Some spaces just feel wrong. That hallway you need to flip a light switch on in at noon. That bathroom that always looks like it’s in the 1920s no matter how many bulbs you replace. That office space that has people looking more tired than they should be. These are the spaces that windows won’t fix, side windows at least, because there’s no space on the layout or external wall to adjust. Yet even the most thoughtfully designed plans sometimes leave compromise to light-less spaces.
It’s not always that there aren’t enough windows; sometimes it’s an improper window location and a shaft of light. Sometimes a room has a window; it’s just north facing, too small, or blocked by a huge extension. Sometimes it’s just the architectural details that push the daylight into nooks and crannies. Centre hallways, interior bathrooms, walk-in closets, stairwells, these rely solely on artificial lighting, which just isn’t the same.
But these are not lost causes. They’re just not addressed in vertical rather than horizontal terms.
Where Side Windows Won’t Suffice
Traditional windows work for rooms that touch an exterior wall. Unfortunately, this leaves a significant amount of residential and commercial space lit entirely via artificial means for good. In townhouses with three levels, for instance, the second floor often has a hallway run down the middle of the building with rooms on either side, but no windows. The same is true of commercial elevators, which go to core areas of buildings filled with bathrooms, storage, and purely circulation spaces. In single family detached homes, bathrooms and closets are landlocked all the time.
The answer is more fixtures, and sure enough, it works, practically speaking. People can see where they’re going. But light provided naturally feels different from light provided without windows during the day. It looks different, feels different, and with changes in position throughout the day, natural light actually makes a difference when it comes to circadian rhythms.
Solutions From Overhead That Work
This is why up on the roof it works differently. Roof products like skylights from Access Panels Direct bring light in from above when there are few other options. A skylight over a dark hall can illuminate the entire distance without needing to take up valuable wall space or render structural modifications necessary for side windows.
The process to make it work involves cutting through to the roof and through to the ceiling, which sounds more complicated than it is. For one story areas or top-floor segments, it’s relatively easy. The cut out needs to be weatherproofed, it gets lined (if there’s attic space in between) and all of a sudden that pitch black hallway has light.
Flat roof conditions make this easier in some cases since rooflights that go on flat roofs and low-pitched roofs can sit more flush with the roof line themselves. Thus, from outside, minimal appearance changes occur compared to those inside that benefit from tons of light.
Light Tubes Are Small Interventions
Not every situation calls for skylight proportions. Light tubes, sun tubes or solar tubes – work well for tighter spaces that need illumination but not necessarily a view out. They’re reflective tubes that bring daylight from a dome on the rooftop down into the building through a ceiling diffuser.
These are great for bathrooms (again – more access when it’s needed), closets, pantries and laundry rooms. A light tube has a much smaller footprint up through the roof (10-14 inches) than standard skylights requires (plus they’re often rounded), and the light tube itself can bend slightly if there’s anything in the way on the way down. The amount of light they let in for such a small footprint is seriously impressive.
The downside? They don’t ventilate; you can’t look up through them – it’s all about bringing light down. In some instances, that’s fine; in others, however, something operable is helpful.
Making It Work in Multi-Level Buildings
Occupying ground level spaces in a two-level building becomes more challenging, there’s no way to punch through to get to the roof; there’s another level there. Some buildings boast internal atriums or light wells that work well, but that’s not conducive for most residential renovations or smaller commercial spaces.
One option is to investigate situations where rooms are stacked vertically; if there happens to be a dark ground floor hallway sitting below a second-floor hallway as well, then it might make sense to punch up through both levels. This takes more redesign and potential structural adjustments, but it’s possible.
Another way is to track which rooms are located on an upper level that can share their natural light; for example, a skylight in an upstairs bathroom might flood natural light enough into an adjacent space or hallway on the same floor that it benefits that area as well; glass block walls or interior windows between rooms will help once light does get inside to spread it laterally.
The Difference It Makes
It matters, that invisible line between what you can see with your eyes versus what electric light brings forth feels fundamentally different in practice. Spaces where people know they have access to natural light, even quasi access, feel better; people linger longer in spaces with daylight; homes feel more valuable and expansive; commercial spaces boast better mood settings and productivity rates.
Also, the energy source matters; lights running all day add up; people want their homes always glowing but forget about how expensive it is to do so; reducing daytime lighting loads of upwards of 30-40% adds valuable energy amounts while electric bills cost less over time. While those overhead systems from roof up aren’t free either, payback periods make sense when people occupy those spaces daily.
Natural Light Discloses What Is and Isn’t
Natural light shows what’s what regarding colors and finishes; paint that looks fine during electric use might look entirely different in natural use, it matters more to some spaces than others, but it’s worth it during design and renovation phases because natural light reveals different aspects than artificial use ever could.
Before Cutting Holes, What to Consider
Penetrating roofs requires waterproof caution; cheaply done causes leaks. Quality work with flashing and seals don’t leak, it’s better to get it done correctly than redo it after water damage spreads.
Think about the trajectory of sunlight throughout the day and year; south pitched rooftops will provide greater intensity of light, and excess summer light, than north pitched options; east provides morning light while west provides afternoon sun, where things go matters.
Also think about access for maintenance; over time skylights need washing out, seals need checking, moving parts get operated, the last thing anyone wants is scaffolding precariously catching something because it couldn’t be accessed easy enough.
When It’s Worth It
Not every dark space is worth it; paper storage rooms, mechanical rooms and short-term occupancy spaces don’t benefit from such expense and effort, but where people spend their time most: kitchens, living spaces, bathrooms, offices, and frequently used hallways, you might as well make the investment for huge improvements down the line.
The impossible dark spaces often are only impossible because people don’t know how to provide them naturally with light, they just need different solutions than regular windows, and once you start perceiving daylight as coming from above instead of only as a side option, the possibilities become far more realistic.
