Solatube FAQ's - General Information

How does a Solatube work?

Solatube captures light through a dome on the roof and channels it down through our patented internal reflective system. This tubing is far more efficient than a traditional drywall skylight shaft, which can lose over half of the potential light. The tubing will fit between rafters and will install easily with no structural modification. At the ceiling level, a diffuser that resembles a recessed light fixture spreads the light evenly throughout the room.

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How does Solatube's light output compare to electric lights?

Light is measured in lumens and energy usage in watts. A standard 100 watt incandescent lamp produces 1200 lumens. A 40-watt, 48" (1.2m) fluorescent tube produces 2300 lumens. View Performance Chart

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What is a tubular skylight and how does it compare to a traditional box skylight?

Traditional skylights have their place, as do tubular skylights. There are a few key benefits of tubular skylights, however, including flexible location options, low cost of installation and better lighting performance.

Location
Tubular skylights can be installed in places where a traditional skylight wouldn't be an option, such as rooms without direct roof access or small areas like bathrooms, closets and hallways. The units are compact in design (as little as 10 inches, or 250mm in diameter) and feature adjustable tubing with angle adapters that allow for installation around attic obstructions.

Light Output
Tubular skylights are able to accomplish better lighting performance results than a similar size box skylight, because they don't use a skylight well (in which light is lost through absorption into the drywall shaft). They capture light more effectively on the rooftop and efficiently transfer more of it down the reflective tube and into the room.

Additionally, a tubular skylight provides better light diffusion. Instead of lighting only the space directly below the skylight, a tubular skylight uses optics to spread the light out, often lighting the entire room.

Lighting Enhancements
Traditional skylights do not offer any optical enhancement devices to help increase performance. On the north side of a sloped roof, the light output from a regular skylight is significantly reduced without these devices.

The Solatube tubular skylight, for example, features several proprietary enhancement devices, which work in concert to capture more light from all angles and reflect it down the tube for higher light output during early morning, late afternoon and in the winter months when the sun is low on the horizon.

The Solatube transfers the maximum amount of ambient light into a room with minimal light loss, allowing it to provide great performance even on cloudy or rainy days. In fact, it captures ambient light so well, on a full-moon night, you can actually see a nice glow.

Cost
The cost of a tubular skylight is more affordable than most traditional skylights. Remember, the cost of the traditional skylight is only a portion of the total materials cost. One must also add in the cost of framing members, paint, drywall, etc. Then, labor becomes a very large portion of the cost because a contractor must frame out the skylight shall, drywall it, tape it, then paint it.

Leaks
Traditional skylights have a reputation of leaking. Many times this is an issue of incorrect installation, but their square design invites problems. First, the fiat up-slope side collects branches, leaves and other debris, which interferes with proper drainage. As the water dams up, it migrates under shingles or tiles to find an escape route, causing leaking.

The round design and one piece flashing system of the tubular skylight allows water and debris to flow past unobstructed. The entire unit is sealed to lock out any moisture.

Options
Tubular skylights can also be multi-functional. Tubular skylights like Solatube can be equipped with options like an integrated electric light (for night-time lighting), A Daylight Dimmer to turn the natural light off, as well as a ventilation fan, providing a two-or three-in-one unit from a single ceiling fixture. Again, traditional skylights can't offer you these features.

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What is the Brighten Up^® Series?

The Brighten Up Series includes the 10" (250mm) and 14" (350mm) Solatubes, both of which can be installed quickly and easily between standard rafters and joist and without structural modifications. The series also includes optional diffusers and flashings, as well as electric light, Daylight Dimmer and ventilation add-on accessories.

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How large an area does the Solatube light?

A 10" (250mm) Solatube will provide light for up to a 150 square foot (14 sq meter) residential area. A 14" (350mm) Solatube lights up to a 250 square foot (23 sq meter) residential area. A 21" (530mm) Solatube lights up to a 400 square foot (37 sq meter) residential area. For Commercial Building applications, please consult a Solatube design professional, since acceptable illuminated areas will greatly vary due to ceiling heights and space uses.

These estimated lighting areas are based upon an average 6' (1.82m) tube length and 8' (2.4m) ceiling height, with the dome being in direct sunlight.

Light output will very depending on the intensity of the sun. For example, there will be more light at mid-day than in the morning or evening. Light output may also decrease as the length of tube increases.

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Do Solatubes leak?

Solatubes' circular one piece seamless flashing design allows rain and debris to bypass the skylight naturally.

Solatube flashings have no joints or weak points that may separate and allow water to enter.

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Is a Solatube difficult to install?

