white laminate vs. clear skylight in kitchen

5 years ago

hello friends -

I have 9' ceilings, high slope SOUTH facing roof in my kitchen. we are eliminating windows on one wall - hence the journey to replace the light with skylights. (contractor and architect do not want solatubes in a kitchen). I am okay with the idea BUT very concerned about how dirty they will be. we have 4 existing skylights (that we will replace) that are FILTHY from tree debris. I'm considering white laminated Velux skylights. Apparently they are amazing at heat reflection, clearly no dirty window issues, but does anyone have experience???? Is it ridiculous???

In my kitchen I'm thinking I must do clear glass and perhaps a shade?

In my foyer - 30' ceilings - I may do white laminate as we will NEVER be able to clean them, let alone maintain them even from the inside without scaffolding.

any advise based on experience?

Jen

Featured Answer

Jennifer Schulte
Original Author

5 years ago

I’m so grateful for all of your input! We chose to have a 7’ window and added three skylights above. Retained - actually gained- illumination and added space for a legit cooktop hood.

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Comments (6)

PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
5 years ago
Laminated glass with have less to do with heat reduction and more to do with sound proofing. If you are buying a Velux skylight, they should already come with Low-e 366 glass as a standard. The lamination will provide an additional level of UV spectrum reduction, but the primary benefit to the lamination is for noise in this case.

You should never have to clean the interior short of some dusting if they are clean when they go in. If you have trees that drop debris or sap, there isn't much you can do about that short of cleaning the exteriors.
PRO
JAN MOYER
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Find a way to keep some window. Nobody can answer without seeing the proposed kitchen plan anyway. Seems some tree cut down may be in order here for all we know. A thirty foot foyer? Who on EARTH could even see a cobweb up there?
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herbflavor
5 years ago
Must it be All windows removed? We have a velux skylight. It's fine..and we have some deciduous tree and pine needle drop but debris does not stay on the skylight. We do not have your pitched roof...so we easily go up once before winter and clean gutters....and I open the skylight and just dust off, I guess you'd say. The issue to me is why the kitchen can't retain some window sq footage. Light/view/opening feature for air/etc is a lot to forfeit. I would work on the plan..hopper or awning windows? or a couple narrow casements? This is work, to get this appropriate for your goals....but I would not remove a wall of windows.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
If the ones you have get dirty so will any new one and what is wrong with solar tubes in a kitchen pray tell.I do beleive there are many ways to add natural light in a kitchen even if some windows need to be removed for design . please post some pics and a floor plan since I do not here a kitchen designer involved in this plan . Architects make very poor KDs and so do contractors.
PRO
Ironwood Renovation LLC
5 years ago
We just did a basement renivation that included adding egress wells/Windows in two bedrooms. We proposed adding another window at the kitchen.

The client insisted that the all white kitchen and a few extra lights would be enough.

Now that the project is complete, we are digging two more egress wells cutting thru concrete and new framed walls to add Windows.

Just saying ; )

white laminate vs. clear skylight in kitchen

Jennifer Schulte
Original Author

Comments (6)

Windows on Washington Ltd

JAN MOYER

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white laminate vs. clear skylight in kitchen

Jennifer SchulteOriginal Author

Comments (6)

Windows on Washington Ltd

JAN MOYER

Related Discussions

herbflavor

Patricia Colwell Consulting

Ironwood Renovation LLC

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Jennifer Schulte
Original Author