As a commercial building owner, you want to do whatever it takes to attract and retain tenants. One of the best ways to do that is by creating high-quality spaces that will be attractive for local businesses.
In many cases, the exterior appearance of your business is what first captures the attention of potential customers, whether they’re passing by on foot, driving through town, or flying overhead. As such, it’s important that you take steps to spruce up your exterior look periodically with fresh paint jobs; however, this may not always be enough. For some buildings, the addition of skylights can serve as an affordable way to boost curb appeal while simultaneously adding natural light throughout your interior space.
Although skylights are often meant for aesthetics, they can also provide great opportunities for businesses to grow and thrive. Here at Royal American Services, we’re proud of our reputation as an industry leader in the skylight installation process. If you’ve been thinking about updating your office or other commercial space through the addition of a gorgeous skylight but aren’t sure how to go about it, we hope the following information will be helpful.
Why add skylights to your commercial roof?
The best reasons to add skylights include:
- They help improve lighting quality
- You can increase ventilation and cooling options
- It’s a simple yet effective way to boost curb appeal while simultaneously increasing natural light throughout your interior space
Let’s take a closer look at each of these points.
Improving Lighting Quality
When skylights are added to a business’ exterior, they provide natural lighting that can improve overall lighting quality inside the building. In turn, this helps increase your employees’ satisfaction with their work environment as well as attract and retain high-quality tenants. As an added bonus, it also allows those who aren’t normally able to spend full days in a windowless environment – such as certain types of workers or people who have difficulty spending time indoors for medical reasons – the opportunity to do so without having much impact on their mood or performance during the day. Studies show that you can experience up to 25% more light in a workplace when you add skylight installation Houston to the building’s design.
Increasing Ventilation and Cooling Options
In addition to providing natural lighting, skylights can also function as a great ventilation option for your facility. That’s because they allow you to open interior windows and doors without having to worry about what will happen if it starts raining frequently during colder months or frequent thunderstorms throughout the year. By allowing incoming air from outside while still promoting air flow among rooms and facilities inside, skylights provide an added degree of temperature control that doesn’t require electricity or fans. As such, it becomes possible for customers and employees within your business space to enjoy better temperature management along with increased fresh air circulation on a more ad hoc basis which helps provide energy savings benefits alongside an enhanced overall quality of life.
Boosting Curb Appeal and Increasing Natural Light
One of the best things about skylights is that they serve as an easy way to boost your business’s curb appeal without having to spend a ton of money on updates. For instance, if you have an old-fashioned building with dark interiors but want to update the exterior without undergoing too drastic a renovation, adding skylights can serve as a great option for helping attract new customers while also offering up some additional functionality in terms of increased lighting quality and ventilation control. Even better, it won’t take much time or effort to add these upgrades since most buildings are already equipped with access points for installation – all you need is some help from our team of skylight installation contractors in Houston, Texas!
What is the average cost of a commercial skylight?
The average cost of a skylight will depend on a number of factors including the size, type and features you need. We suggest that you get in touch with our team at Royal American Services to have a full assessment done of your building so we can better help you decide what kind of skylight installation services you need before providing an estimate.
Houston is no stranger to storm damage which is why when you get commercial skylights installed in your business you need to make sure it’s done by a great company with excellent service. With the wild weather here it’s key to have your skylights installed using only the best and most durable materials. We will work with you to ensure our plans fit within your budget and get you the highest quality work at a reasonable price.
There are several factors that can affect the total cost associated with these kinds of renovations, including:
- The type of skylight you choose – for instance, choosing one that’s energy-efficient will typically up your costs by an average of $3,000 when compared to standard options
How much you need the skylight to do – installation in areas like bathrooms and bedrooms tends to be more expensive than in-office spaces or warehouses where skylights also function as ventilation systems that cut down on HVAC expenses over time
New construction? Whether the skylight is a new installation or a replacement for an old one
The availability of certain features and options – such as color choices and additional ventilation controls
As part of our commitment to excellence here in Houston, Texas, we take great care when it comes to choosing high-quality materials that range from those made by top manufacturers like Velux skylights and Alside. Each project is unique so as such hard to place an exact estimate on a skylight project. For this exact reason, we offer a free on-site inspection that would cover this estimate generation for your project!
What are the different types of commercial skylights?
There are three primary types of commercial skylights:
Tubular Skylights – this is the most common type and they typically come in one of two styles: internal or external depending on your building’s design. They’re both great choices but we recommend an internal tubular skylight which is more discreet and better protected from theft and tampering than an external one. We can help you decide what kind would work best for your property!
