Installation of a skylight is a multifaceted improvement for new Kaua‘i homes, as well as for remodelers. JoAnn Andrade-Medsker of Kapa‘a-based Tradewindow & Consulting, Inc. offers a variety of skylights made by Velux, a Greenwood, South Carolina company. She said
Installation of a skylight is a multifaceted improvement for new Kaua‘i homes, as well as for remodelers.
JoAnn Andrade-Medsker of Kapa‘a-based Tradewindow & Consulting, Inc. offers a variety of skylights made by Velux, a Greenwood, South Carolina company.
She said a skylight helps keep mold and dampness from homes in Kaua‘i’s sometimes rainy environment.
Placing one on a roof also brings light into a room during the day, and by moonlight at night.
A display of Velux skylights in the Tradewindow showroom on Kuhio Highway provides a look at features available.
Andrade-Medsker said an electric motor hinged skylight can be moved up and down by using a remote control. She said you can cool down a highceilinged room without having to climb up a ladder to open the skylight to let the hot air out.
Another skylight has part of its hinge framed so a homeowner can keep the house aired out without worrying about rain coming in. The frame is secure too, and unlike leaving a window open, would be a difficult entry spot for a burglar.
She also pointed out a special layer of glass available that filters out the heat of sunlight, while letting the light in.
The company recommends installing the skylight in new homes, and Andrade-Medsker said skylights are popular on Kaua‘i with contractors who are building new homes. Adding a skylight to an existing home can open up a room with light, and help cool it, but it is more costly to install one once a home has been built.
“A skylight gives your house a real nice feeling, letting the light in,” Andrade-Medsker said.
Chris Cook, Editor, can be reached at ccook@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 227).
