{"id":16557,"date":"2025-12-15T20:17:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/?p=16557"},"modified":"2025-12-15T22:51:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T22:51:46","slug":"sun-tunnels-and-skylights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/sun-tunnels-and-skylights\/","title":{"rendered":"Sun Tunnels and Skylights"},"content":{"rendered":"

A lot of houses do not get enough natural light. A-frames and semidetached townhouses often have dark central rooms because there is nowhere to put a window. Cabins surrounded by trees and houses that face north may receive very little sunlight. Many historic homes have small windows.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Stained glass windows let in little light.
Lyme Hall, Lyme Park, United Kingdom
Photo by Trevor King<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some Victorian and Arts & Crafts style homes have stained glass windows. They are really attractive, but they often let very little sunlight in.<\/p>\n

Attic rooms and lofts can be dark, too. A gambrel or mansard roof gives more usable space, but less wall space for windows.<\/p>\n

Sun tunnels and skylights are a great solution to all of these problems.<\/p>\n

Both sun tunnels and skylights bring natural light in. Sun tunnels are less expensive and easier to install.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Velux Panorama Roof Windows
Multiple roof windows transform attics or upper floors into bright, spacious living areas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Skylights can also add a view in a more vertical gambrel or mansard roof. Adding a sun tunnel or a skylight doesn\u2019t add headroom and usable square footage like a dormer, but it usually costs a lot less.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Velux Sun Tunnels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sun Tunnels<\/h2>\n

Sun tunnels, also called solar tubes, are smaller than skylights. They usually have a clear dome on the roof and a reflective tube to channel sunlight to a lens in the ceiling.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Solatube Sun Tunnel Kit with Integrated Solar Night Light<\/strong> on Amazon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sun tunnels don\u2019t have to go straight down. The reflective tube is available in flexible material or a rigid tunnel can turn corners.<\/p>\n

Some sun tunnels have an integrated electric or solar-powered light, so they provide illumination even when it is not sunny. You can find kits to add a light to an existing sun tunnel, too.<\/p>\n

\"My
Sun tunnel in my attic playroom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I had two sun tunnels in my log cabin. One went directly from the roof to the attic room over the stairs. Sunlight lit the attic room and added light to the living room down the stairs. The other sun tunnel was boxed in to light the hallway. It was remarkable how much light the little sun tunnels brought in.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Solatube Sun Tunnel with Ventilation Add-On Kit<\/strong> on Amazon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Solatube sells a Ventilation Add-On Kit for some of their sun tunnels. It does not vent through the sun tunnel. It adds a vent through separate ducting to a roof vent cap.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Large Span Ridge Skylights
A ridge skylight wraps over the highest point of the roof, the ridgeline.\u00a0
Photo by Bill-in-SF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Skylights<\/h2>\n

Basically, a skylight is a window in the roof. Like windows, skylights can be really big or quite small.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Valdoza Venting Multi-Angle Skylight Roof Windows<\/strong> on Amazon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you have a gambrel or mansard roof with more vertical walls, the skylight may give you a view.<\/p>\n

\"The
Large Skylight in the cabin living room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We had a skylight in the log cabin. It gave a view of the sky.<\/p>\n

The skylight was already installed when I bought the log cabin. It added a lot of light to the open living room\/kitchen. It didn\u2019t open. The only downside is that it was a spider magnet. I would stand on the island counter and reach up with a long extension pole duster to reach them.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Manual Crank Opening Skylight
Photo by Bill-in-SF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some skylights open on a hinge for fresh air. This small skylight has a manual hand-crank control and a long arm to reach it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Skylight opens for ventilation
Solar panels charge integrated battery
Remote and wall switch control mechanism
Skylight from Hollywood Skylights
Photo from M J Goldfinger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This skylight has an electric control with a remote and wall switch.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bi-parting Retractable Skylight
Photo by Bill-in-SF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some skylights are retractable. Some are motorized, some are manual. These are a real investment.<\/p>\n

Bi-parting skylights split in two. Over-stationary means the retractable portions park themselves over fixed panes.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bi-parting Retractable Skylight
Photo by Bill-in-SF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The skylight windows open like the sunroof on a car. See the\u00a0steel tracks that the skylight rolls on to retract?<\/p>\n

\"\"
Motorized Skylight Cellular Shades<\/strong> on Amazon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They make blinds to fit sky lights for privacy and light control.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Installation<\/h2>\n

Sun tunnels can be a relatively simple DIY project. Skylights are more complex. They usually involve framing, drywall and roof work. You probably don\u2019t need to pull a permit for a sun tunnel. You probably do for a skylight.<\/p>\n

Installing a skylight involves cutting an opening in your roof and probably cutting roof trusses.<\/p>\n

Installing a sun tunnel may take only a few hours. Installing a skylight may take days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A lot of houses do not get enough natural light. A-frames and semidetached townhouses often have dark central rooms because there is nowhere to put a window. Cabins surrounded by trees and houses that face north may receive very little sunlight. Many historic homes have …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/featured-Velux_Panorama_Roof_Window.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6490,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/inspiration-frank-lloyd-wrights-kentuck-knob\/","url_meta":{"origin":16557,"position":0},"title":"Inspiration: Frank Lloyd Wright\u2019s Kentuck Knob","author":"Carla","date":"August 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Kentuck Knob, or the Hagan House is a National Historic Landmark. 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My cousin just visited Kentuck Knob with her family and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Inspiration"","block_context":{"text":"Inspiration","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/inspiration\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Inspiration: Frank Lloyd Wright\u2019s Kentuck Knob","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/featured-kentuck_knob.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/featured-kentuck_knob.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/featured-kentuck_knob.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/featured-kentuck_knob.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16329,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/inside-louis-penfield-house-usonian-design-by-frank-lloyd-wright\/","url_meta":{"origin":16557,"position":1},"title":"Inside Louis Penfield House Usonian Design by Frank Lloyd Wright","author":"Carla","date":"September 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Discover how Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian homes provide practical strategies for a cohesive and comfortable home that reflects your lifestyle and tastes. Usonian homes have a deep connection to nature, functional efficiency, and an inviting aesthetic. Although they were designed nearly 100 years ago, you may be able to use\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Inspiration"","block_context":{"text":"Inspiration","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/inspiration\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Frank Lloyd Wright\u2019s Usonian Design: Louis Penfield House and RiverRock House Photo by Stilfehler","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/featured_image-Usonian_Design_Louis_Penfield_House-interior.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/featured_image-Usonian_Design_Louis_Penfield_House-interior.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/featured_image-Usonian_Design_Louis_Penfield_House-interior.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/featured_image-Usonian_Design_Louis_Penfield_House-interior.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16327,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/frank-lloyd-wrights-usonian-design-louis-penfield-house-and-riverrock-house\/","url_meta":{"origin":16557,"position":2},"title":"Frank Lloyd Wright\u2019s Usonian Design: Louis Penfield House and RiverRock House","author":"Carla","date":"September 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Louis Penfield House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 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