Sloped Ceiling – these kinds of skylights tend to be flat at the top and slant down toward a central point, as opposed to circular ones that follow a full circle shape as seen from below. In either case, these some natural lighting benefits but may pose issues when it comes to installing insulation.
Curb Mount Skylights – these are installed on the roof which can be problematic since they tend to allow for leaks. However, there are ways around this so we take extra care not to cause any damage during installation and upkeep services. We’ve even done skylight maintenance in Houston homes!
When it comes to skylights, practicality is just one consideration you’ll have to make along with your budget discussed during your free consultation with our team at Royal American Services. There are a number of great features associated with these kinds of renovations that may be worth looking into if you’re determined to maximize the potential of your building.
When is the Best Time To Add A Skylight?
The rule of thumb here is to avoid renovations during warmer weather if possible since installing new windows can prevent them from opening which can cause excessive heat buildup inside
There are only two times when you should install a skylight:
During new construction – this ensures that it’s done properly and will be ready for use by the time the building opens
Once other renovations are complete so you won’t need to worry about other parts of the structure getting in the way. The general idea is to get them installed before other upgrades are made so they won’t get in the way of planned updates.
Do I Need To Get Approval For Installing Commercial Skylights?
Typically, there is not a formal process that must be completed but it’s always good to ask your property insurance company as well as your business owner’s association for clarification. If you intend to use the skylight as part of an emergency exit plan, make sure to fill out and submit all required documents beforehand.
In some areas, the skylights must be unlocked from the inside or equipped with an additional lock to ensure they can be accessed without having to break them. This means that it’s important to double-check with local building codes before installation so the work can be complete without any unnecessary setbacks. We have experts on our team that are very familiar with these local codes and will walk you through the process to make sure everything is well documented and up to all coding requirements.
How long does it take to install a commercial skylight?
Although there are many different types of skylights available for purchase, each one has its own installation process which means it may take longer or shorter depending on the model your business chooses. In most cases, you should plan on anywhere from a few days up to several weeks while waiting for us to complete the necessary steps of installing a new skylight on your property.
How Do I Maintain My Commercial Skylight?
The first step here is cleaning. Make sure you remove any debris that might build up over time which could cause the skylight to work improperly and eventually wear down prematurely. Keep in mind that these structures are often exposed to more sunlight than standard windows so choose a cleaner that’s safe for all types of windows like Windex Original Glass Cleaner!
Behind each skylight is a roofing system that will need to be checked up on over time. If you notice any water coming into the building then it may mean there are serious problems with the flashing which must now be fixed as soon as possible so leaks don’t occur.
Keep in mind that maintaining your skylight doesn’t have to take much of your time since most are designed with easy-to-use controls, rain panels, or even an automatic opener for those who aren’t around during regular business hours. Having them installed by professionals means they’ll come out looking great and working correctly which can save money in the long run over DIY projects.
How do I know when I need to repair my existing skylight?
We can help you with skylight replacement or repair services if your existing skylights are showing signs of wear and tear that make them unsafe.
Top 3 signs its time for a skylight repair:
- Cracks in the glass – of any size these are typically due to age but should be addressed immediately
- Bowing Ceiling – If the ceiling itself is bowing out more than normal
- Leaks – This typically occurs around the flashing or edges of your skylight
What is flashing? Flashing is the metal around your skylight used to protect it from water damage. If you have any of these issues, feel free to contact us for skylight repairs or installation services.
There’s no sense in waiting on these kinds of issues since they’ll only get worse over time. Call us today at Royal American Services for cost-effective options for repairing your older skylights before something more serious happens!
Conclusion
If you’re ready to add skylights to your commercial building or other space and want help from a team of experienced professionals who offer a full range of services related to this type of work, contact Royal American Services today. We can’t wait to discuss our business’ history and how we’ve worked alongside countless businesses throughout the greater Houston area for over four decades! From start to finish, we provide personalized customer service that’s second-to-none. In fact, many clients have enjoyed working with us so much that they end up hiring us for additional updates at their property down the road – talk about growing a valued partnership over time! Whether you’re looking to add skylights to your business, take advantage of our gutter installation Houston services, or just want a better understanding of the industry as a whole and how we can help you, don’t hesitate to reach out and learn more. Most importantly if you have any leaks or issues with your skylights as at get an expert out to your business ASAP!