Top 4 Fixes Under $100 to Block Skylight Heat
Need To Cover Your Hot Skylight?
Here’s How To Beat The Heat On A Budget
While they are known for keeping things bright, skylights also have a dark side.
With all the light they let in skylights can heat up a room to the point where it becomes an abandoned part of your home.
The cause of your hot house is called “the greenhouse effect”: light comes in, heats up your room, and then has nowhere else to go. Which would be fine if you were growing tomatoes in your living room, but chances are you’re not.
Even with the AC on max some rooms just can’t be cooled, and the sun’s rays can also cause your furniture and floors to fade.
We’ve compiled a list of the top four DIY ways to cool your skylight and get your house back.
1. Paint over your skylight
This one is as simple as it sounds. The key to cooling a hot skylight is to stop the sun before it gets through the glass.
If you can block the light, you can block the heat. Painting over your skylight will stop light from getting through and will keep your house much cooler for just the cost of a can of paint.
The main drawback with painting your skylight is that it is a fairly permanent fix. Scraping paint off is time-consuming and you will undoubtedly be left with more than a few scratches on your glass.
Depending on how hot your room is getting though, this may be a sacrifice you are willing to make.
2. Tarp it up
A quick and easy
fix that is by far the cheapest of all your options. Simply buy a blue tarp that is several feet longer than your skylight. Lay it over top of the skylight so that it is completely covered and pin down the excess fabric using bricks. It’s a fast, cheap, and easy skylight cover.
You’ll still get some ambient light coming through and most of the heat will be stopped, but expect your room to have a blue tinge.
Depending on how visible your skylight is from the street, you may also have the neighborhood eyesore on your roof all season. Once summer’s over, it’s only a matter of picking up the bricks and rolling up your tarp and you get your skylight back without a whole lot of trouble.
3. Board it up
This method requires the most amount of skill, but it’s the only one that doesn’t involve a trip to the roof. You will need to buy and cut a piece of foam insulation board that will fit snugly into your skylight shaft opening.
Then, along the outside of the insulation board attach weather stripping. This will ensure a tight fit that you can push in or take out depending on the weather.
This one may take some trial and error as you will need to cut the foam board to just the right size so it is just big enough to squeeze into the opening and effectively pin itself in place.
The biggest drawback with this method is that you are now trapping all the heat between the skylight and the insulation. This heat can build up to the point that your seals could fail or your glass could crack, so proceed with caution.
4. EZ Snap Skylight Shades
EZ Snap is a solar mesh that attaches to the outside of your skylight that is proven to block up to 90 percent of the sun’s heat. It still lets in lots of natural light, plus it’s affordable and a breeze to install.
First, measure the size of your skylight and then order the appropriate kit from our skylight shade collection.
Once the kit comes, no special tools are needed to install it. Simply attach your mounting studs to the frame and then attach the mesh to the studs using the pins and caps included in the kit. Once it’s on it can be left on all year round. You can measure and build your skylight shade kit to order the exact size you need.
If you want some direct sun in those cooler months you can also easily unsnap the mesh and store it away until next year.
Whichever method you choose to combat your sizzling skylight, know that the US Department of Energy concluded that exterior blinds and shades are up to seven times more effective at stopping heat from entering the home than interior blinds or window tinting.
Shade “Product of the Year”
EZ Snap® Quick & Easy
The patented EZ Snap® fasteners & our proprietary non-fray fabrics make it easy for you to “cut to size” and install right on site. Our “NO DRILL” 3M™ adhesive snap studs also mean no holes in your skylights, windows or RV with professional-looking results, every time.
- No Experience Needed
- No Special Tools Required
- No Drill 3M™ Adhesive Studs
- Non-Fray EZ Snap™ Solar Shading Mesh
Common questions
How do you block heat coming through a skylight?
Stop the sun before it passes through the glass, since blocking the light also blocks the heat. Skylights trap solar heat through the greenhouse effect, warming a room even with the AC running. Four DIY fixes under $100 do this: paint over the glass, cover it with a tarp, fit a cut foam insulation board, or add an exterior solar shade.
What is the cheapest way to cover a hot skylight?
A blue tarp is by far the cheapest option. Buy one a few feet longer than the skylight, lay it over the top so the glass is fully covered, and weigh down the excess with bricks. It stops most of the heat while letting some ambient light through, though expect a blue tinge indoors and remove it easily once summer ends.
Are exterior shades better than interior blinds for skylight heat?
Exterior shades are far more effective. The US Department of Energy concluded that exterior blinds and shades are up to seven times more effective at stopping heat from entering the home than interior blinds or window tinting. That is because they block the sun before it reaches the glass, rather than after the heat is already inside.
How much heat do EZ Snap skylight shades block?
The exterior solar mesh is proven to block up to 90 percent of the sun's heat while still letting in plenty of natural light. It attaches to the outside of the skylight and stays cooler than interior fixes because it stops the sun before it hits the glass. You measure your skylight, order the matching kit, and can unsnap and store the mesh in cooler months.
Is painting over a skylight a good way to keep a room cool?
Painting works and costs only a can of paint, but it is a fairly permanent fix. Blocking the glass stops the light and the heat, so the room stays much cooler. The drawback is removal: scraping the paint off later is time-consuming and usually leaves scratches on the glass, so it suits rooms where you do not need the light back.
Can you cover a skylight without getting on the roof?
Yes, fitting a foam insulation board is the only method that stays indoors. Cut the board to squeeze snugly into the skylight shaft opening and line the edges with weather stripping so it pins itself in place and can be removed. Be cautious: trapping heat between the board and the glass can build up enough to fail the seals or crack the glass.
