Unique Roofs with Lighting Challenges and Solutions

So Sunny Sunlight is one of the best ways to invite natural and eco-friendly lighting through a roof's design. Skylights not only enhance the look of the roof, but they also allow much needed light and heat into the building. If the roof is on a building in a hot climate, tinting and electronic shades can be installed to control the amount of light and heat that gets in and escapes. Dome shaped and other modern angular glass roofs with skylights are especially popular choices for commercial, educational and cultural buildings. Museums are particularly fond of such roofing structures for use over their atrium and entrance ways. Designers must keep in mind, however, that direct sunlight will fade anything in its path. It is best to design the interior with natural materials and plant life that will thrive on the sun's rays. 

Suspended Lighting

While sunlight is a great option for lighting on sunny days, on rainy days and at night there needs to be an additional light source available. Suspended lighting is the most popular choice for use within unique roof structures. With the need for this type of lighting in mind, many contemporary roof designs are constructed with beams and trusses that allow for the suspension of such fixtures. If the roof is a solid dome with no natural lighting entering from the top, there will frequently be cross-beams that span the width of the building to enable designers to hang lights throughout the building.

What to Consider

If the inclusion of an architecturally unique roof is on your horizon in a new project, consider the cost of construction, as well as the cost of the necessary lighting. It may turn out that skylights will be the key factor in saving electricity that may partially offset the cost of purchasing lighting fixtures. Wiring and hanging the lighting fixtures is an additional expense that needs to be included in the project's budget. While unique roofs can be beautiful architectural visions, they also need to be practical and fall within the budget of the project. There are many designers who will claim to have the latest and greatest roofing styles in mind; but if the cost of the new roof, along with the related lighting expense is impractical, then a more traditional style roof is a better choice. Always weigh the pros and cons of such an investment before making the final decision on a roof design. No matter how good a roof looks on paper, if it does not provide the cost-efficient benefits that you need, then it is not worth it.