Skylight Repair & New Install Blog (Toronto)

Skylights Unlimited is Toronto's most experienced skylight company specializing in skylight repair, installation & replacement serving Greater Toronto Area (GTA) since 1988. Our skylight expertise is well known by prominent magazines that have featured our products and expertise in their publications.

Bathroom exhaust fan systems

This is an example of the right kind of duct work to use for bathroom exhaust fan systems. The duct work is an insulated pipe with an aluminum exterior skin.

This allows for the hot air from the bathroom to go thru the pipe and to be exhausted to the exterior without putting any heat or humidity in the attic space…….that would cause a lot of mold. Notice that the piping is well sealed to the fan with tuck tape as well as  sealed to the direct connect roof trap.

It’s also important to use the right roof exhaust trap (vent) on the exterior.  Most common exhaust traps have a very low profile.  We prefer to use the Ventilation Maximum trap that rises 8 inches above the roof.  This keeps it out of the snow in the winter. Also, the Ventilation Maximum vents also has an anti-reverse  damper that allows the hot moist air to be exhausted to the outside, without allowing cold winter winds to blow inside. So, a properly designed bathroom exhaust system gets rid of all the host moist air in the house directly to the outside, without allowing any hot, moist air into the attic.

 

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BEST SKYLIGHTS FOR 2017

The No Leak SkylightsOverview of Skylight Models

VELUX is known for their design, engineering, quality and durability of skylight products and accessories. Here is an overview of their skylight products at a glance to help you make the right decision.

 

Solar Powered 
Venting Skylights

The Solar Powered Skylight (available for both deck and curb mount installations) features a solar panel that captures available daylight and uses it to recharge a highly efficient, fully concealed battery powered operator and control system. This operator is the power source that opens and closes the skylight, negating the need for electrical wiring during installation.

The Solar Powered Venting Skylight features a solar panel that captures any available daylight and uses it to recharge a highly efficient, fully concealed battery powered operator and control system. The battery powered operator is the power source that opens and closes the skylight. A rain sensor is built in to close the unit in the event that inclement weather arises while you're away.

 

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Benefits of a Solar Powered Venting Skylight

 

Benefits of a Solar Powered Venting Skylight

 

 

Convenient: Opens and closes with our easy-to-use remote

 

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Spring is here - let the sunshine in!

The perfect daylighting solution for overhead applications, Velux Solar Powered Skylights feature a solar panel that captures available daylight and uses it to recharge a battery powered operator and control system. It brings in abundant natural light and fresh air and installs as easily as a non-opening skylight as no wiring is required.   Spring is in the air -- call us and we'll let the sun shine in your home today. www.skylightsunlimited.ca

 

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Skylight Inspection and Repair

Skylight Repair

There are several reasons a skylight might begin to leak.  Most often, the cause of a leak is sealant that has failed or condensation build-up that occurs around the skylight, which often happens when there's an excess of melting snow or ice on the roof.  If you have a skylight that begins to leak after a rain or wind storm, shingles around the structure may be clogged with dirt, dead leaves and other debris that prevent rain or melting snow from running off the roof as they should.  Leaking can also occur when there are problems in other areas of the roof, and the leak eventually makes its way to the skylight.

Our experienced repair personnel will inspect your unit and your roof carefully to determine the source of the leak and ensure that no unnecessary repairs are made.  Contrary to what you may think, skylight leak repair isn't always as costly and our crew will ensure that any repairs will be performed in way that least interfere with your home and its roof.

Skylight Replacement

If you have an older skylight, leaking might be an indication that it's time to replace it.  Another sign that you will need to replace your unit is if condensation and other moisture has leaked into the interior of the glass and stained it, causing some areas to have a milky appearance. 

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HEALTH BENEFITS OF VELUX SKYLIGHTS

There are many considerations to be made when incorporating skylights into your home’s design. There are some as simple as where to locate the skylight to maximize the most natural light during the day, and some as complex as to which u-factor and solar heat gain coefficient ratings would be the most energy efficient in the climate you live. But have you ever considered the impact a VELUX skylight would have on your health and well-being?

The importance of daylight to many living organisms is paramount. Daylight is responsible for regulating many biological systems that allow us to function properly. It impacts our production of Vitamin D (which is important for calcium absorption), regulation of our circadian biological clocks, and even its impact on gene expression.

 

Now you may be wondering how much of an impact VELUX skylights can have on these biological functions. The answer is tremendous - most Canadians spend approximately 90% of their time indoors! Being indoors for such a lengthy period of time exposes our bodies to a higher concentration of pollutants; about 2 to 5 times more than if we were standing right outside of our home or office.

Visit our products page to find the right VELUX skylight options for you. Or call Skylights Unlimited today at 416 540-4232.

