Nothing brings the light of summer into your home all year round like a skylight. It’s the best way of bringing sunlight and ventilation into a dark, stuffy room, and you can save money on electric lights. A contractor will usually charge over $500 for a 32” skylight, but you can install your own for around $300. Make sure before you begin that you carefully follow the instructions that come with your skylight. A poorly installed skylight can cause leaks and roof damage which will require re-installation by a professional.
Want to know what installing your own skylight will involve? It’s not the easiest home improvement job and it can take around 6 hours to complete. You can choose between a domed flush mount skylight or an easier to install tubular skylight. Ideally, the skylight should occupy about 10% of the total footage of your room. It is recommended to use a high grade silicon seal or roofing cement to reinforce the skylight and screws with hex heads and clear black silicon rings around each screw, but you can also use regular nails.
First, measure the area where you want to install the skylight on the roof’s interior. Before you cut out the desired section, make sure that you won’t be running into any electrical wiring. Try to make the incision between the rafters, because it will mean less work later on, and no need to re-arrange the rafters after the incision is made. Add an additional ½” to the desired dimension before cutting. After you cut and remove the section from the interior, drive a nail facing the exterior side through each corner to mark the dimensions of the skylight. If you cut through the rafters, you have to reinforce the remaining sections with a double header to maintain proper support.
Go outside and work on the exterior of the roof. Locate the nails you drove from the interior. These mark the dimension of the skylight. Remove the shingles from the inner sections and carefully cut out the inner portion.
Now it is time to install the skylight. Decide whether you want the skylight to be straight or to bring in light at a slant. Ensure that the skylight is always placed on a protective surface to prevent scratching which will ruin the skylight. After the skylight is placed in position, run a bead of roof flashing cement on the roof felt, about 1 ½ “ from the opening. The light shaft should be framed in on a double frame with at least 3.5” thickness. Cover the exterior with plywood and insulation and the interior with a vapor barrier. The interior section should be reinforced with caulking or sealing tape.
The skylight has to be fastened firmly in place, but first make sure that the roof vent (black rubber grommet and foam plug) is at the low end, otherwise, there might be some water leaks. Staple, nail or screw flange area through the pre-made holes. Begin at the middle and work your way to the ends. Apply butyl tape and caulk to the flanges at the top and the side; one layer around the perimeter and one on the anti-siphon rib. Then you can re-install the shingles and your skylight if ready to let the sunshine in!
Tube skylights made from a kit are smaller but more user-friendly, and can light up a studio apartment. Cut a hole in the roof, the way you would with a regular skylight (although tubular skylights are, of course, round). An easy to use, flexible tube will guide you through the installation process. On the exterior, attach foam seal, dome and clamp storm collars. On the interior, attach interior seals, insulation and the diffuser.
Whichever skylight you choose, you and your family will enjoy the bright and pleasant atmosphere created by a well-made skylight.
