It comes down to three things: how much structural work the opening requires, how the light behaves once it enters the home, and how flexible the system is when a room is not directly under the roof.
A traditional skylight usually requires cutting a large opening through the roof and ceiling. That can mean reframing rafters, then building a drywalled light shaft, followed by painting and finishing. It is a bigger job with more steps.
A Solatube tubular skylight is designed to fit between existing rafters with a minimal roof penetration. The page’s core point is simple: no structural reframing, no drywall work, and no painting. Certified Solatube installers typically complete the installation in two hours or less per tube.
It behaves like a window in the roof. Light is direct and unfiltered, which can lead to glare and heat gain during the day.
Solatube tubular skylights use advanced optics to capture and filter daylight, then transfer it through highly reflective tubing. The goal is even, natural light without harsh glare, with components designed to achieve maximum visible light with minimal solar heat gain.
Yes. Solatube Daylighting Systems are Energy Star rated and offer maximum visible light with minimal solar heat gain compared to most traditional skylights.
In most cases, yes. Light from a traditional skylight travels in a straight line, so the skylight typically needs to be installed directly above the space you want to brighten. If the room is offset or deeper in the home, the project can require a larger, angled light shaft.
Daylight can be channeled through the tube up to 90 feet, making it a great fit for interior rooms, closets, hallways, and bathrooms where traditional skylights often cannot reach.
Solatube systems are typically lower maintenance because they use seamless, integrated flashing and a leak-resistant design that helps reduce the risk of leaks and condensation compared to large, custom-framed traditional skylights.
Solatube’s high tech dome with advanced optics provides lighting performance superior to a traditional skylight. Effect Lenses can modify the color and strength of daylight.
Without reframing or painting, Solatube Daylighting Systems are a fraction of the cost of traditional skylights.
Solatube Certified Installation Consultants can install a Solatube Daylighting System in as little as two hours per tube, and the compact design avoids costly construction or reframing.
Solatube’s reflective tubing can direct sunlight into hard-to-reach areas where traditional skylights are not an option.
Yes. Multiple diffuser options are available, plus add-ons like a NightLight Kit, Vent Kit, or Daylight Dimmer.
Solatube® Daylighting Systems have changed the way people think about daylighting by offering a simple, smart alternative to traditional skylights. Only Solatube® uses innovative breakthrough technology to bring natural light into virtually any room of your home in only two hours. Our Brighten Up® Series has transformed millions of homes – without the cost, leaks and hassle associated with traditional skylights.
Our smart dome, equipped with advanced optics, provides lighting performance superior to that of a traditional skylight. Our Effect Lenses can also quickly and easily modify the color and strength of the daylight.
You don’t have to sacrifice performance for energy-efficiency. Solatube® Daylighting Systems are Energy Star® rated and, unlike most traditional skylights, offer maximum visible light with minimal solar heat gain.
Without the need for reframing or painting, Solatube Daylighting Systems are a fraction of the cost of traditional skylights**.
Our Certified Installation Consultants can install your Solatube® Daylighting System in as little as two-hours. The compact design eliminates the need for costly construction or reframing.
Solatube® Daylighting Systems allow you to bring natural light to virtually any room in your home. Our reflective tubing directs sunlight into hard-to-reach areas, where traditional skylights aren’t an option – at a fraction of the cost.
Solatube® Daylighting Systems are engineered for peace of mind. Everything from the leak-proof design to the impact-resistant, self- cleaning dome ensures trouble-free maintenance.
The Solatube® Designer Touches Series, with its multiple lens and trim options, allows daylight customization. You can even add a Light Kit, Vent Kit or Daylight Dimmer – creating a multi-functional system.
Tubular skylights are worth it when you want reliable daylight in a room that does not sit directly under a roof plane, such as hallways, closets, pantries, laundry rooms, and interior bathrooms. A Solatube Daylighting System uses optics and highly reflective tubing to deliver bright, even light without the glare swings that can happen with a traditional skylight opening.
In Central Florida homes, tubular skylights are popular because they brighten interior spaces without harsh glare or added heat. If your main goal is a sky view or dramatic architectural impact, a traditional skylight may be a better fit, but for practical daylighting, tubular skylights solve more layout problems with less construction and cost.
