Sun Tunnels

[lookoveryourshoulder]

Hi,

We live in a large bungalow which has a long and fairly dingy hallway - it needs a new lighting system but I was wondering whether it would be possible to install a couple of "sun tunnels" to filter some natural daylight into the area..

The first Hallway in question is probably around 25 feet long - then we go round a 90 degree bend and then have a couple of steps which leads onto the bedrooms. This hallway is approx 15 foot but all the bedrooms have glazed glass above the doors to allow extra light - but it is still very gloomy.

Has anybody has these fitted and could give me a "ball park" figure on costings etc and if it was worth it or not ???

Thanks

They are about £300 for the parts for each one. Extension tubes are extra if it's a long way up through the loft. I have the parts for three but we haven't yet fitted them so I hope they live up to expectations. We used the "lightway" system from www.lightupmyroom.co.uk but sunpipe/solatube are similarly priced.

Installation wise you need someone to go up on the roof, so that could be £500 or so I guess. I think our builder is planning to do it from an access tower and roofing ladder, it only involves removing a few tiles, then everything else is inside the loft (and could be DIY). Also bear in mind your loft will be obstructed by the "tubes" so don't put one right by the hatch!

I can feed back in a couple of weeks when we have put them in.

Much cheaper to leave the lights on.

We put one in over a stairwell and it is good but we should have gone for either the larger size or more than one - its a large stairwell and the single solatube isnt quite enough.

It is lovely to get more light in and we had it done when the roof was being repaired so not much extra cost.

I would get prices from local builders and perhaps have some new LED lighting priced up too, as an alternative.

Some tunnel sites have ready-reckners on there so it can work out what is feasible. You need to know the direction of the side of roof, the angle and the depth from roof to ceiling. I did this and found out it was of no benefit.

I have a brilliant roofer, retired and takes cash, sooo cheap and very experienced.

We have a couple of these and they are really good.

..thanks for your various suggestions/input

Will try to price up putting a couple of them into the hallway - if we decide to go down this route I'll be back to let you know the outcome...