FAQ'S - Frequently asked questions

about skylights...

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What is the difference between acrylic and Plexiglas?
None. Plexiglas is a brand name for acrylic plastic. Another popular brand name is Lucite.

Why are acrylic domes so popular as skylights?
acrylic dome skylights are light, efficient, and inexpensive. They are particularly well-suited to flat roof installations since they shed water so well and gather light from many angles. Their light weight makes them easy to get up on the roof. Often the dome shape allows for increased head room. They are quite modern in appearance and may not be suitable in certain architectural environments.

Why a dome and not flat acrylic?
Forming acrylic into a dome shape dramatically increases the strength of the flat sheet of plastic and helps to eliminate expansion and contraction, which can be detrimental or fatal to a skylight over time.

What are the color choices in acrylic dome skylights?
Clear, bronze and white translucent are the three more popular choices.

What if I want a flat skylight?
For any flat skylight the optimal material is glass. All glass skylights we manufacture are composed of safety glass.

What kind of safety glass do you use?
Most glass skylights will be composed of tempered safety glass or laminated safety glass or a combination of the two. We also manufacture skylights of clear or obscure glass. Your local building codes will indicate what type of safety glass is required.

What is the difference between tempered glass and laminated glass?
Tempered glass is heat-strengthened glass like the glass in your shower doors and patio doors. It is very strong, but, if it breaks, it explodes into thousands of tiny pieces. The side windows of most cars are tempered. Laminated glass is glass with a plastic interlayer which is designed to hold in place when it breaks. The front windshield of your car is laminated. In many Canadian and US areas, building codes call for laminated glass as the interior piece of glass on any glass skylight. Laminated glass has the extra advantage in that it is a very effective block of ultraviolet light which is the leading cause of fading.

What is "Low-E2" glass?
More and more skylights are being made of Low-E2 (or Low-E squared) for even greater benefits. It is a denser version of Low-E which is slightly darker in appearance and was designed for even greater thermal efficiency (short for low emissive) glass. Low-E2 glass was originally developed for energy efficiency, but it has the additional benefit of blocking heat gain as well as heat loss through a skylight. It provides a very comfortable light without darkening the skylight such as in the use of tinted glass. Either tempered glass or laminated glass usually has the Low-E2 feature included.

Can my skylights open for ventilation?
Yes. All the skylights we make can be made to open for ventilation either manually means (hand crank or pole operation) or electrical activation.

I have a Dayliter Skylight and would like to put some kind of blind or screen in. Do you sell these?
We do manufacture and sell screens for your skylight, however, the BEST suggestion for this is an after market product a retractable screen or shade that is not always left closed. Something similar to Newco Blinds, or Phantom Screens (both can be found in the yellow pages) which are both retractable. If you do install something like this, you should NOT leave the screen in year round or blind closed consistently if the skylight is not an opening skylight. Blinds and screens will hold any heat that come in through the skylight up against the acrylic or glass and it can break/crack them (in the case of glass, ruin the seal between the dual glazings). If a blind is installed, it should be mounted at least 10” away from the inner surface of the skylight, and should be a space to allow for air flow between the skylight and the interior space. In the case of a screen in an opening skylight, open the skylight approximately 1/4" (one quarter inch) and that will allow for some kind of airflow between the skylight and the screen. You can also remove the screen and only have it installed during high temperature seasons when you would normally have the skylight open for ventilation.

You can also go somewhere like Home Depot that offers custom skylight blind installation.

** WE DO NOT waranty problems caused by after-market products being installed into our skylights. **

I have a fixed (or non-opening) skylight (from Dayliter or someone else). Can it be made to open?
In a sense, yes. Our skylights are designed so that they can be removed and changed over to opening units if they are if they are curb-mounted and properly installed. However, what actually happens is, the old skylight is removed, and a new skylight must be purchased to replace it. The benefit of this is that you now have a brand new skylight with a warranty. The task is much simpler for the installer if the installation was done properly. If not, there are more things that will need to be completed before the skylight can be changed. Please discuss this with us or your contractor when you place your order.

What do I do with the old skylights when I replace them?
Dayliter is proud to be a GREEN company - we actively recycle everything we can from our business. We will gladly take your old skylights (glass or acrylic) and recycle them completely so that they don't end up in a landfill.

What are curb-mounted skylights?
Curb-mounted skylights are the most common of all skylights. A curb is simply a wood frame that is built from 2x4's (or 2x6's) on edge to create a "curb" so that it is higher than the roof and sealed to become part of the roof. The skylight is then mounted over the curb and attached from the inside. ** Remember, you will need a flashing kit to flash around the curb to seal it. We have these cut to size for the size of skylight you order.

Are there any other shapes available in acrylic domes ?
Yes. We manufacture pyramid, Flatlite and "Ridgelite" shapes. See our SHAPES page.

What is Dayliter's warranty policy?
Dayliter Industries Ltd. reserves the right to alter the details or design of its products without notice. We guarantee all products to be free from defects in workmanship and material for a time period of ten (10) years from date of shipping. Sealed glass units are warranteed from the manufacturer for five (5) years from the date of sale to the original buyer. Our liability is limited solely to the replacement of goods. Not complying with this guarantee, or at our choice, a credit of the paid purchase price to the original buyer. For more information and details please read our full warranty.

What is Dayliter's sales / return policy?
Based on prior approval, returned goods are subject to a 20% re-stocking charge. Products must not be damaged. Goods must be returned within 30 days of the shipping date. All custom sized products and models are non-returnable and cannot be cancelled once the order is in progress. Dayliter will not accept returned merchandise freight collect. Any product(s) to be returned must have an R.G.A. (Returning goods authorization) number and is subject to inspection upon arrival at our facilities before any credit will be issued.

Is there something else you might want to know?

Please contact us so we may help!