Home buyers may not specifically request skylights by name, but they are seeking the benefits skylights provide. As the residential market continues to shift toward wellness, sustainability, and smarter design, skylights are emerging as one of the most underleveraged upgrades in a builder’s toolkit.
Natural light has long been a selling point in floor plans, yet the roof often remains an untapped asset. Skylights harness twice as much daylight as vertical windows. They bring daylight into interior spaces that rely on artificial lighting, elevate bedrooms with soft morning light, warm kitchens and family rooms, and create spa-like experiences in bathrooms.
This results in more open, airy, and elevated experiences that photograph well for listings, increase perceived square footage, and can distinguish a home in a competitive marketplace.
But beyond aesthetics, today’s skylights offer far more than just sunlight. Venting skylights offer added cooling benefits, allowing warm air to escape while drawing in cooler, fresh air. And, adding a shade to a skylight improves the home’s thermal performance. In colder months, shades help reduce heat loss, while in warmer months, they reduce heat gain. Research shows that skylights with integrated shades can improve U-values by up to 45% and reduce solar heat gain coefficients by approximately 19%.
Both venting and shades can be operated using solar power and remote controls. The new VELUX Skylight System product offering, paired with the company’s no-leak skylight design, includes a self-contained solar panel and battery system that allows these skylights to operate independently of the home’s electrical infrastructure. That means builders can elevate a home with easily installed skylights without complicating their workflow —no wiring or electricians required.
In an industry where margins matter, value-adds like skylights need to help homes sell faster, command higher prices and reduce post-sale callbacks. Skylights meet all three criteria. More importantly, builders can often market this upgrade as part of a premium smart-home package or a daylighting and ventilation package, which is especially attractive in high-performance homes or wellness-driven communities.
With simplified installation and solar-powered components, modern skylights are no longer just a design feature; they are a practical solution. Skylights are a strategic differentiator that connects wellness, sustainability, and salability in a single product. As the industry evolves, builders who think beyond the floor plan and into the roofline stand to gain a competitive edge.
