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skylight or window in master closet

14 years ago

I'm torn between a skylight or a transom window in my master. I'm worried with a skylight about clothes fading but feel if I center it that it shouldn't be a problem.

Any thoughts in the peanut gallery about which option would be best? :) Thanks much

Comments (8)

brendamc
14 years ago
We took our windows totally out - they just wasted wall / hanging space & we were worried about the fading issue. I still wish we had more light, so a skylight with UV filter would have been ideal.
gardengirl53
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Brenda, the more I'm thinking about it I'm considering a solar tube. I've been reading about them on the forum and it seems they won't cause a heat issue, I'll have to check on the UV filter on them though. Thanks again
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I love seeing your closets!! We have his and hers closets in the master, and I'm not satisfied with them (and we haven't even moved in yet). Our trim carpenter suggested a simple layout for rods and shelves, which looks great. Then I asked for shoe storage like rows of cubbies (meaning get more shoes in less space). He put in a slanted shelf along the baseboard. He was so proud of it, I didn't have the heart to tell him that it wouldn't meet my needs. Now, I'm kicking myself because I'm too wimpy to insist that he rip it out and redo it. Also, the floors have been finished now. I'm to the point where I have to pick my battles. Anyway, our best storage plans for our master are to de-clutter before moving in and to keep as much as possible in our huge cedar closet (for out of season clothing and shoes).
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Window seat with shoe cubbies underneath. FWIW, I had a functional window in my last closet and would not do it again. Even with the blinds closed all the time, I still fought fading adjacent to the window. I found it also to be a potential weak spot where security was concerned. It was the least noticable window from inside the house and had the most immediate access to the Master suite. When our alarm was armed, it was no problem... but when kids were in and out all day long the alarm didn't get armed until bedtime.
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Comments (13)
So fade is caused ultraviolet, visible and infrared (heat) wavelengths. The fading rule of thumb is 40% is caused by UV, 25% by Visible, 25% by IR. 10% is considered miscellaneous, or even oxidation. In practice, the visible and ir are both heat, as uv has 3% of the heat, visible has 44% and ir has 53% of the heat we deal with. So visible and ir light together have 97% of the heat. The uv light has an opposite electrical value to that which bonds man made materials together, and when they meet, it is a short circuit, and cancellation. This is why uv is referred to as a burning ray. The heat buildup is different as it excites atoms until bits fly off and structure changes. Things shrink for example. Also oxidation comes into play with increased heat. So how to implement this into design? The situation can be described as a heat source near the clothes. This is important because as a window warms, it will re-radiate that heat toward the colder area, that being the room temperature closet. The low-e glas glass has two layers of glass with the low-e layer to the exterior in warm climates and to the interior in cold climates, depending on whether the climate design is trying to retard heat gain or heat losses. The key is that the coated piece of glass will grow very warm as it does its job, and in this situation it would be better if the inside piece of glass was not 20 to 30 degrees warmer than it is now. Additionally UV light can be controlled, but this needs to be a separate specification and does not come naturally with all the coatings available. Window films are offered with many options, enough to confuse a person, but the same idea applies. A low E film will offer a lower effective surface temp than a solar film as both grow warm as they stop energy, the low E type film is going to stay effectively closer to the current glass temp as a result rather than lowering the inside glass temp the way a designed glass can with its dual layer design. However energy will have been rejected so film is a viable option. They inherently stop UV, Visible, and many have suprising IR light control. A few films have a insulation value referred to as the U factor. This number is the reduction of heat from one side to the other. These numbers around .60 are effectively the same insulation as the dual pane commonly has by design and would further serve the design of lowering the surface temperature inside the room.
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Keep playing with drawing til something makes sense. I tried to sketch something out, let's see if I can attach it. Did you want to add a tub, or just a bigger shower? If windows can be added to the left wall, it would really add more possibilities! I made the bigger closet skinny so the window light still comes in. This loses the hall closets so it may need more work. I am not a big fan of the hall between the closets, it was my attempt to keep the window. Either of the closets where the master was could be removed to be a sitting area or a desk area. Obviously I am not a professional. I just like looking at and thinking about floor plans. I am sure others will jump in to improve my sketch by criticizing it lol. I left the toilet and one sink in place. I think the shower could use the same drain and it would not be too bad to extend the pipes to make it bigger, and add the second sink. The entry point is a bit crowded but I was having trouble adding a second sink if I made the bathroom door by the closets.
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carolyn53562
14 years ago
We have a transom window in our master closet with 9' ceilings and we have hanging space below it with a shelf above the hanging space so I don't think we lost much, if any,useable space with the window. The window add nice natural light to the area which is helpful in matching colors etc. We have a solar tube in a bathroom and a solar tube will give you a bluish light so the colors you see in your closet may be a little off--probably only a problem in matching navy's etc--but maybe your closet light would cancel that out. We put in a fixed window in our closet, and I wish that we could open it as it would be nice to air out a closet from time to time.
rockmanor
14 years ago
We used SolaTubes in a previous house and didn't notice a blue cast to the light. I'd love to install them in our current home. There's a similar product that has multiple metal ducts run from one roof opening. I think you can have up to five solar "lights" from one domed skylight. That would be my prefence, so that I could use them in adjoining bathrooms and halls.
jimandanne_mi
14 years ago
We put a small window (27"w x 42"h) in our WIC. It's on the NW side of the house, and because of the way the interior was set up, sunlight on the clothes is not an issue. I LOVE having natural light in the closet; also the view outside (window is opposite the closet door) is great every time I walk into the closet. We put a small rectangular ottoman under the window so we can sit down to put our shoes on.

If I couldn't have a window, I'd definitely put in a SolaTube or SunTunnel. We have those in the kitchen, 2nd floor bath with no windows, and the stairwell, and the natural light is wonderful!

Anne
jeri
14 years ago
Does anyone know which product RockManor is talking about with the multiple ducts?

Our master bath gets plenty of natural light, but the water closet is a black hole. The wc is adjacent to the master closet which is also windowless. We talked about putting a transom window in the wc, but this tube idea might be a better way and get some natural light into the closet as well.
dekeoboe
14 years ago
Jeri - Perhaps this one?

Here is a link that might be useful: Sun-Tek Spyder Multi-tube skylight system
jeri
14 years ago
That's it! Thanks dekeoboe. :-)

Has anyone use this system???

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