Skylights/ Windows Recommendation for New Home

Poormansmeal on 05/11/2025 - 13:28
Last edited 05/11/2025 - 13:36

Hi Oz Bargainers ,

I’m currently in the process of building a new home and I’m trying to decide whether to go with skylights or windows for extra natural light as my Kitchen is away from window side

I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with either (or both).

Do skylights make a big difference in lighting and ventilation?

Are there any downsides like heat or glare?

Would you recommend a window instead for easier cleaning and airflow?

Any advice, pros and cons, or personal experiences would be really helpful before I make a final decision.

Thanks in advance!

Home & Garden Skylight

Comments

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  • jv on 05/11/2025 - 13:30
    -1

    Skylights/ Windows - new home

    My vote is for: new home.

  • Stealtho on 05/11/2025 - 13:40
    +2

    Our kitchen has no windows but has a round/dome skylight, built 19 years ago. We have 3, office, games room, and kitchen. No issues. You get more light when sun is above obviously.

    • LFO on 06/11/2025 - 11:49

      How about heat? Direct sunlight? In summer?

      • Stealtho on 06/11/2025 - 12:26

        No heat

  • Stewardo on 05/11/2025 - 13:52
    +4

    Better off with a LED skylight, old fashioned skylights have water ingress issues, lenses crack, bugs get into them. Traditional ones are annoying at times when you don’t want sunlight. The new LED ones have a basic install and can be turned off when not needed.

    • Poormansmeal on 05/11/2025 - 13:59

      Thanks

    • tenpercent on 05/11/2025 - 18:49
      +2

      So basically ceiling lights?

      • Stewardo on 05/11/2025 - 19:05
        +1

        They are lights in the ceiling that are shaped to resemble a skylight, they have their own solar panel and the brightness fluctuates with the sun. They’re not connected to mains power. Some systems can be switched off.
        And, yes you could just get solar and install downlights, however some people like the natural light effect, especially if your a couple of levels down.
        https://illumeskylights.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/il…

        • 87percent on 06/11/2025 - 08:17
          +1

          Second Illume skylights. Have them in a hallway and bathroom, and it was way cheaper than an actual skylight

          We have a skylight in the kitchen though, and it makes the kitchen hot af

    • bozaar on 05/11/2025 - 20:14
      -1

      This is good option. Skylights reduce insulation of the home dramatically.

    • jjjaar on 05/11/2025 - 22:54
      +2

      That’s why you don’t go for “old fashioned” or “traditional” skylights but instead go for modern ones that don’t have those issues.

      Velux have skylights that you can open and close, as well as getting blinds mounted on them too. Oh and they’re double glazed, and you should request the cavity to be built with insulation too to make sure you’re not just getting heat transfer from the roofspace.

    • Cobber870 on 06/11/2025 - 17:20

      I looked into replacing skylights in an existing home. Its personal preference, however:
      1. The LED ones are expensive to buy and get someone to install if not doing it yourself.
      2. If you already have solar panels you can get additional LED downlights installed and have more control. Its the same principle, they are just smaller but it means you can spread them out more and have better distribution
      Btw I haven't done anything yet and am just putting up with the old skylights and old lights, but do have solar (also old)

  • Gunnar on 05/11/2025 - 14:20

    Skylight is way better at getting light in you can also put a skylight with an opaque sheet at the roof line - keeps bugs out and diffuses strong light

  • freefall101 on 05/11/2025 - 15:45

    What direction does the wall you'd put the window in face?

    If your house has a "window side" then there's likely a reason for it, like it gets a lot of heat in the afternoon in summer or something on the "non-window" side. Seems a weird design to have a kitchen without a window though. I like having one there so I can crack it open to get a bit of breeze while cooking (even with aircon, it gets hot over the stove).

    You should ask the builder though, because it will depend on direction and design of the house.

    • Poormansmeal on 05/11/2025 - 17:09

      Kitchen kind of away from window side . So light can only come via Alfresco sliding door and family window area which is a bit low

  • foolsgold on 05/11/2025 - 21:03

    yes skylights work well you need a lot less to achieve day light vs a window

  • thrillhouse on 06/11/2025 - 07:37
    +1

    I absolutely adore the skylights in our main living space, and would recommend them to anyone. We’ve been in our place for 6 years, and zero issues. I’ve cleaned them a couple of times when on the roof.

  • Leiothrix on 06/11/2025 - 08:02

    Skylights are horrible.

    Compared to the rest of the roof they are cold, so they are a place for condensation (and thus mold) to form. That also makes your heating less efficient and you may feel a cool draft from them in winter. Not because they leak, just due to convection.

    If it is windy or rainy or otherwise noisy outside they also let a lot of sound in.

    In summer they can also bake everything in their path underneath. If it is over a polished kitchen bench you won't be able to use that part of the bench in summer, both due to the blinding reflection and due to how hot it gets.

    They are also a hole in the roof which always has the potential for leaking.

    LEDs are worth basically nothing to run, you can control them completely, and don't have any downsides.

    • Lastchancetosee on 06/11/2025 - 09:16
      +2

      Velux can be double-glazed, which would solve the problem, but $$$

    • jjjaar on 06/11/2025 - 23:11
      +1

      don't have any downsides.

      LEDs are not natural light, that’s a pretty big downside for someone that wants natural light.

    • thrillhouse on 07/11/2025 - 07:38
      +1

      I can't think of anything tackier than having artificial LED skylights. You're not emulating natural light.

      • Leiothrix on 07/11/2025 - 07:49

        I just meant LED lights of some kind, I don't know why you would want a pretend skylight.

  • eddieboy2 on 06/11/2025 - 08:26
    +2

    Have had 3 circular skylights in my home for 40 years and so happy with them. They are the "old" ones I guess but had no issues with water, ever. Occasionally get one or two small insects on the cover, but no problem really. Love the light they give…for free!! Do not agree they transmit heat…not my experience! No blinding reflection….what??

  • Beef jerky time on 06/11/2025 - 09:43
    +3

    It sounds like a lot of people here are taking about conventional plastic dome skylights or similar, which are not remotely like Velux style ones.

    If you're building new, I would absolutely put some in if it fits your house/budget. They are a feature in themselves, not just to let extra light in.

    Compared to the rest of the roof they are cold, so they are a place for condensation (and thus mold) to form

    They're double glazed.

    If it is windy or rainy or otherwise noisy outside they also let a lot of sound in.

    They're double glazed.

    In summer they can also bake everything in their path underneath

    You can get blockout or sun blinds for them

    They are also a hole in the roof which always has the potential for leaking.

    Only if your installer is incompetent. They have plenty of flashing on them. If you're really worried about that, get non-opening ones.

    Velux can be double-glazed, which would solve the problem, but $$$

    They're all double glazed and they're actually not that expensive unless you cover your whole roof in them Block-style. There's some extra work in the plastering underneath, but if you're building new it's pretty insignificant in the scheme of things.

  • Chewy2221 on 06/11/2025 - 09:52
    +1

    I assume that you have already considered passive solar principles ( north facing windows etc) . Skylight is great for natural light but heat can be a problem in summer. Good luck with your deliberation - it is an exciting and terrifying adventure.

  • nswnotill on 06/11/2025 - 10:11

    Solartubes?

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