Both 10" (250mm) and 14" (350mm) Solatubes fit easily between roof rafters with no structural changes, so there is no need to build a skylight shaft. Our adjustable tubing design includes two Spectralight^® Delta angle adapters that allow installation around attic obstructions and Spectralight^® Infinity extension tubing in 16" (400mm) and 24" (600mm) segments. All designed to telescope together for easy installation with no cutting necessary.

Zip Ties: Probably the most appealing and time saving feature. This patented system locks the ceiling ring to the ceiling. This allows for the entire lower component and the Solatube to be installed without needing to enter the attic.

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Can I install a Solatube myself?

Installation of a Solatube is very easy. An experienced contractor or handyman can do it in a few hours.

Solatube is designed with a patented fastening and telescoping tube system that virtually eliminates the need to enter the attic. Additionally, many components are pre-assembled at the factory for minimum assembly time.

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How long does it take to install a Solatube?

Approximately two hours or less on shingle asphalt roofs, while other roof types may take slightly longer.

Solatubes feature factory assembled parts for faster, easier, more professional looking installations.

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Will my clothing or furniture fade?

Solatubes will not cause fading. The acrylic dome filters all but 0.1% of UV, then all but 2.4% of that is filtered by the diffuser. So over 99.9% of UV is filtered out.

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What is Spectralight^® Infinity?

Proprietary Spectralight Infinity tubing provides up to 99% total reflectance and 99% specular reflectance. It is the most reflective material on the world market today and is used on all Solatube skylights.

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Is there a way to turn off or "block out" a Solatube?

Yes! The new Solatube Daylight Dimmer allows the natural lighting level of a room to be turned up or down on demand, providing unprecedented flexibility for tubular skylights in both residential and commercial applications. The Daylight Dimmer easily controls the amount of light desired in any room from the convenience of a switch.

• Available for 10" (250mm), 14" (350mm) and 21" (530mm) Solatubes
• Proprietary variable Butterfly Baffle controls light output.
• Perfect for bedrooms, family rooms, offices and boardrooms.

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What is the LITD^® and Raybender^® Technology?

The 10" (250mm) and 14" (350mm) Brighten Up^® Series Solatubes feature the patented Light Intercepting Transfer Device (LITD). Working in concert with the Raybender Technology (a Fresnel lens system) they capture more light from all angles and reflect it down the tube for higher light output during early morning, late afternoon, and in winter when the sun is low on the horizon.

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Will I save energy with a Solatube?

With Solatubes operating during daylight hours, electric lights are off which means no energy consumption. Solatubes have insignificant heat gain, so air conditioning or heating are not affected. In fact the electric lights a Solatube displaces add more heat to a room than a Solatube. Alternatively, more heat would be lost through a small closed window.

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What does the ceiling fixture (diffuser) look like?

All diffusers are designed to be highly attractive and unobtrusive on the ceiling. They feature a sleek dress ring that transitions the lens to the ceiling with a beveled edge. The dress ring is injection molded with highly durable white ABS that is also paintable.

There are currently three options for ceiling diffuser lenses. All are made from acrylic and designed to effectively diffuse the natural sunlight throughout the room.

• Flush (Frosted) Diffuser: Is the most popular and comes standard in all Brighten Up^® Series single pack kits. The lens is flat with a small frosted pattern that allows natural highlights to be transferred into the room.
• Curved Diffuser: Features a bolder prismatic design similar to that found in many fluorescent light fixtures. It is slightly convex, protruding off the ceiling plane and provides a slightly more evenly diffused light than the Flush Diffuser. This item must be ordered with a special order kit.
• OptiView^® Diffuser: Allows a view of the sky through a series of high-tech radial lenses. This high-tech lens is highly effective at diffusing light and minimizing glare. It does not come standard in any Brighten Up Series kit, and can be ordered with a special order kit.

Solatube also offers an optional Secondary Diffuser. This diffuser is installed at the dome level and diffuses the light before it enters the tubing, delivering a softer light out of the ceiling diffuser. It is primarily used in very sunny markets where occasionally customers feel their Solatubes are too bright. We recommend they live with their new Solatube for two weeks to adjust to it. If the Solatube is still too bright, a secondary diffuser usually solves the problem.

For more information see:
Brighten Up^® Series 10" (250mm) & 14" (350mm) Solatubes
SolaMaster^® Series 21" (530mm) Solatubes

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Can Solatubes be installed in commercial buildings?

Yes. Solatubes have been installed in schools, churches, industrial buildings, post offices, and hospitals throughout the world. We also offer some unique accessories for commercial applications. For further information refer to our 21" (530mm) SolaMaster Series^®.