Allowing extra natural light inside any work premises is proven to have numerous benefits; it also makes the place brighter and more welcoming for occupants and visitors. Bringing extra sunlight inside a building is not always as easy as it seems though. In many cases, enlarging existing windows or creating new ones is not an option due to the building’s structural integrity and other considerations. Having said that, if a premises is located on a top floor of a building, or the building is a single level structure, then skylights can be utilized effectively in order to bring extra natural light inside.

So what exactly is a skylight?

A skylight is essentially a window on the roof. Skylights in all their shapes and sizes have been used for decades to bring much needed natural light into gloomy premises without the need for structural alteration to the building below. Skylights are generally made of fiberglass and/or similar lightweight composite materials like PVC and polycarbonate. The actual pane is usually made of a flexible, lightweight, and transparent material that is both clear and durable.

Natural light is great for business!

It is scientifically proven that extra natural light inside a building is beneficial for its occupants. For instance, when a commercial or public building is well lit with sunlight:

• workers and staff are more efficient and productive
• students are more alert and easily retain more information
• hospital patients recover sooner
• shoppers tend to spend more.

If you think natural sunlight will improve performance in your place of business, then speak to a skylight specialist. Keep in mind, that skylights are also installed on buildings with metal roofing. Qualified metal roofing contractors will be able to assess your existing roofing structure and determine how many, and which kind of skylight is best for your circumstances. Skylights can be retrofitted to your existing metal roofing, or they can be incorporated as part of the initial metal roofing installation on your new build. 1^st Choice Commercial Roofing, a specialist on metal roof installation and repair in Houston, would like to advise you that retrofitting any existing roofing structure with skylights should be done by qualified individuals in order to avoid compromise to structural integrity.

Embrace daylight – reduce your power bill!

Running your business in an ecofriendly manner will translate to lower operational costs. Logically enough, skylights happen to be an excellent way to reduce workplace electricity bills as they bring in natural light and reduce the constant need for artificial illumination. The correlation between skylights and lower energy bills is rock solid, architects and interior designers all over the world are propagating the benefits of skylights at home and in the workplace. Isn’t it time you did that for your business?

Industrial skylights – are they right for your business?

As the name implies, industrial skylights are the counterparts of domestic ones. Given their intended use though, industrial skylights tend to be larger and more varied in terms of design and durability as they need to meet the specific requirements of the business establishment. Material wise, industrial skylights utilize lightweight metals and composite materials in order to reduce weight and increase versatility.

One of the most common examples of industrial skylights is the corrugated polycarbonate variety. This type of set up uses corrugated polycarbonate sheeting, very similar to the corrugated sheet metal used in the construction of industrial metal roofing. The similar structure of the panels makes them ideal for integration into existing industrial roof structures. If you need to integrate skylights into your industrial roofing, this is perhaps one of the most cost effective and least structurally evasive ways to achieve this. Custom tailored industrial skylights are available through many manufacturers, so even odd or unusually designed properties can enjoy the benefits of natural sunlight.