Comparing prices of sun tunnel systems

If you are considering installing a Solatube sun tunnel and want to know how much a sun tunnel costs to install, you need to read the following.  Over the course of the last 14 years I have encountered and installed most makes of system and I am happy to explain the various pros and cons of each one.

However, the bottom line comes down to the fact that, given a choice, I will always come back to a Solatube sun tunnel over any other system out there.

Unfortunately, there are very few people out there who really understand the significant differences there are between the various systems and consequently there is a lot of misinformation (and mis-selling too).

So, please be aware that there is a very big difference between different makes of tubular systems, which means that simply comparing the price of the same size sun tunnel systems between manufacturers does not give you an accurate picture.

The original sun tunnel system

First thing to consider is that the Solatube sun tunnel is the originator of the sun tunnel concept.  Every other system I have come across is a copycat system.  And the problem with copycat systems is that they all set out with one main objective – how to make a CHEAPER sun tunnel, rather than how to make a BETTER sun tunnel; and therein lies the problem.  You can certainly purchase a cheaper system, but it won’t be anywhere near as good as a Solatube.

The reason for this is simply because Solatubes are a better system, all round, on every single count; in terms of:

• design
• quality of materials used
• manufacture and assembly
• and ultimately, light delivery

And there is a reason for this, which is that the Solatube sun tunnel system is the original tubular daylight system.  They identified a problem and designed a solution that would solve it, and they have continued to develop and refine it over the years.

Here are the other key points to be aware of when specifying tubular daylight devices:

The most important of these is the reflective tube material

Even sun tunnels using 98% rigid reflective material will deliver significantly less light than a Solatube sun tunnel which uses 99.7% rigid reflective material.  It may not sound like a big difference but consider this:

• Each time light bounces it loses either 2% of its light with 98% material, or just 0.3% with 99.7% tubing.
• So, over an average tube run of say 10 bounces 98% reflective tubing loses a massive 20% of the light
• 7% reflective Solatubes lose just 3% over the same tube run
• That’s a BIG difference

This means that you need a much larger diameter system to deliver the same amount of light as a smaller Solatube.  Ultimately, the Solatube sun tunnel is the brightest system available, and delivers more light than any other.

Rigid or flexible tubes

Some cheaper systems use a flexible tube to deliver light rather than a rigid tube. Flexi tubes are like crunched up silver foil and consequently most of the light is reflected in multiple directions rather than down the tube in to the room below.  The independent body, The Building Research Establishment (BRE), undertook their own tests and established that to deliver the same amount of light as a rigid Solatube system, you would need to install 10 (yes, that’s correct, 10) flexible tube systems.  If you only came away with one piece of advice from all this, then please be aware that you will get very little light from a flexi tube system.

Builders and other inexperienced installers will often try to sell you a flexi tube system in the mistaken belief that they are quicker and easier to install.  Even if they are installed properly then they are no quicker or easier to install than a rigid tube system, however they still deliver next to no light compared to rigid systems, however they are installed.

• A single rigid Solatube delivers as much light as 10 flexi tube systems

If there’s’ only one piece of advice you come away with it should be; please don’t be tempted by cheap flexible tube systems – they just do not deliver a meaningful amount of light.  The Building Research Establishment conducted tests on these and determined that to get the same amount of light as you do through a Solatube you would need 10 (yes, 10!) flexible tube systems of the same size.

Should I have a dome or a flat glass roof collector

Some systems use a flat glass collector on the roof (like a Velux style window), rather than a dome

Whilst a flat glass collector is unobtrusive it is also dependent on direct light shining directly down it, whereas a dome on the roof gathers ambient daylight from all around and directs it down the tube, i.e. it gathers much more light, all day long and all year long, including whenever the sun is not shining directly down it.

A flat glass collector really only works when the sun is directly overhead, which is during midday, particularly in the summer time.  During the rest of the day in the mornings and evenings and during the winter months, when the sun is lower in the sky, the daylight just can’t get inside the tube that well. Therefore one would need to specify a much bigger diameter flat glass system to obtain the same amount of light as one with a dome.

That said, if you really want a flat glass collector, Solatube can still offer this option, so please just ask.

Compliance with UK Building Regulations

Acrylic roof domes that some companies use may not comply with UK Building Regulations for fire spread.  Based on recent Primary Authority rulings, and in the light of major concerns over building cladding flammability, it is advisable to ask for the roof dome classification, to ensure it complies with building regulations and fire risk.

According to The Primary Authority only polycarbonate domes, which are supplied as standard with Solatube sun pipe systems, meet the strict fire spread requirements as set out in UK Building Regs.

Stylish diffusers

Only Solatube offer a range of stylish and well-designed ceiling diffusers, which fit on the ceiling (or wall) that can make all the difference to a well-designed interior. With a Solatube you can choose from a number of options that suit your taste.

It’s only as good as the installation

Whatever make of system you decide on, the performance, integrity and lifespan can only ever be as good as the quality of the installation work itself.  You can take the best system on the market and if poorly installed by someone who either doesn’t have the skills, patience or inclination to do the job properly, it will not perform well or last very long.

I come across so many systems that have not been installed properly, requiring significant, remedial works.  Most often it is simply because whoever installed it just didn’t understand how these systems work and consequently has positioned it in the wrong place, both in the ceiling of the room concerned and on the roof too.

So, please ensure that whoever is installing your system, genuinely knows and understands how to do it properly.  If not you may find you’ve paid for a system that does not deliver much light and is not suitably weathered in to the roof, leaving you disappointed, possibly a little bit damp and still in the dark.

Price comparison between sun tunnel systems

Whatever you do, do not just compare the price of the same diameter systems. Instead you need to be comparing sun tunnels systems that deliver the same amount of light:

• Typically, a 25cm dia Solatube should be compared with a 30cm or 35cm dia alternative rigid system
• And a 35cm dia Solatube should be compared with a 40cm or 45cm dia rigid system,

This means you will be comparing systems that deliver more or less equal amounts of light (and bear in mind a larger system may not fit between the joists and require additional cutting and bracing of structural timbers).

Please note that the above is NOT intended as a sales pitch; what I have explained above is based on fact; much of it is based on the physics of light and materials.  I am not denigrating other makes of system, rather trying to explain the big differences there are between them.

I have been installing sun tunnel systems for the last 14 years; it is what I specialize in. I genuinely enjoy my work and take great pride in every installation. I have installed most major makes of system and it is why I would always come back to the Solatube as it is, hands-down, the best system on the market in every respect including value for money, but particularly based on light delivery, intelligence of design and quality of materials used.

Everyone deserves daylight and across the south and west, Solatube Southwest is the recognised distributor and installer of Solatube sun tunnels (or tubular skylights); from Southampton and Bournemouth across to north of Bristol and down to Plymouth and beyond.

If you are interested in bringing natural light into your home, why not contact us at Solatube Southwest; 07989 976 010) 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.