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Sunroom Renovation

 We were very pleased with Dave Flook from Skylights Unlimited; he has years of experience and specializes in sunrooms and solariums. Our sunroom was showing signs of structural weakness and we had numerous quotes and opinions. Dave proposed a practical and affordable solution that was just what we were looking for, preserving the warmth and elegance of the rest of the interior. It involved replacing the row of existing skylights, re-building the back wall and installing new energy efficient windows . Mike and Josh were pros - they were very skilled and had great work ethic working long days and even weekends. Dave was a stickler for detail and quality control which we were very impressed with. Loved the results and would definitely recommend!  Roxanne

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HAVING A SUN ROOM

I can't believe the difference more light makes in a house.  I visited a friend on the weekend who lives in an older home and had just finished a major renovation.  The transformation is unbelievable.  Her house faces north and it was always quite dark, so she added several skylights and a modest size sunroom at the back of the house.  The addition not only increased the living space of the house, but made the house more appealing  - and cost a lot less than building a new room.    She explained that a reputable installer can pretty well design and build according to your budget - the trick is hiring a company who has experience and creativity, and make every job a work of art.   They ensured that the sunroom was positioned the right way so that the view was perfect and a very attractive focal point.  Also most importantly, the installation was done right (guaranteed to not have any leaks and climate-controlled also). 

Her emotions were immense pleasure and joy!  Now it's her favorite room in the house, whether spending mornings enjoying her coffee there or having a very relaxing nap in her sunroom. 

Got me thinking about it......

 

 

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Skylight Energy Efficiency: Differences between glass and domes skylights

This is the damage from an old dome skylight on the stairway railing in a house located in Stouffville. Dome skylights give very little UV protection  (UV is what fades things). Most  dome skylights are made of 2 layers of acrylic in the shape of a dome. They are usually sealed one to the other with neoprene gaskets or butyl tape. Unfortunately, they cannot be sealed tight enough to create a vacuum in the same way as 2 layers of flat glass can be sealed. Because they cannot be perfectly sealed, argon gas cannot be injected between the 2 domes. It's the argon gas that is injected between the 2 layers of flat glass skylights that gives the higher level of UV protection. Besides causing fading damage, domes also tend to create a lot of heat in the summer.

 

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ENERGY EFFICIENT SKYLIGHTS

 

High quality, energy efficient skylights are an important part of building today's green friendly homes and buildings. The effect that natural light has on you physically, emotionally and psychologically is well documented. The benefits of natural light can have a profound impact on you personally, while the stewardship of VELUX and SKYLIGHTS UNLIMITED will positively affect our environment for future generations. That is why we are proud to be the FIRST CERTIFIED VELUX INSTALLERS of quality skylights. Installing the most modern technologies to make your home the most energy efficient is a top priority. To reap the green benefits associated with top lighting, it is essential to minimize the heat gain associated with UV penetration, while preserving the conditioned air inside your home.  To accomplish these goals, VELUX has incorporated argon gas between the insulated panes of all their glass products and use low emissivity coatings (Low-E) to make their products some of the most energy efficient in the industry.

 

 

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Spring is here - let the sunshine in!

The perfect daylighting solution for overhead applications, Velux Solar Powered Skylights feature a solar panel that captures available daylight and uses it to recharge a battery powered operator and control system. It brings in abundant natural light and fresh air and installs as easily as a non-opening skylight as no wiring is required.   Spring is in the air -- call us and we'll let the sun shine in your home today. www.skylightsunlimited.ca

 

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Skylight Inspection and Repair

 

Skylight Repair

There are several reasons a skylight might begin to leak.  Most often, the cause of a leak is sealant that has failed or condensation build-up that occurs around the skylight, which often happens when there's an excess of melting snow or ice on the roof.  If you have a skylight that begins to leak after a rain or wind storm, shingles around the structure may be clogged with dirt, dead leaves and other debris that prevent rain or melting snow from running off the roof as they should.  Leaking can also occur when there are problems in other areas of the roof, and the leak eventually makes its way to the skylight.

Our experienced repair personnel will inspect your unit and your roof carefully to determine the source of the leak and ensure that no unnecessary repairs are made.  Contrary to what you may think, skylight leak repair isn't always as costly and our crew will ensure that any repairs will be performed in way that least interfere with your home and its roof.

Skylight Replacement

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HEALTH BENEFITS OF VELUX SKYLIGHTS

There are many considerations to be made when incorporating skylights into your home’s design. There are some as simple as where to locate the skylight to maximize the most natural light during the day, and some as complex as to which u-factor and solar heat gain coefficient ratings would be the most energy efficient in the climate you live. But have you ever considered the impact a VELUX skylight would have on your health and well-being?

The importance of daylight to many living organisms is paramount. Daylight is responsible for regulating many biological systems that allow us to function properly. It impacts our production of Vitamin D (which is important for calcium absorption), regulation of our circadian biological clocks, and even its impact on gene expression.

 

Now you may be wondering how much of an impact VELUX skylights can have on these biological functions. The answer is tremendous - most Canadians spend approximately 90% of their time indoors! Being indoors for such a lengthy period of time exposes our bodies to a higher concentration of pollutants; about 2 to 5 times more than if we were standing right outside of our home or office.

Visit our products page to find the right VELUX skylight options for you. Or call Skylights Unlimited today at 416 540-4232.

