Sky light - round tunnel type

[flipper35]

We are re-roofing and the kitchen is dark most of the time so we are looking at options for more light. We saw the tunnel style skylights and wondered if anyone has experience with them? It would be nice to have some additional natural ilght during the day but I don't want to tear up the ceiling for all the framwork for traditional skylights. Plus, the traditional ones tend to sweat in the winters here in SW Wisconsin. At least the ones put in a few years ago from the few that I have seen.

[gshase]

My parents have 3 solar tubes and love them. Do not have one over a couch if you ever plan on taking a nap when the sun is up.

[Zeke]

The only complaint I had about those was the bright bluish light they introduce to the interior. I guess the company heard about that enough that they have filters now.

[DARISC]

Had a Solatube put into the art studio I built in my back yard. It's great, thinking of another one at the other end of the studio.

This is informative: http://www.just-rooflights.com/faq.html

[VINMAN]

I put 2 in my last house. They worked great.

[DARISC]

I picked Solatube because I'd heard of them first and their plant is 10 miles from me. If I recall correctly, the company has its roots in Australia where the concept was thought up and developed by a homeowner who then started the business.

[lowyder993s]

Up until a couple years ago, my company produced all the skylights (reflective tubes and elbows) for these guys:

ODL tubular skylights photo gallery: skylights domes, daylighting tubes

They're sold in Lowe's, HD, Probuild, etc.

People swaer by them.

[Noah930]

My parents installed a solatube in what used to be my sister's bathroom--it was dark as it was small and had no windows. Anytime there's even a hint of daylight out, that solatube makes the room look like a light's on. Maybe not so good if you keep vampire hours, but it works as advertised.

[flipper35]

This is going in a kitchen so no vampires there. Thanks guys, I think with the size it looks like we will need a couple put in.

[vash]

my MIL put one in the hallway and in the bathroom..the lighting is very soft..almost artificial looking. but it is much better than "dark". i like it.

they went with solatubes. no leaks.

[bornrich]

I have 3 in my house ( 1- hallway - 1 in each bathroom) I am completely happy with them. Lights up the formerly dark hallway same with the bathrooms, I almost never use the lights during the day as I used to before Suntunnel installs.

[Drisump]

They transform dark rooms into much more inviting spaces. If a situation allows the installation of a conventional skylight without too much trouble and expense, I prefer them. I have installed them in bathrooms that have no windows...amazing results. I also have observed that there appears to be more light transferal down the rigid pipe and less with the flexi type. So I would opt for the rigid if the application allows it (no framing or hips/valleys) directly above where you want to place the light source in the room. Cheers

[wdfifteen]

My friend has a couple in her house and loves them.

[flipper35]

We can use the rigid tubes. Our kitchen is in the north east corner of the house and we have several maple trees outside the east window so the kitchen lights are on anytime anyone is in there, day or night. Never thought about one in the long dark hallway. Good idea. Conventional skylights would be considerably more with the additional framework required.

[john70t]

They do produce a harsh blue light, at least the early versions.
Filters or spray painting the tube can fix that.

On that tangent, there is a southside town next to a mountain in Sweden or Switzerland that put giant relective mirrors to bring light into the city.

[intakexhaust]

Excellent depending on the room. We have one on an interior bathroom. Without it, a light must be on but with a single Solartube, complete natural light comes thru.