Sunblock for Skylights

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Q: What can I do to prevent sunshine from streaming through my kitchen skylight and bleaching the color out of my natural oak cabinets?

— Sylvia, Ozone Park, NY

A: Tom Silva replies: Short of replacing the skylight with one that has UV-blocking glass or operable blinds sandwiched between the panes, you'll have to apply something to block the ultraviolet light that's causing the wood to fade.

The least expensive option would be to cover the inside of the skylight with a sheet of clear polycarbonate, an unbreakable plastic found at home centers. There are two disadvantages: 1) This solution only works for fixed, nonventing skylights; 2) polycarbonates slowly turn yellow in the sun.

Another option is to install a shade made of a UV-blocking material that you open and close as needed (www.hunterdouglas.com). This type of shade operates with either a long, detachable handcrank or a remote-control motor.

The third option is to apply a transparent window film that has a thin coating of metal to stop UVs. You can buy do-it-yourself films, but the most effective films have to be professionally installed (Llumar, www.llumar.com; Scotchtint, www.3m.com). The cost for these is higher, but you'll have a warranty to fall back on if something goes wrong with their performance or appearance.

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