Skylights – A Handmade Shallow Box-Like Acrylic Condensation Include for Dome Installations

Acrylic or polycarbonate dome skylights come is a number of measurements these days. The traditional ones, however, are sq. to rectangular in form, and operate about five” in top. Their width and size is usually anywhere from 12″ to 36″, and therefore are 1/eight” thick.

These domes is usually mounted on to wooden curbs (2×2″ to 2×6″), close to which the roof shingles are caulked or skinny-steel flashed to circumvent any rain leakage close to them. These domes will also be surface mounted right on to the tar paper and wooden sheeting directly beneath the shingles.

During the latter situation, the dome’s bordering shingles on their own are instantly laid over its flat outdoors flanges much like the way in which the shingles are generally laid about the flat steel of roof vents, furnace stacks, sewer vents and so on. This installation minimizes the dome’s height.

Difficulty. In any case, or Regardless of how the domes are mounted, they’re able to and will produce unwelcome condensation and similar leaks non glare plexiglass even when they’ve an internal plastic protect within them. These domes will also be prone to getting cracked from large hail, fallen tree branches, earthquakes, or careless roofers. When these situations come about, the skylights will leak rain h2o as well Along with forming humidity.

Alternative. Establish and set up a shallow-box-like five-1/2″-superior really hard transparent go over about the dome within the roof. This cover will act like a storm window does by having the brunt of temperature improve and the formation of most condensation. For this article, a twenty” sq. dome (which incorporates a one” flange on all sides of your eighteen”-square dome itself), 5″ substantial, and floor mounted on to the roof sheeting are going to be utilised as the example to become lined Using the box-like storm include. Very similar addresses might be created proportionally for other dome sizes.

Elements and resources (overall Value for parts: $50-ninety, dependant upon the availability on the acrylic sheet).

A single 2x6x96″ tension-handled board ($five)
A person 22×22″ sheet of hefty 0.22″ thick acrylic plexiglass ($twenty five-60, according to the Lower measurements accessible within the outlet). If your piece should be cut from a bigger sheet, go away the protective movies unpeeled on either side of your sheet until the sawing is completed. Use a pointy high-quality-tooth saw blade. Usually, let the outlet Lower it to dimensions to suit your needs.
Twelve #12×3″ Philips screws
twenty to thirty – #8×1″ Philips drywall screws (broad head)
1 modest tube obvious silicone caulk ($four)
Two tubes silicone window/door caulk very similar in color into the roof shingles ($8)
4 perpendicularly flat two-one/2″ L-shaped brackets ($five)
Eight #10×1″ Wooden screws (for attaching the L-brackets to the quilt frame)
8 #10×1-1/two to 2″ Wooden screws (for attaching the frame’s L-brackets on the roof in the shingles)
Just one quart oil-base h2o-proof paint very similar in colour towards the roof shingles ($4)
Equipment: electric circular observed, electric drill, bits, Philips screwdriver, caulking gun, putty knife, rat-tail file, paintbrush
Deal with construction.

1. Lower the 2×6″ board into four square-cornered parts: 2 22″-long kinds and 2 19″-extensive ones.

2. Assemble the 22″ square box-like frame by sealing/securing the 4 corners Along with the silicone window/doorway water-proofing caulk and 3″ screws.

3. On what will be the lower-end of the bottom side, make use of the file to make at the least 3 50 %-moon groves for moisture drainage.

4. Paint each the inside and outside of the picket body. Let dry.

five. Place the acrylic plexiglass flush above the frame.

six. Mark around the plexiglass in which the screw holes will go, about five” aside across the major of your frame.

seven. At Each individual mark, drill a hole through the plexiglass (only) broader than the drywall screw.

eight. Then, by using a slim little bit, drill holes one/two” deep into your wood body dead-Centre in the plexiglass holes.

9. Take out the plexiglass within the body, noting the way it matches onto the body.

10. Brush away any plastic or wood shavings through the body and plexiglass.

11. Together with the silicone caulk, add a slender bead lengthwise on all sides of the frame’s drill holes all around it.

12. Diligently substitute the plexiglass atop the frame, aligning it to the initial drill holes appropriately.

thirteen. Set up the screws to medium tightness, so not to crack the plexiglass. The caulk will flatten and unfold amongst the plexiglass and also the frame, sealing it.