Skylight Question

| Posted in Construction Techniques on April 21, 2004 08:17am

Just purchased an older home with a couple of skylights, I think they are the curb type since they are raised a few inches off the deck, do not open and have the clear double plastic bubble dome. They are in need of replacement, all thought they do not seem to leak now, there is alot of cracks in the plastic. The roof on this home will need to be replaced in the near future but not right now, so here are my questions: What are the chances of finding new plastic domes to fit the exsisting curbs and just replacing the dome or would I be better off just replacing the the skylight with new. They have finished tunnels on the inside but that is not really to much of an issue if the new size is close. If I replace with new and than decide to move them to a new location during remodleing and reroofing is that a problem, can they be moved with out damaging the unit or flashing.

Thanks for your help.

Replies

seeyou | Apr 21, 2004 08:32pm | #1
You don't specify what type roof you have, but if it's some type of shingles (asphalt, cedar, slate), I'd replace them with new now rather than waste your time with trying to replace plastic bubbles. My personal favorite is Velux, which are available in a wide variety of sizes.

http://www.velux-america.com/
jackplane | Apr 21, 2004 08:57pm | #2
I recently bought two Velux skylights and would recommend them. The glass will last far longer than a plastic bubble which will deteriorate.
HeavyDuty | Apr 21, 2004 10:16pm | #3
Another vote for Velux. Replace everything, flashing and all. No sense of reusing the old flashing. If there is a lot of heat build up in the summer, consider the ventilating type.
andybuildz | Apr 22, 2004 01:15am | #4
replace it with a Velux skywindow !!!

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Piffin | Apr 22, 2004 05:58am | #5
Average life of those plastic bubbles is four or five years.

As far as I am concerned, the only skylights worth the trouble of installing are Vellux.

but there could be a size differential that requires more extensive work to fit it in. If your roof hjas another few years in it, you might be able to replace the plastic bubble as a stop gap and then do the total retrofit when you replace the roof.

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