I need to introduce a source of light into an otherwise dingy hall -
without resorting to leaving lights on all day.

As far as I can see there are 2 options the Monodraught sun pipe -
http://www.sunpipe.co.uk/sunpipe/domestic/index.php and the Suntile sun
tile (!) http://www.suntileuk.com/home.php.

I had a look at both at the Grand Designs show in London and of course
the sun pipe appears to be much more sturdily built but has a price to
match.

Does anyone in here have any strong thoughts on either route or have
any other suggestions?

quiggles

Quiggles wrote:
I need to introduce a source of light into an otherwise dingy hall -
without resorting to leaving lights on all day.

As far as I can see there are 2 options the Monodraught sun pipe -
http://www.sunpipe.co.uk/sunpipe/domestic/index.php and the Suntile sun
tile (!) http://www.suntileuk.com/home.php.

I had a look at both at the Grand Designs show in London and of course
the sun pipe appears to be much more sturdily built but has a price to
match.

Does anyone in here have any strong thoughts on either route or have
any other suggestions?

I can recommend the SunPipe. Not used the SunTile though. We had a
sunpipe fitted as part of our extension about 6 months ago. It's
fantastic. Seems well made and is relatively easy to fit. In bright
sunshine, our landing is like being outdoors! Even in cloudy February
it's plenty bright enough to see by.

Jon.

Glazed door into another room?

Nope that won't work - all bedrooms and bathrooms off the landing - has
to be another light source I am afraid.

Quiggles wrote:

I need to introduce a source of light into an otherwise dingy hall -
without resorting to leaving lights on all day.

As far as I can see there are 2 options the Monodraught sun pipe -
http://www.sunpipe.co.uk/sunpipe/domestic/index.php and the Suntile sun
tile (!) http://www.suntileuk.com/home.php.

I had a look at both at the Grand Designs show in London and of course
the sun pipe appears to be much more sturdily built but has a price to
match.

Does anyone in here have any strong thoughts on either route or have
any other suggestions?

quiggles

With the suntile you could presumably, in the case of the slate one,
use an extension kit plus a piece of wired glass, and not buy their
tile. Halves the cost and makes for sensible ROI. Would be important to
seal the join up properly.

How robust does one need to be in an unused loft?


For some dark spaces there is another alternative. If you have any
exterior window at all, a simple external reflector can put 2 suns onto
that. The 2nd sun can send light up towards the ceiling, much more
effective than direct sun heading for the floor, so even a smallish
reflector can double light levels. Have done that, and it worked well.


NT

sm_jamieson wrote:
Tournifreak wrote:

Quiggles wrote:
I need to introduce a source of light into an otherwise dingy hall -
without resorting to leaving lights on all day.

As far as I can see there are 2 options the Monodraught sun pipe -
http://www.sunpipe.co.uk/sunpipe/domestic/index.php and the Suntile sun
tile (!) http://www.suntileuk.com/home.php.

I had a look at both at the Grand Designs show in London and of course
the sun pipe appears to be much more sturdily built but has a price to
match.

Does anyone in here have any strong thoughts on either route or have
any other suggestions?
I can recommend the SunPipe. Not used the SunTile though. We had a
sunpipe fitted as part of our extension about 6 months ago. It's
fantastic. Seems well made and is relatively easy to fit. In bright
sunshine, our landing is like being outdoors! Even in cloudy February
it's plenty bright enough to see by.

Jon.

Something I wanted to know.
Does the sunpipe tend to introduce heat as well as light - in hot sun,
does it light up the extension and heat it up, or does the thing stay
cool ?
This is in light of summers getting hotter, etc.
Simon.

Yes, but only a tenth of what an equivalent electric bulb, or about 1/4
of what an equivalent CFL, would do..