Multiple Skylight Questions
I’m very bothered by our current skylights for a couple of reasons… they vent, which means leaves and dust come in, along with snow and air, but only a little air, which means you just lose heat and cool, without generating any real airflow. I would love to replace our main skylight over the brownstone…
I’m very bothered by our current skylights for a couple of reasons… they vent, which means leaves and dust come in, along with snow and air, but only a little air, which means you just lose heat and cool, without generating any real airflow. I would love to replace our main skylight over the brownstone stairs with something that is sealed when I want it sealed, and open when I want it open. Has anyone done this? Is it legal to have a sealed skylight, or does the code require everyone to bleed heat / ac through a big hole in their roof? If you do something counter to code like this, do you hurt re-sale value? TIA!
jmcq is right about code for multiple dewllings (incl legal 2 fam). stairwell is to be vented to save lives. however, if you must you can make sure the skylight window panes are properly caulked etc and stuff long strips of that window a/c foam wrapped / taped in plastic into the vent hole on top of many conventional vented skylights. not saying to do that or take your skylight out of code, but you could address many of your short-term air leak issues right there.
My “operable” bath skylights don’t work nearly as well as the exhaust fans I installed in there. If the fan isnt on the room really steams up. I’m a huge proponent of traditional building methods and original kitchens and baths, but bathroom exhaust fans are a practical requirement even with a skylight. But the natural light is fantastic.
I also wanted to mention that 1 skylight looses as much heat as 5 windows, in the same exact size. Argon gas and triple glaze with low-e is the only way to go, IF saving money, and being green are important to you. Unfortunately custom skylights will not give you these options…
The shape of the glass is another factor as well. The dome or pyramid shapes will not give you any insulation.
jmcq – really???
“Bathroom skylights serve as ventilation for a bathroom-required by every code”
* Bathrooms are vented by mechanical means, not skylights.
“Skylights over stair wells have to be permanently vented because they provide the means for smoke to leave the stairwell in case of a fire since the stair is the primary means of egress in the event of a fire”
* “Smoke Vents” are only required on multi family units and even then not always required if the building has a sprinkler system. Most skylights atop stairs in single/two family homes are not even accessible without a tall ladder, so your statement about primary means of egress is incorrect.
OP – Mike at Roofmaster makes beautiful custom skylights out of copper, and can install any off the shelf models as well. Worth having him come by and take a look.
I am purchasing Wasco this week, after looking into all the skylights options. Wasco the only ones with triple glaze that I could find. There must be more but I have had no luck.
They claim that triple glaze provides 55% better insulation than double pane. And of course they have Argon gas in between the each layer. The automated ones have rain sensor (velux has that too). Their prices are not bad at all. You can get a 30 X30″ fixed one around $300. And they seem very easy to install and leak proof.
On skylight a lot of energy is lost through the sides as well, when elevate the skylight off the roof surface for installation. Wasco’s is very low profile… If you don’t have a roof pitch of 3″ in 12″-which is required-,will need to add that…
WIll buy mine from http://www.skylightsexpress.com which is one of the authorized websites they recommend on Wasco’s website. I think I will go with the 30X46 e-class motorized venting 30-30 triple glazed one.
Most likely, will be installing mine at the end of May. So my info based on, -only- my internet research, that I have spent 2-3 hours on.
jmcq, are you stating that a stair skylight is just a big hole for conditioned air to escape? That does not seem possible. For one thing, you don’t *have* to have a skylight, so what about your smoke-venting then?
jmcq, should we vent the roof skylight over the stair well? And our cornice? Who is the expert to consult/employ on these issues? Thank you so much.
Snowman, that is fascinating!
There are various threads in this discussion. All skylights are not equal – they serve different purposes. Bathroom skylights serve as ventilation for a bathroom-required by every code (DOB, Multiple Dwelling Law, etc). They need to be operable like a window. It’s also a good way to get rid of moisture which bathrooms generate.
Skylights over stair wells have to be permanently vented because they provide the means for smoke to leave the stairwell in case of a fire since the stair is the primary means of egress in the event of a fire. These skylights can help vent heat in the summer if they don’t have a decorative glass panel below.
Then there are skylights that provide legal light and air if you have a top floor room without windows. They have to be operable.
For mopar: There were usually vents in the cornice that vented the cockloft.