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Sunbender® Reflector/Shade
Sunbender Reflector/Shades FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do Sunbenders do?
Sunbenders increase heat and light gain through skylights in the winter and decrease heat gain in the summer.
Q: How do Sunbenders work?
Their curved reflector pan directs sunlight through the skylight into the room below to increase light and heat during the winter. During the summer, the curved pan acts as a shade, reflecting sunlight back up to the sky and preventing heat from reaching the skylight, while still allowing daylight to enter.
Q: How does the Sunbender accomplish opposite things in different seasons?
Sunbenders are adjusted seasonally, typically once at the end of spring and once at the beginning of winter. This seasonal adjustment changes the height of the Sunbender’s opening. During winter, the Sunbender’s pan is open at a wide angle and acts as a reflector. During summer, the Sunbender’s pan is open at a narrow angle and acts as a shade, preventing the solar radiation from entering the skylight and over-heating the space, while still allowing diffuse light to enter.
Q: How important is the orientation of the Sunbender?
Very
important. In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun appears to travel across the sky
from east to west every day (in reality, the sun remains still and the Earth
turns). The sun’s path crosses the Southern part of the sky. In order for the
Sunbender to reflect the sun’s light and heat the reflector pan must face
South. Skylights should be oriented with their longest dimension in the
East-West axis, and the shortest dimension in the North-South dimension.
Q: Can a Sunbender fit over any skylight?
We manufacture the Sunbenders in our shop. In addition to some standard sizes that will fit most available skylights, Zomeworks can custom manufacture a Sunbender for virtually any size and shape of skylight. However, there are limits to the kind of skylight that can accommodate a Sunbender. Sunbenders can only be mounted on curb-mounted skylights with curbs that are securely anchored to an underlying roof member such as a joist or truss (see below for an illustration).
Q: Is there a most efficient size of Sunbender for increasing heat gain in the winter?
The reflector pan will tend to reflect most of the light and heat through the northernmost 1 ½ - 2 feet of the skylight. Wider skylights will allow more light to enter, but may also allow more heat to escape. Customers should decide about the dimensions of their skylights based on the dimensions of their space and their desire for heat and light.
Q: What is the difference between a Sunbender complete and a Sunbender Frame kit?
A Sunbender complete includes the brackets for mounting the Sunbender to the skylight curb, the ribs and struts to hold the reflector pans, and the mill-finish aluminum reflector pan made up of two or three panels, depending on the width of the skylight. A Sunbender Frame kit includes all the same components as the complete Sunbender except for the reflector pan. Customers choosing the Frame kit option can buy steel roofing panels locally and use these to create the reflector / shade of the Sunbender. Steel roofing is typically available in a variety of colors. One important detail to remember when choosing the Frame kit option is to use roofing panels with white paint on the underside. This white surface will be effective at reflecting sunlight through the skylight, whereas a dark-colored surface will not. The hardware used to attach the brackets to the skylight curb will vary depending on the curb material and size; for this reason, Zomeworks provides guidelines for this hardware, but not the hardware itself.
Q: Can Sunbenders withstand high wind speeds?
When properly installed on a curb-mounted skylight that is securely anchored to a roof truss or joist, Sunbenders can withstand high wind speeds. The Sunbenders on our shop at Zomeworks in Albuquerque, New Mexico have been in place for over 20 years experiencing wind speeds over 70 mph.
Q: Doesn’t installing skylights increase heat loss through the roof?
Yes, more heat is lost through the skylight than through the roof. However, the gain of daylight and heat associated with installing skylights may justify the extra energy loss. Adding a Sunbender can reduce the inefficiency of skylights because they will direct more heat into the room than a skylight alone could.
Q: How much do Sunbenders cost?
Please see our Sunbender Specifications and Pricing sheet for details. If you do not see a Sunbender that corresponds to the size of your skylight, please contact Zomeworks.
