Dome roof lights

[nicelyneurotic]

If you have them or have seen them, do you like them?

Do they get dirty quickly?

[Mynewmoniker]

I have a sun pipe. Is that the same?

[propitia]

Do you mean like a light well cut into your roof? eg to light up a staircase?

Also interested to hear more.

Did have a beautiful georgian roof light, about 4' x 8' where I worked but totally inaccessible & it just got mucky & dirty over the years.

[nicelyneurotic]

Hi Mynewmoniker.
Maybe - the domes are those glass lights they put in ceilings to get natural light in. We are thinking of getting them in our roof above the stairs and a bathroom. Are they any good?

[nicelyneurotic]

Hi Propita, yes that's the kind of thing. Am worried they will get dirty or have a greenhouse effect where they make the bathroom really hot in the summer!

[lalalonglegs]

We got one in our old house - it had a very rickety and home-made contraption when we moved in and we eventually replaced with a dome skylight. I don't remember it getting particularly dirty and the amount of light it let in compared to the old arrangement was fantastic, it completely transformed the landing and stairs. Ours was hinged so we could open it when need be to let air in and so that we could get out on the roof - I think most of them have ventilation slots in the upstand to help with temperature control. They do let in a lot of light which may or may not be welcome in the bathroom depending on your body confidence .

[Mynewmoniker]

We had a sunpipe fitted on the landing a couple of years ago. It was one of the few bargains I've had in my life as we had talked about getting one and we discovered this by chance being sold off cheaply in B&Q. We asked a local roofer to fit it and although it must have been a doddle of a job for him he charged us £100. It was his first one so he took his time. I reckon anyone handy could DIY.

Ours got a couple of big dead spiders in; rather like you get in the upturned light shades and we thought we'd have to get him back to get rid of them but suprise, suprise we just twisted off the cover and they dropped out. A doddle.

It doesn't get dirty, it's flush to the ceiling and it lets in LOADS of light. We used to have a small light on constantly up there.

I personaly wouldn't have one in a bathroom (ours is perhaps too small anyway) but I guess it's no different to a velux with no blind.

If you have your bedrrom door open the light from it can wake you up early on a spring/summer morning.

If I were to move house and had the same problem I would have no hesitation in having another fitted.The advantages outweigh the disadvantages IMHO.

Hope this helps.

[nicelyneurotic]

Thank you very much! I think we'll give them a try. I guess we can cover them if we decide we don't like them. Looking forward to a lighter, brighter house!

[Mynewmoniker]

Let me know how you get on nicelyneurotic.

I doubt you'd want to cover it. We only notice the light it gives and actualy point it out to guests. The dome bit is outside and it's flush withe the white ceiling inside.

I'm going to have a look on line at the latest inventions now!