Our VELUX Roof Balcony Window and Skylight Review
// Disclaimer: We are a VELUX partner and they sponsored the installation of the Roof Balcony Window and Skylights. However, all opinions in this blog post are our own.
VELUX: Find an Installer
The biggest mental block we experienced when considering skylights? How are we going to find someone to install them?! Then we found M&M Skylights near us using the Find an Installer tool.
👉 FIND AN INSTALLER 👈
Starting the Process
When we first reached out to VELUX, we were so excited about the opportunity to work together and feature their amazing products. We were introduced to their product while visiting the HGTV Dream Home, and immediately loved what they stand for. The company’s big emphasis is on bringing the outdoors in, as well as building sustainably. Velux says that 90% of the day is spent inside. Yikes! While we hope to be the outliers in this statistic, we love having as much daylight as possible when we are inside. The goal of the product is to increase well-being for people by providing more fresh air and natural light- isn’t that the absolute best?! On top of their mission to improve both mental and physical health, they are also committed to designing and building in a sustainable way for a happy planet. This isn’t a sales pitch - we just want to share about this really awesome company who we feel is the best in the industry.
This was our first experience with skylight installation so we weren’t entirely sure what to expect, but were happily surprised at how smooth this part of the process was! For the installation, we reached out to M&M Skylights and they were amazing. They install VELUX products exclusively and it calmed any anxieties about finding the correct contractor for the job. In fact, they had installed several of the VELUX Roof Balcony Windows already, and they said the entire installation would only take a couple of days.
// Smooth Sailing : Great company, product, and great contractor… so far so good!
Then reality hit… the City of Boston. We submitted for permitting which required architectural drawings. These were fairly straight forward to obtain and we sent our permit off for approval. Then we waited, and waited, and waited. Called, and called, and called. Then we left to film a TV show. Long story short - the process was delayed.
// Quick tip: If your permit is delayed for longer than reasonable, start cc’ing other officials in the department… worked for us.
Once we had approval, M&M Skylights was here within the week to start installation!
INSTALLATION
It was so nice to be working with a contractor who made quick work of the installation. M&M Skylights do A LOT of these and it was no problem at all. In fact - the hardest part was cutting out the closed-cell insulation. If you have worked with it before, you know that stuff is basically concrete, and so hard to cut through.
// Installation Cost: For the Roof Balcony Window and 2 Standard Skylights, the installation total was $9,525.00
Our skylights also have the following warranties: 10 Year labor warranty, 5 Year remote and blind warranty, 10 year NO LEAK warranty, 20 year glass warranty!
// Remember: quotes are unique to each project/situation.
Not much else to say here, it really was the easiest part of the process!
The (AMAZING) Velux Roof Balcony
Living with Skylights
The amount of natural light that enters the 3rd floor now, is incredible. We couldn’t imagine this space without these skylights and it was well worth the cost (not to mention the energy saving and ventilation options we now have). It was also much cheaper than doing major construction to add dormers and windows up here. Thinking about the design of our newly finished 3rd floor, adding Velux products was one of the best decisions we have made.
// Tax Credit: In our purchase year of 2023 there was a federal tax credit for the purchase and installation of the two standard skylights as they are solar powered!
In addition to the benefit of added natural light, the skylights bump in - giving you additional headspace and effectively a higher ceiling. This is true with the standard skylights as well, and the change in depth adds so much to the space.
The big wow factor is obviously the Roof Balcony Window. Situated between our desks, its the perfect way to wash the room with natural light and it makes the space feel fresh. We can open it and let the breeze through, and in the rain - just listen to it. Also worth mentioning is the way that Holly has claimed the balcony step as her new place to perch - a true sign of approval.
Excited about our new Roof Balcony, not excited about the rest of the renovation ahead of us!