VELUX Sun Tunnels: Bringing Natural Light Into Dark Areas of Your Home

A VELUX Sun Tunnel brings natural daylight from the roof into areas of a home where a traditional skylight may not be practical. A reflective tube runs through the attic, allowing daylight from the roof to reach hallways, bathrooms, closets, and other darker interior spaces.

What VELUX Expert Brian Skerlanitz Explains in This Video

In this video, VELUX expert Brian Skerlanitz joins Mattsson Roofing at a project in Glen Rock, New Jersey, where the crew is installing two Sun Tunnels.

Brian explains why a homeowner might choose a Sun Tunnel instead of a traditional skylight. In some homes, the distance or configuration between the ceiling and the underside of the roof makes a conventional skylight and light shaft impractical. A Sun Tunnel uses a tube that travels through the attic to bring natural daylight from the roof into darker areas of the home.

Why Choose a Sun Tunnel Instead of a Traditional Skylight?

Traditional skylights can be an excellent way to introduce natural light into a home, but they aren't the right solution for every location.

As Brian explains in the video, there are situations where creating a light shaft from the interior ceiling all the way to the underside of the roof isn't practical. The distance may be too great, or the configuration of the attic and roof may make a conventional skylight installation difficult.

A Sun Tunnel provides another option.

The tube runs through the attic, allowing daylight entering at the roof to reach an interior ceiling below. This makes it possible to introduce natural light into areas that otherwise might depend on artificial lighting throughout the day.

Where Can Sun Tunnels Be Useful?

Sun Tunnels can be particularly useful in darker interior areas where there isn't a practical location for a traditional window or skylight.

Depending on the home's roof and attic configuration, these may include areas such as:

• Hallways
• Bathrooms
• Closets
• Stairways
• Interior rooms
• Other areas with limited natural daylight

Every home is different, so the roof, attic space, and intended location inside the home should be evaluated before determining whether a Sun Tunnel is appropriate.

How Does a Sun Tunnel Bring Light Through the Attic?

The concept is relatively simple.

Daylight enters through the Sun Tunnel assembly installed on the roof. A tube then carries that light through the attic to a diffuser installed in the ceiling below.

That ability to travel through attic space is one of the important differences between a Sun Tunnel and a conventional skylight.

As Brian describes it in the video, you're essentially “getting the natural daylight from your roof right into the dark spots of your house.”

Sun Tunnel or Skylight?

The better option depends on what you're trying to accomplish and how the home is constructed.

A traditional skylight creates a direct opening to the sky and can become a significant architectural feature of a room. A Sun Tunnel is designed primarily to deliver natural daylight through a smaller ceiling opening.

The roof structure, attic configuration, distance between the roof and ceiling, and location where you want the daylight all matter.

That's why this isn't simply a question of whether a homeowner prefers a skylight or a Sun Tunnel. The physical construction of the home can help determine which solution makes sense.

FAQ

What is a VELUX Sun Tunnel?

A VELUX Sun Tunnel is designed to bring natural daylight from the roof into an interior space. It uses a tube that travels through the attic and delivers daylight to a diffuser in the ceiling below.

When does a Sun Tunnel make more sense than a traditional skylight?

A Sun Tunnel can be useful when the location or distance between the interior ceiling and roof makes constructing a traditional skylight and light shaft impractical. As VELUX expert Brian Skerlanitz explains in the video, the tube allows daylight to travel through the attic to darker areas of the home.

Where can a Sun Tunnel be installed?

Depending on the roof and attic configuration, Sun Tunnels can be used to bring natural daylight into areas such as hallways, bathrooms, closets, stairways, and other darker interior spaces.

Thinking About Adding More Natural Light to Your Home?

If you have a dark hallway, bathroom, closet, or interior space where a traditional skylight may not be practical, a VELUX Sun Tunnel could be an option.

Mattsson Roofing is a VELUX Certified Installer serving Glen Rock, Bergen County, and surrounding Northern New Jersey communities. We can evaluate your roof and attic configuration and help determine whether a Sun Tunnel or traditional skylight makes more sense for your home.

Schedule an estimate today

201.925.9709