Skylight Tinting Melbourne
Reduce heat, glare and UV through overhead glass without losing the natural light and sky views that make a skylight worthwhile. UV Window Coatings installs solar control window film to skylights and roof glazing across Melbourne.
Keep the daylight, lose the discomfort
A skylight is designed to bring daylight into a home. The aim of tinting it is not to take that benefit away, but to make the space below more comfortable and protect the interior from prolonged solar exposure. Skylights can transform a living area, kitchen, stairwell or walk-in robe, but their overhead position can also expose the room below to intense direct sun.
Reduce solar heat
Because skylights face the sky, they can receive substantial direct solar exposure throughout the day. In some homes the area directly below the skylight becomes noticeably warmer than the rest of the room. Solar control window film reduces the amount of solar energy entering through the glazing. The actual improvement depends on the film selected and the existing skylight construction.
Reduce glare and excessive brightness
Sometimes heat is only part of the problem. Direct overhead light can create uncomfortable brightness or glare, particularly above living areas, kitchens, television areas, workspaces and stairwells. Different films allow different amounts of visible light through the glass, which lets us balance glare reduction against the daylight you want to keep.
Help protect interiors from fading
Skylights can expose timber floors, furniture, artwork, cabinetry and fabrics to sunlight for long periods. 3M Prestige films block up to 99.9% of UV rays. UV is an important contributor to fading, although visible light, solar heat, artificial light and the material itself also play a role. No window film can completely prevent fading.
Why we commonly use 3M Prestige Exterior on skylights
Skylights are installed to bring natural light into a home and can also provide a view of the sky. We do not want to solve a heat or glare problem by unnecessarily taking those benefits away.
3M Prestige Exterior is non-metallised and has low interior and exterior reflectivity. This helps maintain a natural view through the glazing rather than creating the highly mirrored appearance associated with some traditional solar films.
There is also a practical installation advantage. 3M states that Prestige Exterior does not normally require perimeter edge sealing, although edge sealing is required where water can pool at the edge of the film. That can provide a cleaner finished installation and removes the need for perimeter caulking in suitable applications.
The right product depends on the glazing, solar exposure, how much glare you want to reduce and safe access to the skylight, which is why every skylight job starts with a proper assessment.
3M Prestige 70 Exterior
- Approx. 70% visible light transmission
- Best when retaining natural light and sky views is the priority
- Clearer, subtler appearance
- Solar and UV control
3M Prestige 40 Exterior
- Approx. 40% visible light transmission
- Best when stronger glare and brightness reduction is wanted
- More noticeable visible-light reduction
- Solar and UV control
The choice is not simply about which film is stronger. It is about finding the right balance between solar control, glare reduction, natural light and the appearance of the skylight.
VELUX skylights and why we usually install the film externally
VELUX skylights are extremely common in Melbourne homes. VELUX Australia uses high-performance double glazing as standard across its skylight range. A typical current VELUX glazing unit uses a toughened outer pane, a sealed argon-filled cavity with Low-E technology, and a laminated inner pane. This is a very different glazing system from a single pane of ordinary clear glass.
For the VELUX double-glazed skylights we commonly encounter, UV Window Coatings installs the solar control film to the external toughened pane using an exterior-grade film. The combination of a double-glazed unit, laminated inner glass and high direct solar exposure means film selection needs to be considered carefully. Applying solar control film internally changes how solar energy is absorbed by the inner pane. Our practical approach on these common VELUX configurations is therefore to specify an appropriate exterior film rather than add solar-control film to the laminated inner pane.
We still identify the skylight and glazing before specifying a film. Not every skylight has the same construction, and we do not assume that every double-glazed unit should be treated identically. Our guide to what glass types can be tinted explains how the assessment works.
Can double-glazed skylights be tinted?
Yes. We regularly tint double-glazed skylights in Melbourne. The important part is selecting the film and installation side for the actual glazing system. For the VELUX-style double-glazed skylights we commonly work with, exterior installation is our normal approach. Other skylights may use different glass or substrates, so we assess the construction before confirming the product.
