are many companies that specialize in boarding up skylights and making sure the job is done right so you will never have to be concerned about that skylight again. 

If you do decide that you would rather board up that old leaking skylight rather than risk the chance of water damage, Emergency Tarping, and Board Up is here to help. Give us a call today!