We just put a lovely screen porch on our home. I love it, but it has darkened our living & dinning room and kitchen much more than I thought it would. All three areas are open to each other and measure 24'x22'. We do have a TV in the living room.

I have been researching solar tube skylights. Today I went to see a solatube brand, and I was not impressed. To be fair, the dealer only had one installed without any filters or covers. The reflection from the metal inside the tube was way too bright, the glare would be difficult to live with. They didn't have any of the filters installed to look at.

Can anyone suggest a brand that may be a little more attractive? I would love to see one in person, but I can't seem to find dealers who have displays. Home depot and Lowes don't stock there brands, you have to order them.

I don't want to use a regular skylight, because we get a lot of sap dripping from our trees, and I imagine that would be unsightly. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Welcome to the forums! The ones I have installed for clients came from big orange, so they may have stopped carrying them. Although the light is bright, the diffuser and ring associated with it make it look almost like a CFL type bulb. Not too bright, but light "giving". After all that is what you are looking for, right?

 

yes, I want the light, what I don't like about the Solatube is the glare. It was really annoying.

 

I've installed dozens of solor tubes and been in dozens of homes with them and have never seen a glare. It just looks like the lights are turned on in the room.
A nice even light.
If you were just looking at one without the defuser in place that's why there was a glare. You can not see the tube once the lens go on.

 

Velux or Solatube would be my recommendations. I like Velux better myself...they have many roof options depending on the look you want.

 

Gunguy45,

Do you know if the Velux rigid tube can be used with an elbow? The one I want to put in the living room is close enough to the roof peak that if i can angle it, then I could hide the dome, and get a south west exposure. I know there are the flexible tubes, but I have read that they don't produce as much light as the rigid.

 

I don't think they have a real elbow option except in the commercial stuff. They are adjustable for different angles and offsets, so they don't have to go straight up (I don't think)....but not sure if that would work for you. Take a look at the PDF install instructions for the rigid tube models...see if it will fit your needs.

Product Info | VELUX

The company should be able to help or they can direct you to a certified installer/dealer. Don't go to a Big Box store...the sales guys won't have the info you want, though they can order it for you if you know what you need....likely at a better price.