|  |
|
Category: Main -> SunPipe |
|
| Answer |  How long can a SunPipe® be, realisticly?We have many customers with 24 foot long SunPipe-9's, and even longer SunPipe-13's.
While they are very happy with the performance of their SunPipe®, their rooms were very dark.
In a pitch black room, even a litle light seems impressive.
As pipe length increases, cost goes up and light-output drops. For example:
A 4-ft SunPipe-9 provides a daytime average of 450 watts of light in June, 150 watts in December.
Lengthening the pipe to 16-ft would reduce output by 50% (225 and 75 watts respectively).
A 4-ft SunPipe-13 provides a daytime average of 750 watts of light in June, 250 watts in December.
Lengthening the pipe to 20-ft would reduce output by 50% (375 and 125 watts respectively).
Whatever pipe length you require can be assembled using any combination of our 1-ft, 2-ft, 3-ft or
4-ft pipe sections. Remember that two inches of each pipe is crimped to fit into another
pipe. Therefore, a 2-ft extension pipe yields only 1'-10" of assembled pipe length. [ Back to Top ]
| | Why is the SunPipe® flashing superior? SunPipe's standard roof flashing is made from .020" G-90 galvanized steel.
BUYER BEWARE!!! There are many grades of "Galvanized" steel. Don't buy garbage!
The hole you're going to put in your roof is a permanent hole. Make sure your flashing is a permanent flashing.
G-90 galvanization is the only grade approved by Underwriter Laboratories because it is highly
resistant to corrosion (rust). SunPipe® roof flashing should last 60 years and is considered a "permanent" flashing.
Many galvanized flashings may look similar, but may have a G-60, G-30 or, even worse, an "electro-galvanized"
rating, none of which are a heavy-duty galvanizing treatment.
SunPipe® roof flashings have leak-proof "Rolled Seams." Most galvanized flashings have tack-welded
seams that require caulk. They work fine for 3 to 6 years, but as soon as the caulking wears down or
dries out, a roof leak becomes likely.
We consider our flashings better than one-piece "spun aluminum" flashings because Bauxite,
the raw material from which aluminum is made, is environmentally nasty.
Ton for ton, steel manufacturing produces one tenth the CO2 of aluminum.
If we're serious about manufacturing an energy saving product, we couldn't very well
implement manufacturing techniques which produce more polution to create the product than you save by using it.
Some daylight-pipe manufacturers sell plastic roof flashings. The Sun Pipe Company has never seen a plastic
flashing that we believe will survive outdoor elements for more than 6 years. We, therefore, don't use them.
They are also very thick, which means asphalt shingles need to bend up to go over them.
This causes a little gutter to form in the shingle which rain-water will deteriorate rapidly,
shortening the life of the shingle to a few short years.
SunPipe® roof flashings are industrial-grade flashings. You will never have a problem with them.
Again, insist on the original SunPipe® brand daylight-pipe for superior trouble-free quality. [ Back to Top ]
| What size SunPipe® do I need?
- SunPipe-9 – For 100 sq. ft. – 9” diameter – Up to 16 feet long – 1 ft, 2 ft, 3 ft & 4 ft sections.
- SunPipe-13 – For 240 sq. ft. – 13” diameter – Up to 24 feet long – 1 ft, 2 ft, 3 ft & 4 ft sections.
- Kitchens
- Family Rooms
- Hallways
- Stairwells
- Offices
- SunPipe-21 – For 400 to 600 sq. ft. – 21” diameter – Up to 40 feet long – 2 ft & 4 ft sections.
- Warehouses
- Factories
- Museums
- Art Galleries
- Churches
[ Back to Top ]
| | How hard is it to install a SunPipe? SunPipe-9 and SunPipe-13 are the most popular residential SunPipes. They install easily between joists and rafters on 16" centers, and average installation time is 2 to 3 hours by the experienced contractor or do-it-yourselfer. If you've never lifted a roof shingle before, plan on 4-1/2 hours.
SunPipe-21 is too bright for most residential jobs, although they have been installed into great rooms and kitchens. They fit between trusses on 24" centers. [ Back to Top ]
| | Are SunPipes healthy? Natural light is a constantly fluctuating, full spectrum photonic exposure which all life on earth is dependent upon. Consider the Pacific Northwest where, in places like Seattle, Washington, the majority of days are overcast and predominantly void of bright sunlight. Is it any coincidence that the Seattle region also has one of the highest depression and suicide rates in the U.S.? Daylight is indeed healthy for us and, since SunPipe is very effective at bringing daylight indoors, SunPiped rooms are healthy rooms.
For reading, working or just relaxing, numerous studies have proven that filling your rooms with bright natural light will enhance your vision, improve your mood, raise your energy level, make you more likely to be optimistic, as well as increase your overall productivity. [ Back to Top ]
| | Are SunPipes better than skylights? YES & NO
Skylights can provide a view of the sky and lend an architectural beauty to a home which SunPipes can't. But, if your goal is simply to illuminate an interior area with natural light, SunPipes are much more effective and trouble free.
SunPipes fit where skylights won`t, and provide much more daylight throughout the area.
We installed a SunPipe-13 directly adjacent to a 2X4 skylight which had a 3 ft. vertical shaft under it. The skylight provided nothing but a rectangular patch of light on the kitchen floor. The SunPipe lights-up the entire room.
SunPipe involves and costs much less to install than a skylight.
Skylights usually require the construction of a drywalled light-shaft. SunPipe is it's own super-reflective light-shaft, requiring no framing, dry walling, mudding, sanding, re-mudding, re-sanding, taping, priming or painting.
Figure 2 to 3 days to install a skylight - Figure 2 to 4 hours for a SunPipe.
SunPipes are humidity-proof, effectively eliminating condensation problems common to skylights.
Bathrooms are popular skylight locations. The problem is that people like to take hot baths and showers, especially during cold winter evenings. Steam rises to the cold skylight, condensing into liquid droplets which can drip onto walls, staining it and often causing wood frames to rot. Indoor pools are another high-humidity location perfect for our SunPipe-21.
SunPipes are thermally efficient, keeping summer's heat and winter's cold outdoors.
That was the objective of the inventor... to get lots of daylight indoors with minimum sacrifice of the thermal integrity of the enclosure... and it works! Compared to SunPipes, skylights bleed the heat from your home in the winter (often causing drafts and always increasing heating costs) and heat up an air-conditioned area (always increasing cooling costs).
Round SunPipes seal to the roof much more simply than square or rectangular skylights.
One seldom hears about round pipes leaking, yet skylights have a reputation for it. The simple flashing style used with round objects makes water-proofing them almost idiot proof. The question becomes, "How long will the flashing last?" Our exclusive "SuperFlash-300" galvanized steel roof flashing and storm collar features "G-90" galvanization, the heaviest galvanized treatment available. And it has rolled seamswhich need no caulk making SunPipe flashings truly professional grade roof flashings, likely to last 40 to 60 years. [ Back to Top ]
| | How much pipe do I need to order? There is a SunPipe Ordering Guide available in our downloads section to help you make the correct measurements and calculate the amount of pipe you will need. Feel free to contact us if you are unsure and need help. [ Back to Top ]
|
|
|
|
