Solatube tubular skylight are better value
The main reason is because, size for size, a Solatube delivers more light than other systems of the same diameter. And that’s what is often difficult for customers to understand. You can look at a 300mm or 350mm dia tubular skylight system from Solatube and compare it with the same size from a copycat manufacturer. But what one fails to realise is that a smaller (and cheaper) 250mm Solatube will deliver as much (and sometimes more) light than these larger systems.
Conversely, to get as much light as the smaller 250mm dia Solatube you’d need to compare it with at least a 300mm but really 350mm or more dia tubular skylight from anyone else.
So why is a Solatube tubular skylight so much brighter than other tubular skylight systems?
Originally designed with the specific objective of delivering as much light as possible, Solatube came up with a design that has been constantly improved over the years. They have invested in leading technology and materials ensuring that the Solatube remains the world’s brightest tubular skylight system. See our previous blog for more on this for more https://www.solatubescotland.co.uk/blog/why-is-a-solatube-the-best-sun-tube-system-158/
However, every other system on the market is a copycat system of the original Solartube concept. And their primary objective is not to deliver as much light as possible but to come up with a tubular skylight that is cheaper to make, rather than better. And once developed, that’s it – no more development or refinements or improvements.
So, other manufacturers think “we need a dome”, but rather than understanding how a dome can capture more light and divert it down a tube, they simply look for the cheapest way to make a dome and often these are quite low profile, not much more than a flat glass collector, and consequently they can never deliver as much daylight.
Next they think, “we need some shiny tubing”. The cheapest thing you can come up with is flexible air ducting tube, so that’s what they use, but with no thought as to how it might deliver the light. And it doesn’t take a great physicist to realise that the inside of a flexi tube is like scrunched up tin foil and therefore reflects and splits the light in loads of different directions, rather than where it need to go, which is down the tube.
Even the shiny tubing that other tubular skylight systems use falls way behind the world’s most reflective material used in a Solatube light tunnel.
98% or 99.7% reflective – it makes a BIG difference
Most other systems use a less reflective material in their tubes. It may not sound like a big difference but just consider the physics for a moment:
- 98% reflective: Each time light bounces down the tube it loses 2% of its energy, or light. Over just 10 bounces that equates to a 20% loss of light.
- 99.7% reflective: Each time light bounces down the tube it loses just 0.3% of its energy, or light. Over 10 bounces that equates to a tiny 3% loss of light.
So, a Solatube may appear more expensive on the face of it, but when you compare them with the amount of light they deliver, they are the best value for money all round. It’s like comparing a 10watt light bulb with an 80watt light bulb. And that’s before we’ve even talked about the quality of the materials that other systems use, which fall way below those employed in a Solatube.
Ultimately, you are paying for years of light transfer knowledge and design expertise, not to mention a quality product (think Rolls Royce versus Robin Reliant, or McLaren versus Nissan Micra or Ferrari versus Fiat 127…).
Solatube tubular skylights are the best
£ for £ a Solatube is the best value tubular skylight system available on every count. I’ve been installing various types and makes of system for the last 18 years and I always come back to the Solatube tubular skylight system, because, quite simply, it is the best all round. To reiterate some of the key points: the Solatube tubular skylight was originally conceived to achieve a specific goal – to deliver as much bright daylight in to dark rooms by piping it along highly reflective tubing.
- the Solatube is a very well thought through and designed system.
- it is the only tubular skylight system that uses high grade materials and components, that don’t fail or crack and break.
- the design of the Solatube makes them the simplest tubular skylight system to install – easier even than flexible tube systems.
- a simple installation process means a good, sound and weatherproofed installation is far easier to achieve.
- The dome, the lenses and the reflectivity of the tube material DOES make a significant difference to the amount of light a system can deliver.
All of the above points ensure that, size for size, a Solatube tubular skylight delivers more light than any other tubular skylight system out there, because the others just don’t ‘get it’ and have made copycat systems for as little money as possible, rather than delivering as much light as possible. And this is what makes the Solatube the best value system available relative to the amount of light they deliver, because they don’t cut corners and go for the cheapest option.
And don’t believe much of the mis-information that you can read on a number of sites concerning tubular daylight systems. The people who have written them clearly have no first-hand knowledge or experience of various systems and often just don’t seem to understand some of the basic concepts around the physics of light. You can find out more about misleading information here https://www.solatubescotland.co.uk/blog/what-have-you-heard-about-solatube-163/
Throughout the whole of Scotland, Solatube Scotland is the recognised distributor and installer of Solatube tubular skylights, or light pipes.
If you are interested in bringing natural light into your home, why not contact us at info@solatubescotland.co.uk; 07778 283 427 to find out whether a Solatube sun pipe can help you. Typically, a fully installed system might cost anywhere between £900 – £1,200; that’s supplied, professionally installed and includes the VAT.
We service these postal codes and surrounding areas: AB,DD, DG, EH, FK, G, HS, IV, KA, KW, KY, ML, PA, PH, TD, ZE
We service all towns and cities in Scotland, including the surrounding areas: Aberdeen, Ayr, Aviemore, Cumbernauld, Dumfries, Dundee, Dunbar, Edinburgh, Elgin, Eyemouth, Falkirk, Fort William, Galashiels, Glasgow, Greenock, Inverness, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Lanark, Livingston, Moffat, North Berwick, Oban, Paisley, Peebles, Perth, Peterhead, Selkirk, St. Andrews, Stirling