by Installing home skylights can dramatically transform a dull, dim room into a light-filled, airy space. Not only do they bring in natural sunlight and warmth, but they also add an architectural design element to your home. Here’s how you can install home skylights.
Before you begin installation, it is crucial to choose the right type of skylight for your home. There are different types available on the market including ventilating skylights that open and fixed skylights that don’t. The selection will depend on the purpose of the room and personal preference.
Once you’ve chosen your preferred style, locate the area where you want to install the skylight. Consider factors such as sun exposure throughout the day and whether or not this location will interfere with any existing structures in your ceiling or roof.
The next step involves cutting out an opening in your roof for the new skylight. This process requires precision; hence it’s advisable to hire a professional if you’re inexperienced with carpentry work. After marking out exact dimensions on both sides of your roof using chalk lines, use a circular saw to cut through from inside your house up towards outside.
After creating an opening, construct a frame within this hole using lumber that matches thickness of existing rafters around edges of hole so it fits perfectly without causing any structural damage. This frame serves as support base for new skylight ensuring stability during installation process.
Next comes actual installation of chosen skylight unit into created hole aligning carefully with constructed framework ensuring snug fit all around edges before securing down with screws following manufacturer’s instructions provided along product package.
Following successful placement and fastening down of unit onto roof surface comes task involving sealing off entire perimeter surrounding installed window against potential water leaks caused by rainwater seepage during stormy weather conditions which could potentially cause serious damage not just to window itself but also surrounding roofing material over time if left unchecked due to improper installation.
To ensure a proper seal, apply a generous amount of roofing cement around the entire perimeter of the skylight. Then, cover this with flashing that matches your roof’s material. The flashing should overlap onto the roof to direct water away from the skylight and into your home’s gutter system.
Lastly, once exterior work is complete, it’s time to finish up inside by attaching drywall around opening cutting it down to size before screwing it into place using drywall screws ensuring snug fit all around edges before applying joint compound over screw heads smoothing out surface ready for painting job.
In conclusion, installing a skylight can be quite challenging but if you follow these steps carefully and take necessary precautions during each stage of process then you should be able to enjoy benefits of having natural sunlight streaming through your newly installed home skylights in no time at all.
