Solar/Sun Tubes, anybody used them?

MJB1988_2

Hi all,

I'm doing some home improvements before I sell my home and thinking about installing one in my upstairs hallway to let some natural light in. Has anybody used them? Any recommended brands?

Thanks

Matt

Davesnave

Few people will have comparative experience in fitting these, so watch out for newbies arriving on this thread to praise a particular brand!

I have friends who used two: one to light a bathroom and the other to lighten a dark corner in a room. The tubes do an adequate job in both cases, but on the day I saw them, the light provided didn't seem as natural as I expected.

I was planning to use solar tubes on my bungalow, but in the end I changed other design features to admit enough light at a lower cost.

Remember that money spent on minor improvements prior to selling may make the house easier to shift, but might not significantly alter value.

Furts

I am with Davesnave. I am underwhelmed by them, and some I think are outright rubbish. A light would be simpler and cheaper.

andyhop

We often fit in internal bathrooms, have one in my own and works a treat

Fitting costs are relatively low too, we've yet to fit one that has taken more than 4hrs work even when erecting mobile scaffolding.

How good the quality of light is depends on the fitting and position of the external piece

Jeannine

When we had an extension built several years ago, the builders put in a flexible solar pipe which is terrible. (At the time we knew nothing about solar pipes and naively assumed that the builders did!). However, did some research recently and have fitted a rigid one which is absolutely amazing compared with the other style. It's really like having a huge window in the room. I would recommend the company 100% - they gave endless advice, about measurements and angles etc, and it was fitted by my competent brother, although they can recommend local fitters.

I can give you further details if you wish, but I can't believe the difference it has made - it really is stunning! And I have absolutely no connection with the company....

Le_Kirk

Fitted Sun Pipe in our internal bathroom several years ago. Excellent light but obviously only as good (or slightly less) than outside available light. Quite fortunate in that the pipe run is fairly short and quite straight. Rarely need internal light on in bathroom now (during the day) and when it was new (and sometimes visitors) try to turn the light off when leaving the bathroom. Cannot remember the brand, Googled Sun Pipe, found a supplier (reasonably close), visited their office/workshop where they had a set up, got a quote after they visited the house to check the ease/difficulty of installation, bought it, had it installed, no problem since.

Davesnave

Jeannine wrote: »

I can give you further details if you wish, but I can't believe the difference it has made - it really is stunning! And I have absolutely no connection with the company....

People like you with a track record of posting and direct experience are valuable to have on threads like this. You've had two types to compare, which must be rare.

There's clearly more to these tubes than simply buying any one of them and sticking it in. That's what I was hinting at in my earlier comment.

Furts

Davesnave wrote: »

People like you with a track record of posting and direct experience are valuable to have on threads like this. You've had two types to compare, which must be rare.

There's clearly more to these tubes than simply buying any one of them and sticking it in. That's what I was hinting at in my earlier comment.

The post concurs with what I have gleaned from colleagues over the years. I would not advise a flexi duct sun tube - the kinks refract the light and dust builds up on them. In addition the ducting must be as straight as possible - every bend cuts the light transmission. The bottom line is only solid tubed sun pipes should be considered and ideally the tubes should be near vertical with no bends.

The quality of the dome mounted on the roof is another issue as is the flashing detail. As an example here, think of perspex and similar plastics - there are countless car headlamps circa 2004 which have failed after in some cases only a few years. This is likely to be the same with the domes. Then add in special flashing kits are needed with Velux windows - yet what approved kits are offered with the sun pipes?

The rule is if a BBA Certificate, or similar, is available for the sun pipe in question, then it could be considered for use. However the BBA system is flawed so still be savvy when scrutinising the product. If there is no certification then avoid the product at all costs.

Ruski

Furts wrote: »

Then add in special flashing kits are needed with Velux windows - yet what approved kits are offered with the sun pipes?

To answer that question - the Velux sun tubes are like a mini Velux window (as opposed to a plastic dome) and come with the appropriate flashing kit (you order the correct overall product type for your roof).

I've fitted two for a neighbour, with the solid tubes, and whilst definitely adding light to the dingy part of the kitchen I wouldn't rely on it to 'light up the room'.

As for doing it in order to add value to the property before selling, I wouldn't, but that's just MHO.

HTH

Russ

MisterBaxter

I've specified the rigid tube type a number of times in social housing refurbishment and new build and find that they are generally well received in terms of the levels of light they provide in internal bathrooms or hallways; even on relatively dull days they seem to provide enough background light to not need the main lights to be used. Reduction in energy consumption is also popular in social housing.

One word of caution is around getting them watertight when retro-fitting into an existing roof; I've seen a couple leak. The other problem I've been told about by tenants where they have been fitted is that they need cleaning like a window would as the light levels diminish; now I'm not sure if this is real or if it is the occupant's perception but it sounded reasonable.

I've not seen the flexible tube type in quite a while now and never actually specified them but seeing how they work logic would suggest they simply aren't going to be as good as a rigid tube.

I'm not sure that you would recover the cost of installing one when selling the property or that many buyers would consider it a deal maker.