Let The Sun Shine In – Through Polycarbonate Skylights!
Polycarbonate is a modern plastic material which is a replacement for glass in environments where toughness is essential. Examples of the varied applications of polycarbonate sheeting are bulletproof windows and the ubiquitous CDs that are used in computers as well as video and audio players. It is 200 times stronger than the toughest glass. At the same time it is six times lighter than glass. It is able to withstand temperatures a great deal higher than that of boiling water. It comes in various shades from complete transparency, through translucency, to complete opacity. Because of these qualities it is an ideal replacement for glass skylights.
Natural light is hard to beat. Sunlight has a warmth all its own which is absent in artificial lighting. You will also benefit from lowered electricity bills for daytime lighting. Looking beyond, you’ll be contributing to environmental protection by lowering demand for electricity from thermal and nuclear power plants. The best way to avail yourself of some free sunlight is to install skylights. Traditional glass skylights are liable to breakage. Nowadays polycarbonate sheeting is a viable alternative to glass for use as glazing for skylights.
In other respects polycarbonate is just like glass. It allows all types of light to pass through, according to its translucence. Skylight plc can be coated with special films to cut out harmful ultraviolet light as protection against skin cancers. In other words, plc is synonymous with unbreakable glass.
You can select the polycarbonate skylight according to the light required in the room or interior area. Suppose you want to install skylights for a large hall meant for general activity. That’s where you use standard polycarbonate which let’s all the sunlight pass into the room. Opal lens coating cuts out about 10% of the light, but the light it gives is diffused evenly in the lighted area. This coating is suitable for rooms where you want a lot of light, not glare.
To cut down the amount of light even further, opt for the bronze filter coating. Sunlight is cut drastically to about 40% of its original luminance. Use this option for rooms which don’t require much light anyway. These are just two extreme examples. You can choose from a wide variety of films which allows the exact amount of translucence your room needs.
Medical research shows that exposure to sunlight has a beneficial effect on our health, by strengthening the bones, and preventing diseases like rickets. There are psychological benefits too. Psychologists say that persons are less vulnerable to mood swings in natural light, and that sunlight acts as a natural mood elevator. The popular phrase ‘a ray of sunshine’ is used to indicate a person who brings happiness into a situation.
As far as installation goes, it is not recommended that you do this yourself. It is much better to have it done by a professional contractor who has the expertise to seal the skylights properly. Faulty sealing will increase your power bill on account of increased air conditioning day and night, negating the savings you make by not having to use general indoor lighting in the day.
Since this is a critical aspect of installation, make sure that your contractor is competent to do the job properly. Check out his work record before entrusting him with the installation. Once the polycarbonate skylights are properly installed you can look forward to years and years of maintenance-free, charge-free sunlight.
