| One of the main concerns with installing a skylight | | | | on them incorrectly can result in breaking the tiles. |
| is location. Often the place where you want the | | | | Some homes do not have attics. Rather, there is |
| skylight will have a ceiling that's not close to the | | | | roofing on one side of the rafters, insulation in |
| roof. In other words, there's an attic in between. | | | | between, and ceiling on the other side. In such |
| There are two basic solutions here. The first is to | | | | cases an attractive look can be achieved, without |
| create a light shaft on the site, with the usual | | | | disturbing the structural integrity of the roof, by |
| building materials. The shaft, sometimes quite | | | | leaving the rafters in place. Simply have the |
| large, connects the ceiling to the roof. It is | | | | skylight installed on the roof, remove the ceiling |
| typically open on the bot¬tom, and the skylight | | | | and insulation, and block the space between the |
| is placed on top. Artificial lighting can be added for | | | | rafters. Having the rafters exposed below the |
| the evening. With very large shafts, an attractive | | | | skylight offers a very modern look. (Just be sure |
| ledge can be added around the perimeter on | | | | to use a sealed skylight. An open one would |
| which to place plants or knick-knacks. On the | | | | expose the rafters to excessive weathering.) |
| other hand, tubular skylights, noted above, solve | | | | Also, when framing a larger skylight, be careful |
| this problem easily. | | | | not to weaken the roof by cutdng rafters. This is |
| Another concern is that the skylight be properly | | | | particularly important if your roof has snowload |
| installed. Many do-it-yourselfers today prefer the | | | | requirements. Whenever possible, insert the |
| flush-mount self-flashing models. You simply | | | | skylight between two existing rafters. If the |
| remove the appropriate amount of roofing, cut | | | | space is too narrow, you'll have to cut one beam |
| the hole to the correct size, and mount the | | | | and strengthen the remaining rafters before |
| skylight right on top. The flash¬ing, used to | | | | framing the skylight box. In a big job, always |
| keep out water, comes with the unit and you | | | | check with an engineer on how best to best |
| replace the roofing material right on top. | | | | construct the box and strengthen the remaining |
| The less expensive edge- or curb-mounted | | | | rafters. |
| models require that a curb be built onto the roof | | | | A final installation concern is the weather. It should |
| to accommodate the skylight and that flashing be | | | | go without saying that when you have the |
| manufactured on the site. Professional installation | | | | skylight installed, pick a day when no rain is |
| is required. | | | | forecast. You don't want to have a hole cut in the |
| If the skylight is not properly installed, it will indeed | | | | roof just as it starts pouring. It's always amazing |
| leak. For that reason professional installation is | | | | to me that installers seem obliv¬ious to the |
| recommended. However, a do-it-yourselfer who | | | | weather. They're often so confident that they |
| purchases a flush-mount self-flashing unit and | | | | can get the job done quickly (and they don't get |
| fol¬lows the instructions carefully should not | | | | paid unless they're working) that they start a |
| have problems. | | | | skylight project when the weather is threatening. |
| Beware of installing skylights on tile roofs. The | | | | Put your foot down and don't let work begin |
| roofs ^ themselves are fragile and simply walking | | | | unless the sun is shining. |