Anyone know anything about doing this? The part of the ceiling I would want to do is vaulted.

1/14/2007 9:45:56 PM

those last two sentences don't really have anything to do with the first two

1/14/2007 9:47:15 PM

2 + 2 = 3

1/14/2007 9:51:51 PM

if you're asking how to do it, might be a good idea for you to go ahead & call a contractor

1/14/2007 9:52:44 PM

I am more looking to find out what it entails, and what kind of costs to expect. This is not something I would attempt to do on my own.

1/14/2007 9:57:29 PM

we have it, really keeps electric cost durin the day down

i cant remember what kind we ahve but its a long tube that goes through the attic, doesnt leak at all.

1/14/2007 10:07:27 PM

It depends on what kind of skylight you want. Vaulted ceilings do matter because you may not be able to do a tube light, for example.

You want to be able to control the amount of light you let in. And, as with any cut in a roof, you should be concerned about leaking--so have a professional do it.

http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/DAC-ART/skylights-sky-lites.html

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/jsearch/product_map.jsp?N=2984+3760

Tube lights:

http://www.ronhazelton.com/howto/tubular_skylight_installation_I.htm

http://www.ronhazelton.com/howto/tubular_skylight_installation_II.htm

[Edited on January 14, 2007 at 10:11 PM. Reason : .]

1/14/2007 10:10:47 PM

I want the long flat ones instead of the tube ones. I dont think the tube ones would let in enough light.

1/14/2007 10:57:57 PM

saw, saran wrap, duct tape, done

1/14/2007 11:02:15 PM

my dad does this kind of stuff. He hates doing cut-ins (adding skylights to existing roofs) because they always lead to trouble - leaks and stuff in the future (or I should say, he's always repairing other people's cut-ins, not his own ). Generally the ones that are designed in from the beginning work the best, not add-ons later.

1/14/2007 11:07:28 PM

^^ Ha! And leaks--done.

[Edited on January 14, 2007 at 11:08 PM. Reason : ^]

[Edited on January 14, 2007 at 11:12 PM. Reason : ^^^ Smaller hole, less area for leaks. And some of the prismatic tubes let in quite a bit of light.]

1/14/2007 11:08:10 PM

I want to add some to my house when it comes time to replace the roof.

Those tube lights that hooksaw posted look so simple. Why do I think it's not going to be that easy?

[Edited on January 14, 2007 at 11:16 PM. Reason : .]

1/14/2007 11:14:34 PM

call a residential structural engineer, I wouldnt try to do that shit on my own. Plus you'll probably need to get it inspected, and the inspector will want to see an engineer's seal, whether it be on a letter or a set of drawn up plans. it'd be better if you could get a hold of the structural engineer who engineered your house in the first place since he will have all of his calcs and shit on file

you'll need to get your structural plans and figure out how far apart your rafters are spaced to help determine what size the skylight can be. that might help you see if it'll be worth the trouble of calling an engineer or not (for instance if the rafters are only spaced at 12 inch intervals your probably skylight will be too small)

[Edited on January 14, 2007 at 11:21 PM. Reason : asd]

1/14/2007 11:19:45 PM

Quote :

"[S]o have a professional do it."

hooksaw

1/14/2007 11:22:19 PM

^^^ i never said no leaks

1/14/2007 11:26:10 PM

te tube lights are really really simple and they look good, they let in an insane amount of light

i would rate them well

easy to install and leak free

1/14/2007 11:29:57 PM

Quote :

"we have it, really keeps electric cost durin the day down"

How did you calculate this?

1/14/2007 11:31:22 PM

looked at electricity use from previous summers and winters and the ones since we have had the lights

took the bills and compared them, broke it down to a day by day basis and charge to see if it really was worth the skylights, turns out the money was

heating and all that is gas so that doesnt matter.

1/14/2007 11:34:01 PM

Quote :

"you'll need to get your structural plans and figure out how far apart your rafters are spaced to help determine what size the skylight can be. that might help you see if it'll be worth the trouble of calling an engineer or not (for instance if the rafters are only spaced at 12 inch intervals your probably skylight will be too small) "

Go in the attic and look at the rafter spacing...Or, use a studfinder for vaulted ceilings. Doesn't seem that difficult.

1/14/2007 11:34:56 PM