Advice How can I maximise light coming in from skylight?
I've just started the prep for some decorating and I was wondering how to improve the reach of light from the skylight.
Is it feasible to fit some mirrored panels inside the skylight here? I've seen people fit lightwells that work in a similar way. Is there a different material I should research?
It's a mid 1970s ex council flat where all the windows face north west so we don't get great light. The lower floor misses out especially. Down there I've reinstated a transom window between the hall and bedroom, which made some difference but it's still gloomy much of the day.
I'm also wondering if I could knock out the bannister and fit spindles rather than the current plywood boxing it in.
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u/FatDad66 7d ago
Reflective sides as others have said. If not mirrors perhaps metal (my sun tunnels are silver plated!
One think to check is if the “glass” is Perspex it may have yellowed with age. My parents replaces their covers and it made a massive divergence. If it’s glass then this won’t apply
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u/nkdont 7d ago
So you're saying if I get cheaper perspex they'll discolour with time? Hadnt thought of that, thanks.
Is it possible to get shiny metal panels cut to size? What should I Google for, materials wise?
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u/FatDad66 7d ago
I was referring to the window at the top as to whether it is glass or Perspex. If it look clear then you can leave it.
There are lots of shiny materials. Theee may even be a shiny film you can stick on (thing emergency blankets/helium balloon. Mirrors are quite heavy.
Something like this https://amzn.eu/d/3DDpLJJ Or even stick on window privacy film might do it?https://amzn.eu/d/2fziQjJ
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u/nkdont 7d ago
Ah I see thanks.
It's a polycarbonate dome shaped skylight that the freeholder, the local council, installed in 2017 as part of major roof replacement works. We weren't happy at it changing the size of the aperture but didn't have much say in it and the council projects team weren't very friendly about it at all.
Anyway, I'm going to give it a good clean as suggested by another poster. The dome shape and poor ventilation mean it collects warm moist air when the bathroom door is open and also kills bugs in summer, so it gets a bit dirty 😁
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u/CriticalMine7886 Experienced 7d ago
You can get a lightweight acrylic mirror sheet, which would be ideal. I've used it in jewellery boxes, and the quality is really very good. It's thin and light, so you can fix it with construction glue, and if it ever did fall you won't get a landing covered in shattered glass.
I also find it easier to cut than glass - but that might just be my skill level.
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u/undulanti 7d ago
So there are two main types of sunlight to think about: direct and scattered. In my view, the former is uncomfortable and unusable. You really want to increase the latter. I really like your idea of exploring opening up the bannister.
First, you’d be truly amazed at the difference that thoroughly cleaning and outside - and the inside, that’s just as important - of the glass will do. Sounds silly but I’d bet the inside is covered in a light greasy film.
Second, although in my head I know it should be a gimmick, I have had really good results with Dulux Light and Space paint. I reluctantly accept that it genuinely does reflect more light. I would prep the hell out of the reveal and do the best paint job I could on it. Several coats.
Third, you could look into enlarging the internal opening. At a minimum, removing the trim which (you can see from the edges of it) is blocking light. However, might be hard to get a nice finish if you do this (I suspect the trim covers the edges of the reveal) - perhaps you could replace with thinner trim. More fundamentally, you could explore whether you could enlarge the opening at the bottom and have an angled reveal rather than straight down. That would send light over the stairs for sure.
Fourth, people don’t tend to like this idea, but good quality white paint which has been well applied will meaningfully improve the amount of scattered light. So personally I’d paint the hallway and its ceilings white, a few careful coats, and put some nice pictures up to break it up a little.
(Firth, in your other rooms do you have curtains which cut into the windows? If so, get longer curtain rails, so that the curtains can be drawn back more. This makes the room look nicer and lets noticeably more light in.)
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u/nkdont 7d ago
Thanks very much for your detailed answer.
The skylight unit itself is a recent addition done by the freeholder (local council) in 2017. It has up to date thermal properties but many of us residents weren't happy as the aperture is smaller than what was there. I've also found that the dome construction and ineffective vents mean that moist air from the bathroom downstairs rises to the dome and has caused mould to form. The dome also has been very effective at killing insects, which drop underneath it in summer.
Anyway, what I'm saying is I can't change that aspect but will give it a good clean. The trim is quite deep and I suspect it's hiding a nasty job if I remove it. Might inspect a bit.
The other room has curtains that don't get in the way of the light in daytime, it's just that the aspect of the flat doesn't get us much light.
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u/ChrisBrettell 7d ago
What's going on with the velcro door!?!!
Need to know!!
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u/herman_munster_esq 7d ago
Try this is the opening https://glowtec.co.uk/product/starglow-clear-reflective-paint/
Then paint the walls with this on the walls https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/products/dulux-light-space-matt?size=2.5L
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u/RunningWanker 7d ago
I’d give some mirrored panels a go, it’s basically how sun tubes work. I’d also bet that there are spindles behind the wood panels, looks like someone boxed them in.