ACRYLIC
POLYCARBONATE
FIBERGLASS
GLASS
AIA Industries.com 1-800-748-2036 |
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Skylight Glazing Comparisons |
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| (Glazing is the transparent part of the Skylight) | |||||||
| Listed from most economical to most expensive (there are exceptions) | |||||||
Glazing materials |
Types of skylights |
Typical make-ups & appearance |
Standard colors |
High Performance Coatings |
PROs |
CONs |
Range of U-Values |
| ACRYLIC | Usually smaller Dome Skylights | Usually Double Layer | Clear over clear: maximum light | HeatBlock 365 available | Most economical | Smaller units | 1.2 to .5 |
| up to 9' x 12' Domes, Pyramids, etc. | each layer is between 1/8" to 1/4" thick | Bronze tint over clear: Glare & heat control | - Glare & heat control | Holds up to elements well | Lower energy | ||
| often called "Unit Skylights" or | Available in a single layer (less energy efficient) | Clear over white: maximum light diffusion & privacy | efficiency | ||||
| Bubble / Dome Skylights | |||||||
| Sometimes arranged in "Tandem" arrays | |||||||
| POLYCARBONATE | All types | 16mm & 25mm thick multiwall | Clear: maximum light | Reflecto & Primalite available | Very flexible to design & install | Clarity / optics | .4 to .24 |
| Smaller Unit Skylights, larger | Has ribs inside (think of transparent cardboard) | Bronze tint: Glare & heat control | - Glare & heat control | Holds up to elements well | (has ribs) | ||
| Structural Skylights, Canopies and | Also available in a monolithic single layer | White: maximum light diffusion & privacy | Resistant to hail | noisier | |||
| Walls | Economical | ||||||
| Optional blue, green tint | |||||||
| FIBERGLASS | All types except Dome Skylights | 2-3/4" thick panels with grids inside | Crystal and White are standard | n/a | Unique look | More expensive | .48 to .06 |
| Smaller Unit Skylights, larger | (think of Japanese Shoji screens) | Holds up to elements well | |||||
| Structural Skylights, Canopies and | (also called Translucent Fiberglass skylights) | Optional rose, aqua, blue, tan | Energy efficiency | ||||
| Walls | Fiberglass sheet exterior and interior with | ||||||
| fiberglass batt insulation inbetween | |||||||
| available with 4" thick panels | |||||||
| GLASS | All types except Dome Skylights | 1" thick insulated glass unit (flat glass) | 1/4" thick PPG Solarban 60 Solar Control Low-E | all Low-E type coatings | Longest lasting | Most expensive | .29 to .15 |
| Smaller Unit Skylights, larger | 1/4" to 1-1/2" thick single, double, triple pane | tempered glass over clear laminated glass per code | and Heat Mirror films | Holds up to elements best | |||
| Structural Skylights, Canopies and | Also available in single pane | Options for high Performance | |||||
| Walls | Many options in High performance, tints, thickness, etc. | Resistant to hail | |||||
| Energy efficiency | |||||||
ACRYLIC |
POLYCARBONATE |
FIBERGLASS |
GLASS |
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