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GO GREEN NOW

SKYLIGHTS UNLIMITED is a fully licensed, bonded, and insured company specializing in glass enclosures and skylights. We are a full design-build company offering a full turn-key project including design, architectural plans, build, and finish work.

Energy efficiency is more important than ever, and SKYLIGHTS UNLIMITED is committed to providing you with professional quality, energy efficient products so that you can save money, protect the environment, and stay comfortable all year. We offer exceptional energy-smart and weather tight products that not only reduce fuel consumption needed to heat and cool homes; they also have a long service life and achieve optimal material use and minimal waste in production. Designed for superior thermal performance, products with Energy Star® Velux qualified insulated glass packages can help reduce energy costs year round and further reduce consumption of fossil fuels.

From the initial stages of purchasing your home improvement products to the actual installation, SKYLIGHTS UNLIMITED is with you every step of the way to assure you have quality performance products that not only save you money but stay true for years to come.www.skylightsunlimited.ca

 

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NO MORE LEAKY SKYLIGHTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xcxQ5Xxiyo&feature=player_

Here at SKYLIGHTS UNLIMITED we are proud to be the 1st certified Velux installers.

The Velux deck mounted and now curb mounted product family is designated "THE NO LEAK SKYLIGHT". 

It carries the new 10 year installation warranty plus 20 years on glass, 10 years on product, and 5 years on blinds and controls.

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Why Choose Us?

 

 

Today, as for the past 26+ years, Skylights Unlimited is the GTA leader in roof windows, skylights, solariums and maximum venting. This is no accident. It is a result of our intense focus on giving you the best quality, most energy efficient daylighting products available - along with providing excellent customer service!Over the years we have worked to identify the key components necessary for virtually any successful daylighting project, and we have created our product program to match.  Our crew is fully licensed and have years of specialized experience.  The result is a complete system of daylighting products unmatched anywhere. Take advantage of our experience by incorporating the complete system into your daylighting project. Check us out at www.skylightsunlimited.ca  

 

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Important Facts about Skylight Replacements

Skylight repairs and replacements are the bulk of our work – it’s what we specialize in.   Unfortunately, there are a lot of leaking skylights out there that are usually caused by one of two things:

 -Either a poor quality product (let’s buy the cheapest thing in the hardware store we can find, and hope that it stays waterproof). OR

 -Poor workmanship (as in contractors that have no experience in skylights, but figure since they know how to build a deck or do drywall work, they can figure out how to install a skylight).

 People come to us because skylights is all we do, day in and day out.  I’ve come up with a new twist on an old expression “familiarity breeds content” (instead of contempt).  Our customers love the fact that we are so familiar with all types of skylights, in other words they are very content, that we are so familiar with skylights.

  To replace an existing skylight there are a few important things to consider:

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Flat Glass vs Plastic Dome Skylights

We are often asked about the difference between glass and plastic skylights.  When I started this business in 1988, we were installing 95% plastic domed skylights and 5% glass, now it’s completely the other way around.

 

In the 70’s and 80’s, domed skylights were the norm and what most people expected a skylight should look like.  Today, energy efficiency improvements with glass have made them far superior to domes.  The Low-E coatings and argon gas (between the 2 panes of glass), have made sealed glass units so much more effective at cutting out heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.  They also cut down harmful UV rays that come into your home and are much quieter in the rain. 

  

The most recent improvements to glass from Velux skylights, have made them even more effective at cutting out any heat gain and with a new “clean” coating on the exterior pane  water dispurses evenly removing dirt and reducing water spots.

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What is a Glass Roof?

A glass roof is a common misnomer for Skylights.  Some people probably think of it as a sun roof in a car too.  To us, any nice skylight overhead could be considered a small glass roof.  Actually, many skylights,  particularly the older ones are plastic dome skylights rather than glass (we rarely recommend them).  We almost always recommend glass these days for anything that goes on the roof because the glass is so much more energy efficient.  Technology has taken great strides in glass sealed units that are used for skylights and windows. Today they come with Low-E coatings and argon gas, between the two glass layers.

In fact, the Velux brand of skylights has recently raised the bar a little higher (again).  In 2014, they have introduced the new Clean Energy Plus Glass that is another step further in energy efficiency and convenience.  This new glass is triple coated with Low-E, dual sealed and injected with argon gas.  It has an extra thick laminated interior pane, designed for safety and energy efficiency and offers three times more protection against solar heat gain.  And for ultimate convenience, the exterior pane has a new Neat coating; this smoother surface disperses water evenly, removing dirt more quickly and reducing water spots. 

Cuz who wants to climb their roof to clean their skylight!

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What Is A Sun Tunnel?

 

 

 

  

THE MOST AFFORDABLE WAY TO PUT SUNSHINE IN YOUR HOME

A sun tunnel is a tubular skylight with a highly reflective pipe that transfers the light from the sun, down through the attic space to an opening in the ceiling.  It is the most cost effective skylighting option available.  Because the reflective pipe does not require framing work like a regular skylight, it can be done much more quickly, usually within a few hours.  This process is much less disruptive for our clients as there is virtually no construction mess inside the house.

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