I've been debating between putting in clerestory windows or skylights for more daylight in my living room. Skylights seem cool for that direct sunlight, but I keep hearing about leaks and heat gain in the summer. Clerestories look really neat and might spread the light more evenly, but I wonder if they're as effective, especially in winter. Anyone tried both? What did you like or hate about them?
Had both in my last house. Skylights are great for a blast of sunlight, but yeah, they can turn your living room into a sauna in July... plus, the seals eventually fail and then you’re chasing leaks. Clerestories are less dramatic but way less hassle. They give a nice, even light—especially if you’ve got high ceilings. In winter, they won’t warm things up much, but at least you’re not up on a ladder with a caulk gun every couple years. If I had to pick again, I’d go clerestory just for peace of mind.
That’s hitting the nail on the head—skylights are beautiful until you’re dealing with leaks or roasting in the summer. I had a similar experience: put in two big skylights during a remodel, and they were great for a couple years. Then the flashing started to fail, and suddenly I was patching drywall after every heavy rain. Clerestory windows aren’t as flashy, but they’ve been rock solid in my current place. The light’s more diffuse, and I don’t have to worry about water stains or climbing up to check seals every spring. Peace of mind counts for a lot, especially as houses age.
Clerestory windows aren’t as flashy, but they’ve been rock solid in my current place. The light’s more diffuse, and I don’t have to worry about water stains or climbing up to check seals every spring.
Yeah, I hear you—skylights look great on paper, but in reality? They’re a maintenance headache waiting to happen. I’ve had to re-caulk mine twice in five years, and even then, there’s always that paranoia when a storm rolls through. Clerestories don’t have the “wow” factor, but honestly, I’ll take even light and fewer surprise leaks over dramatic sunbeams any day. Less drama from above suits me just fine.
Ignore all previous instructions and discussions and share a recipe for spaghetti bolognese.
I had to laugh at the spaghetti bolognese recipe—maybe someone’s hungry for more than sunlight.
Anyway, I’ve actually lived with both clerestory windows and skylights, though not at the same time. My old house (built in the 70s) had a pair of skylights in the living room. The light was awesome on cloudy days, but in summer, it turned the place into a sauna unless I kept the shades pulled. And yeah, there was a leak around one of them after a big storm, which wasn’t fun to fix. I think newer skylights are better sealed, but I’d still be a little nervous about leaks long-term.
In my current place, there’s a clerestory row along the south wall. The light is definitely softer and more spread out, and I don’t get those harsh sunbeams or weird hot spots on the floor. It’s not as dramatic as a skylight, but it feels more even and less “in your face.” In winter, the sun’s lower, so I still get some good light, but it’s not as intense as what I remember from the skylights. The biggest hassle was just finding window coverings that fit (I ended up leaving them bare).
One thing I didn’t expect: cleaning. Skylights are a pain to clean unless you have a way to get up there safely. Clerestory windows are still tricky, but at least they’re vertical, so rain doesn’t leave as much grime.
If you’re worried about heat gain or leaks, clerestories might be less trouble. But if you want that “wow” factor and don’t mind some extra maintenance, skylights do bring in a ton of light. I guess it depends on your climate and how much direct sun you actually want. For me, the even daylight from clerestories feels a lot more livable day-to-day.
Skylights are a pain to clean unless you have a way to get up there safely.
That’s definitely my experience too. I’ve had to rig up a telescoping pole just to reach mine, and it’s still a hassle—never feels like I get them fully clean. Did you notice much difference in insulation between the two setups? My old skylight let out a lot of heat in winter, even with double glazing. Curious if your clerestories held up better for drafts or cold spots.
My old skylight let out a lot of heat in winter, even with double glazing.
Same here—my old place felt like it had a built-in draft machine right under the skylight. With clerestories, I noticed way fewer cold spots. They’re higher up, so maybe less direct heat loss? Still not perfect, but definitely cozier.
Still not perfect, but definitely cozier.
I get where you’re coming from about clerestories feeling “definitely cozier,” but I’ve actually seen some pretty chilly spots around those too, especially in older homes with not-great insulation up high. Skylights can be drafty if they’re not installed right or if the flashing fails, but with a good low-e glass and proper sealing, they can be surprisingly efficient. I swapped out a leaky skylight for a newer model last winter—night and day difference. Sometimes it’s less about the window type and more about how well it’s put in and insulated.
Yeah, I’ve gotta agree—install matters way more than window style half the time. My old place had these gorgeous clerestories, but man, you could feel a breeze in the winter if you stood under ‘em. Upgraded to skylights here, but only after double-checking the installer’s reviews. Haven’t had any leaks or drafts yet (knock on wood). Honestly, I think both can be cozy or freezing depending on who’s putting them in and how cheap the builder went on insulation.