Will a Skylight Make Your Room Hotter?

27 Jul 2026

What New Zealand homeowners should know before installing a skylight.

One of the most common questions we hear is:

"Will a skylight make my room hotter?"

The short answer is it depends on the type of skylight.

Traditional skylights and tubular daylighting systems work in different ways, so it's important to understand how each one manages sunlight and heat before making a decision.

Why can some skylights make a room feel warmer?

A traditional skylight is essentially a glazed opening in your roof.

When the sun is directly overhead, particularly during summer, that glass can allow significant amounts of solar heat into the room below. Depending on the size, location and glazing specification, this can make a space feel noticeably warmer.

That's why factors such as orientation, glazing and installation all play an important role in how a skylight performs.

Solatube takes a different approach

Rather than relying on a large glass panel, Solatube uses a highly reflective tube to capture daylight at roof level and deliver it into your home.

The system is designed to maximise useful natural daylight while helping manage glare and unwanted heat.

The result is bright, comfortable daylight without the large glazed opening found in many conventional skylights.

How does Solatube help manage heat?

One of the key technologies behind the system is Raybender® 3000.

During summer, when the sun is high in the sky, it helps reduce the amount of direct high-angle sunlight entering the tube.

During winter, when the sun sits lower, it captures more available daylight and directs it into your home.

This allows the system to perform well throughout the year, rather than simply letting in as much sunlight as possible.

Designed for New Zealand conditions

Anyone who lives in New Zealand knows the weather can change quickly.

Bright sunshine can turn into cloud cover within minutes.

That's why Solatube has been designed to make the most of available daylight in a wide range of conditions, helping brighten your home throughout the year.

Whether it's a hallway, bathroom, laundry or walk-in wardrobe, the goal is the same, bring natural daylight into spaces that would otherwise rely on electric lighting.

It's not just about brightness

When choosing a skylight, brightness is only one part of the picture.

A well-designed daylighting system should also help create a comfortable indoor environment.

That's why Solatube has been engineered to:

Bring natural daylight into darker areas of the home.
Help manage glare.
Help reduce unwanted heat gain compared with traditional skylights.
Provide consistent daylight throughout the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Solatube make a room hotter?

Solatube systems are designed to help manage unwanted heat gain by controlling how sunlight enters the system, rather than simply allowing direct sunlight through a large glazed opening.

Does it still work on cloudy days?

Yes. While no skylight can create sunlight that isn't there, Solatube is designed to make the most of available daylight, even on overcast days.

Is it suitable for New Zealand homes?

Yes. Solatube systems are installed throughout New Zealand in both new builds and existing homes, bringing natural daylight into spaces where traditional windows aren't practical.

Thinking about adding more natural daylight to your home?

Every home is different, and the right solution depends on your roof, the room you're lighting and your goals.

If you'd like to find out whether a Solatube is right for your home, get in touch with your local Solatube licensee for a free, no-obligation consultation.