A Solatube Daylighting System is designed to deliver maximum visible light with minimal solar heat gain. In plain terms, it brings in daylight without added heat gain, which makes a big difference in the comfort level of the room in sunny climates like Florida.
Traditional skylights act more like a roof window, and the larger opening can allow more direct sun, which is why heat control depends heavily on glazing, ratings, and shading choices.
A solatube tubular skylight is usually better for practical daylighting in hard-to-reach areas, especially where you want a clean ceiling finish and steady, glare-free light. A traditional skylight is usually better when you want a view, a design focal point, or ventilation through an operable unit.
In Central Florida homes, the decision often comes down to heat management and roof risk tolerance. Tubular skylights use a smaller roof penetration and are commonly selected for minimal heat gain and simpler installation, while traditional skylights demand careful glazing choices and flawless flashing because the opening is larger.
The best skylight is the one that matches the job. For interior rooms that need daylight without major construction, a tubular skylight is often the best fit because it can deliver light to spaces that a straight-down skylight cannot reach.
For living rooms, kitchens, or vaulted spaces where you want dramatic daylight and a sky view, a traditional fixed skylight or roof window can make sense, and a ventilating skylight can help release heat and moisture. Just plan for higher installed cost and more interior finishing than a sun tunnel style system.
Any roof penetration is at risk of leaking if it’s installed improperly. Solatube daylighting systems are built with seamless, integrated flashing and are described as leak-proof, lower maintenance, and lower risk for leaks and condensation than large, custom-framed traditional skylights.
Florida is not forgiving. Wind-driven rain and storm cycles expose shortcuts fast, so the flashing has to match the roof type and be installed correctly. Solatube domes and flashing kits are designed for tile, shingle, flat, metal, and slate roofs, with installation options intended to prevent leaks and resist wind uplift, and the systems are tested and approved for Florida code requirements, including HVHZ approvals.
That is why hiring a certified installer like The Solar Guys matters. The Solar Guys are the only Premier Dealer for genuine Solatube products throughout Central Florida, backed by state certified solar, general contractor, and roofing licenses. We ensure proper fit and leak-proof flashing from day one.
A tubular skylight delivers impressive natural light in a compact design. They’re meant to brighten a room rather than offer a sky view, and because they can be very bright at midday, a Daylight Dimmer can help you dial the light down when needed.
A solar tube costs less than a traditional skylight because the roof opening is smaller, and the installation process usually involves less framing and interior finishing. A standard 14-inch Solatube typically falls in the $550 to $750 range, while traditional skylights often run $1,540 to $2,000+, depending on the unit and the work required.
Solar tubes are a strong value when they replace daytime electric lighting in spaces that otherwise stay dark, like interior corridors or windowless bathrooms. They also avoid many of the layout constraints of traditional skylights because the light can be routed through reflective tubing rather than requiring a straight, open shaft directly below the roof.
They are less compelling when your priority is a sky view, or airflow from an operable roof window or venting skylight. If that is the goal, The Solar Guys can point you to a product designed for view and ventilation.
Tubular skylights tend to increase buyer appeal because rooms feel brighter and more usable, which can support stronger showings and sometimes a faster sale, especially when the install looks clean and professional. Industry guides generally describe skylights and daylighting upgrades as features that improve desirability rather than guaranteeing a specific dollar return.
What matters most is installation quality and performance. A properly flashed, leak-resistant system is far more likely to be viewed as an upgrade, while any signs of moisture, staining, or poor finishing can work against you. Energy guidance also notes that roof daylighting needs the right design to avoid unwanted heat gain or heat loss, so product choice and installation details influence how a buyer perceives the feature.
Solar tubes are usually the better choice when you want consistent natural light in smaller or hard to reach spaces like hallways, closets, interior bathrooms, and pantries. The Solar Guys describe Solatube systems as delivering evenly dispersed light without harsh glare or added heat, and with maximum visible light and minimal solar heat gain.
Traditional skylights are usually the better choice when you want a view of the sky, a larger daylight opening, or ventilation with an operable unit. The U.S. Department of Energy also notes skylights can introduce unwanted heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, so glazing choices and ratings like SHGC and U factor matter more with larger skylight openings.
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