Skylights over living areas and kitchens
Large skylights and glazed roofs can make living areas feel open and bright, but they can also create a concentrated source of solar heat and glare. Window film is particularly useful where you want to improve comfort without covering the skylight with an opaque blind or losing the connection to the sky.
For these spaces we consider the amount of direct sun, whether heat or glare is the main concern, how much natural light you want to retain, the glazing construction and the access required for installation.
Skylights above walk-in robes and built-in robes
Skylights are also used to bring natural light into walk-in robes and dressing areas. In these spaces, heat may not be the only concern. Clothing, cabinetry, flooring and other finishes can receive repeated exposure to sunlight through the overhead glass. A high UV-rejection film can help reduce UV exposure while still allowing useful daylight into the robe.
Where maintaining brightness is important, a high-light-transmission film such as Prestige 70 Exterior is often a good starting point, subject to the glazing assessment.
- Living areas, kitchens, television and work areas
- Walk-in robes, dressing areas and built-in robes
- Stairwells, voids and double-height spaces
- Atriums and larger glazed roof sections
Access affects feasibility and price
Unlike a standard residential window, a skylight may be several metres above the floor or positioned high on a pitched or difficult-to-reach roof. Because the VELUX double-glazed skylights we commonly encounter are normally filmed externally, safe roof access is particularly important.
We consider the height and position of the skylight, roof pitch and roofing material, surrounding roof space and obstacles, whether ladder access is suitable and whether additional access equipment is required. Some skylights are straightforward to reach from the roof. Others require a different access method or additional equipment. We include these requirements when quoting so the proposed installation method and price are clear before work begins.
Helpful for quoting
Photos showing the skylight from inside the room and, where practical and safe, the exterior or roof area can help us understand the likely glazing and access requirements before a site visit. Customers should not climb onto a roof to take photos for us.
Skylights, roof glazing and high-level windows
We also tint larger areas of overhead and high-level glazing, including glazed roofs, atriums, stairwells, voids and double-height spaces. These installations can create many of the same problems as a conventional skylight, including solar heat, glare and UV exposure. Access can be a significant part of the job where glazing is positioned above a stairwell, void or high ceiling.
Depending on the glass construction and access, film may be installed internally or externally. We assess both the glazing and the practical installation method before recommending a solution.
Our skylight tinting process
Understand the problem
We establish whether the main concern is heat, glare, fading or a combination of these, and how much daylight you want to retain.
Identify the skylight and glazing
We assess the skylight type, glass construction, size, location and likely installation side. For VELUX and similar double-glazed skylights, the construction of the sealed unit is an important part of product selection.
Assess access
We determine how the skylight can be reached safely and whether normal ladder or roof access is sufficient or additional access equipment is required.
Recommend the film
We recommend a compatible film based on the glazing and the result you want rather than simply installing the darkest product available. For many skylight projects this includes comparing Prestige 70 Exterior with Prestige 40 Exterior.
Professional installation
Our installers prepare the glazing and install the selected film using the appropriate method for the skylight and application.
Skylight tinting across Melbourne
UV Window Coatings installs residential skylight film and solar-control film to roof glazing throughout metropolitan Melbourne. Our work ranges from individual skylights over kitchens, living areas and robes to larger atriums, stairwells and glazed roof sections.
As a 3M Platinum Select Partner, we specialise in professionally installed architectural window film and select the film according to the glazing and the result required. Skylight tinting is part of our wider residential window tinting and solar window film work.
Frequently asked questions
Get a quote for skylight tinting in Melbourne
If a skylight is making part of your home too hot, too bright or exposing interiors to strong sunlight, we can assess the glazing and recommend an appropriate window film.
UV Window Coatings installs 3M solar-control window film across Melbourne, including clear, low-reflectivity Prestige Exterior options that can improve solar control while preserving natural light and views through the skylight. See our pricing page for how window film is priced, or contact us to arrange a free assessment.