subject: Installing Skylights Can Brighten Your Home [print this page] Skylights can really brighten up dull areas of the home and they are not as difficult to install for yourself as you might think. However, it is a structural; change to your home so you do need to plan the project carefully so that the skylight is installed safely and well.
What skylight?
Once you have made up your mind that you want a skylight, you have to think about where you want it top be and how big. Skylights come in a variety of shapes, too. You can find domes, pyramids, and any variation of these which can be rounded or angular. You need to decide upon the one that will look right in your home.
You will probably want to get a kit to install your skylight. That is the easiest option and this article presumes you are using a kit.
Installation
1. First, bear in mind that installation of a skylight involves putting a hole in your roof. You don't know that you can complete installation in a day if you get interrupted etc, and you sure don't know what the weather will be like. So, keep a tarpaulin handy and rope to secure it, if you have to weatherproof your home before installation is complete.
2. Next, mark where you want your skylight to be. Doe sit fit with your ceiling joists? It needs to!
3. Get all your tools together that you will need before you get up onto the roof. You won't want to go to and fro from there!
4. Start taking off roofing tiles to find the position of your skylight. Once you KNOW you have this correct, you can cut into the rafters and battens. After that, it's time to saw the hole in your plaster board to let light into the room. While doing this, be careful to avoid any wiring.
5. Put your skylight in place and secure it in its framing. Make sure that it is level all around.
6. Some skylight kits will then require you to install flashings to prevent any leaks.
7. After that, it's time to replace the roof tiles, perhaps having to cut them in shape. That is the outside installation done.
8. Inside, put plaster board in the rebate between skylight and ceiling, measuring it and nailing it down. Use joining cement to seal everything.
Your skylight is then installed and ready for painting and finishing inside.
