Local roofer adds solar tubular skylight division

Cutting a hole in the roof of a home may seem like a strange idea for home improvement, but one local roofer says doing just that is the first step in creating a new method of indoor lighting.

RJ's Solar Solutions, a division of RJ's Roofing and Construction Inc., began in late fall offering solar tubular skylights, which can bring natural sunlight into any room in the house.

Company President Robert Johnson said the installation is simple. A hole is cut in the roof, covered by a low-profile clear dome, and an aluminum, 17-inch-diameter tube is installed from the hole through the attic. That tube connects to a hole in the ceiling, and the highly reflective surface inside the tube diffuses the natural light into the room.

"It's not like the big square skylight you think of - it's a fixture in the house that can be put in bathrooms, closets, hallways, kitchens, wherever you want it," Johnson said.

The process costs between $499 and $699, depending on the complexity of the installation, and Johnson said the average job takes less than two hours to complete.

He noted that in addition to being a green product because they use no electricity, the skylights also diffuse light and block ultraviolet rays, preventing fading in carpets, drapes or furniture.