☞ How does a Solatube work?

On the roof, Solatube's patented reflective system which is located inside the skylight dome redirects low angle light and more ambient light down through highly reflective tubing.  This tubing maximizes light and is far more efficient than a traditional drywall skylight shaft, which can loose over half of its potential light.  At the ceiling level, a diffuser that resembles a recessed light fixture spreads the light evenly throughout the room.

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☞ How large an area does the Solatube light?

A 160DS or 10-inch Solatube will provide light for a 200 square foot area, the 290DS or 14-inch Solatube lights a 300 square foot area and the 21-inch lights up to a 450 square foot area. The square feet of estimated lighted area is based upon a tube length of 6 feet, an 8 foot ceiling, with the dome being in direct sunlight. The light output will vary depending on the intensity of the sun. For example, there will be more light at midday than in the morning or evening. Light output may also decrease slightly as the length of tube increases.

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☞ What is Spectralight Infinity?

Proprietary Spectralight Infinity tubing transfers the maximum amount of light into your room without any loss of colour for the brightest, whitest light.  It is the most reflective material on the world market today.

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☞ How does Solatube's light output compare to electric lights or traditional skylights?

Light is measured in lumens and energy usage in watts.
A standard 100 watt incandescent bulb produces 1200 lumens.
A 40-watt, 48-inch fluorescent tube produces 2300 lumens.
The 160DS Solatube produces up to 4600 lumens   
The 290DS Solatube produces up to 9100 lumens
The 160DS Solatube compares to a 2' x 2' skylight and

the 290DS compares to a 2' x 4' skylight.

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☞ How does a Solatube bring in more light than a traditional skylight?

Traditional skylights pass light through a drywall shaft and into the home.  Using this process, a large percentage of light is absorbed in the shaft and never reaches the room's interior.  Solatube's patented reflective system found inside the dome redirects low angle light (early morning and evening light) down the reflective tubing and into the room.  Due to the tremendous reflectivity of the tubing, less light is absorbed and more useable light actually reaches the room where it is needed.

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☞ What happens on a cloudy day?

Patented internal reflective systems for the Solatube, along with highly reflective tubing, transfers direct and ambient light down into the room with minimal light loss, providing good performance even on cloudy days.  The 160DS and 290DS Solatube features RayBender 3000 technology, a proprietary lens designed to direct light from any direction down the tube for maximum light output.

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☞ Will a Solatube work when installed on the north side of a house?

A Solatube works well on the north side of a house. Due to Raybender 3000 and Spectralight Infinity, any location will provide more light than a conventional skylight, window or other similar product.

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☞ How long can the tube be?

As the tube length gets longer, the light output is reduced only slightly with the new Spectralight Infinity coating (the most reflective material on the market today). Good lighting results can be expected for tube lengths up to

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☞ To what degree do colder weather and northern latitudes affect Solatube performance? (i.e. Maine, Alaska, Austria, Switzerland, and snow areas)

Solatubes have been installed in the northern USA, Canada and Europe. Having a complete sealed system, Solatube works very well in cold weather. Because of its small size and seals at the ceiling level, Solatube causes almost no heat loss. This also prevents warm moist air from inside the house escaping and condensing inside the skylight. In extremely cold weather, a small amount of frost may appear inside the dome, but this disappears again when the temperature increases.

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☞ Is there any heat build-up?

No.  Solatube's dome has UV protection eliminating 99% of harmful rays so fabrics won't fade when exposed to daylight all day long such as in a walk-in closet.  Also, in the summer heat will not be transferred to your room as it will through windows, reducing your air-conditioning costs.

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☞ Is Solatube difficult to install?

No. The 160DS and 290DS Solatubes fit easily between 16" on center roof rafters, and require no structural changes, so there is no need for a carpenter to build a skylight shaft using lumber, drywall, plaster and paint. The adjustable tubing design includes two angle adapters that allow installation around attic obstructions and extension tubing comes in short segments that fit easily together. Furthermore, all tubing has been designed to telescope together to make installation expedient.

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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.  An additional half hour each is required if a ventilation kit and/or light kit is added.

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☞ When do you install the Solatube if you are re-roofing or building a new house?

Generally, after the new roof is in place, and drywall is on the ceiling. However, the Solatube can easily be installed at the same time that the roof is going on in most cases.  When installing a Solatube on a tile roof, installation is usually done after the roof is completed.  On hot mop applications installation is best done at the same time to ensure proper seal.

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☞ What if there is no attic space? Or if I have a cathedral ceiling?

Solatube has been designed for installation even where there is no access to the attic, and with numerous flashings and options, most applications can be addressed.

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☞ Can Solatubes be installed in commercial buildings?

Yes. Solatubes have been installed on commercial buildings throughout the world including, schools, churches, industrial buildings, post offices, and hospitals. There are also some unique accessories for commercial applications.

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☞ Do Solatubes leak?

Solatube is designed for leak-free operation when properly installed. The metal, injection molded polypropylene, or fiberglass roof flashings are one-piece and seamless to eliminate leakage.

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☞ How durable is the Solatube?

All parts are covered by a 10-year warranty. The Duradome10 is made from a high quality acrylic resin that is specifically formulated for increased impact, chemical, weather resistance and high clarity. The tubing is made from puncture proof aluminum sheet with a UV protective covering, which prevents deterioration over time. Other assemblies are injection molded to ensure strength and quality.

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☞ Is Solatube maintenance free?

All assemblies (dome, diffuser, flashing) have seals and all joints are sealed to stop bugs and dust infiltration. Solatube is designed to be a sealed unit. Unlike traditional skylights, there is no messy drywall shaft that requires cleaning and re-painting. The design and shape of the dome, reflector and flashing eliminates build-up of outside debris, making the Solatube maintenance free.

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☞ Are there any condensation problems?

No. The Solatube is completely sealed at the ceiling location to prevent warm moist air in the house from migrating up the tube. The dome seal allows the outside air to mix with the tube air, eliminating the air temperature contrast that contributes to condensation.  In homes which are very air-tight and have evidence of condensation on the windows, will show condensation on the Solatube also.  This can be corrected by improving ventilation in the whole house by running and exhaust fan and/or opening a window a small amount and by ensuring humidity levels are below 50%.

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☞ What are the product and installation warranties?

The product warranty for all skylight components is 10 years and for all electrical components is 5 years. We provide a full 10-year warranty on our installation.

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