Ideal skylight location in VC loft?

[MikeT]

Is there distance down from the peak on the VC loft that the skylights should go?  I purchased Velux skylights that are basically 22 1/2 x 48" so they fit between the rafters.  But I do not know an aesthetically appropriate placement for them.  Any thoughts?

Thanks,
mt

[glenn-k]

Far enough down that they don't interfere with the ridge and maybe room for trim if you want it -- we just put sheetrock corners on the one we did inside.

These are my thoughts only and really don't mean anything.

My son didn't like the light in his eyes - said it kept him awake and covered it with a dark towel.

[MountainDon]

The skylights I've installed here were placed higher up the slope, as compared to lower.

One other thing you can do is to make the bottom end larger; like 2 ft x 6 ft, or more for a 2 ft x 4 ft skylight. Spreads thre light out more.    Sorta like an upside down funnel.  :-/

I have one for a 2 ft x 4 ft s'light that is offset; one leg longer than the other for an opening about 2 ft x 8 ft.

[MikeT]

I was planning on flaring the top and bottom of the opening to increase the light.  I was thinking I would flare it out 45 degrees or so.   I just can't decide if a person standing in the loft should be able to only look at the sky or should  be able to look out and possibly see the ground.

m

[jraabe]

A higher skylight placement will flood more of the room with light. A skylight set low enough down the rafter to allow a person to walk into the opening and see below the horizon opens up a view portal that a higher skylight will not give you.

If you have a nice view from the loft I think I would choose the lower option.

[Dustin]

Consider also what side of the house this is on in relation to the sun. A north facing skylight will have more diffuse, indirect light than one facing south, with less heat. In the summer months, an unshaded south-facing skylight will bring in more direct sunlight and heat than a window. In a cold climate, a north-facing skylight gives almost five times more light than a north-facing window with almost the same amount of heat loss.