To sky light or not?

[pgilmore7]

Hi every one this is my first post. I'm buying a house with a metal building in the back yard, 30x50. The shop has skylights in the roof and they are leaking, I'm thinking about removing them an putting metal in their place to solve any future problems. the rest of the celling is insulated and the building is about 10yrs old. Any advice would be appreciated, I've worked in shops just never owned one.

 

[Lippyp]

For most metal profiles you can get matching translucent panels in plastic of some kind. If you want natural light you could take out the leaking skylights and replace with a sheet of this rather than tin. Only thing you won't get is any ventilation assuming the current skylights can be opened.

 

[kansei]

Aside from what Lippyp said, have you investigated where exactly the leak(s) are? If the skylight itself is leaking in/around its casing, then yes, replacement of some kind would likely be in order. However, if they are leaking because the flashing wasn't done properly, at worst you may just need to pull them out, redo the flashing and perimeter seals and be done. I have to redo my shop roof soon (shingled), and have been going back and forth about whether or not to put skylights in... the extra natural light and possible ability for more airflow is very tempting, despite the additional costs involved.


Neal.

 

[cbacres]

They have skylights for metal buildings that are profiled matched to the metal sheeting profile, as mentioned above. The building I have in KY had trim to cover the exposed edges of the skylight, so that most of the panel edges was under sheet metal. Sealant tape is used in this process.

I'm assuming you have a pre engineered metal building, all steel framing.

I would check the cause of the leakage before replacing with steel panels, as the skylights provide some nice natural lighting in the shop.

The metal building companies have some very specific directions on installation of the skylights. It could just be loose screws, cracks from to tight of screws or just a cheaper skylight.

I just purchased a PBR galvalume meatl roof package from gulfcoastsupply.com and I'm very happy with them. I belive they have the skylights and they most likely can make any of the trim needed to fix/ replace the skylights.
I dealt with Danny there.
They deliver all over Florida.

 

[finn]

Why would you poke a hole in a roof?

Roof penetration=potential leak path.

 

[dfiler2]

Are they actual glass skylights or are they plastic panels with the same profile as the metal? My experience with the plastic panels has been they deteriorate pretty quickly due to the UV sunlight. If they are glass make sure they are leaking first, glass skylights can be a problem when the area has a high moisture content, condensation will build up and drip, making it appear that they are leaking.

 

[nehog]

When I built my building, the company recommended not going with skylights as we have significant snow here. They felt traditional windows would provide as much light, with less leakage risk.

 

[bgarrett]

Why would you poke a hole in a roof?

Roof penetration=potential leak path.

Its not a hole and LIGHT is the answer to your question

 

[pgilmore7]

Thanks for the input. The sky lights do not open and they are plastic also discolored. looks like I'll take a trip on to the roof this weekend to do some investigating as to the source of the leak. I assume its the sky lights because you can see the water drip right at the lower corners on all three but water can start at a higher point and run down.

 

[cbacres]

Take some pics of the skylight while up there.
We like pics.
Show us the shop too!

 

[Casey69]

me - i'd eliminate the skylight, but it hails here & skylights are occasionally damaged. still, a lot of people opt for them, but i just look at them as a problem waiting to happen.

 

[barnjunkie]

As long as the skylights are not like this one.

 

[nolimits76]

I'm not sure I ever hear the term skylights w/o leak following in the same sentence. Great idea in theory, but not so much in execution.

 

[Fender1325]

Yeah, I agree with others here. Get rid of them. Not worth the headache for light. Close them up and upgrade your lighting

 

[Carves]

IMHO,

Sky light ... No

Poly sheeting ... Yes

Then consider UV ratings, Impact strength i.e. hail resistance ... and its lifespan.

Great for natural lighting,

 

[coljar]

After about 12 years, my skylights started to leak. I found that the calking around the (glass) skylight had shrunk. I removed both and re-calked them. Not a bit of leaking in 2 years now.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I've always seen skylights as a hole in the roof, that's Gonna leak,.....

 

[notallthere]

Instead of a skylight have your considered doing the top two feet around the walls just under the soffit? I have seen this under a lot of shops. They are less prone to yellowing and wind/hail damage in the future.

 

[pgilmore7]

I'll take some pics. If I have to take them out for any reason I'll probably just put metal in their place. The lighting in the shop needs to be upgraded anyway. I do have to admit, on a sunny day the shop is bright enough to where you don't need the lights.

 

[cbacres]

IMHO,

Sky light ... No

Poly sheeting ... Yes

Then consider UV ratings, Impact strength i.e. hail resistance ... and its lifespan.

Great for natural lighting,

Carves, what manufacture is your building?

 

[Kevin54]

I'll take some pics. If I have to take them out for any reason I'll probably just put metal in their place. The lighting in the shop needs to be upgraded anyway. I do have to admit, on a sunny day the shop is bright enough to where you don't need the lights.

If they are the plastic type that I am thinking about, that is just like a plastic bubble, either clear or smoked, I would take them out in a heartbeat. Replace them with metal, and you say you are going to replace your lighting anyways......get some energy efficient lighting, and possibly put some windows in the sides to have some daytime light. Then of course, when it's decent weather out, you can always open up the garage doors for light.

You're in Florida, so you don't have the problems that those sort of skylights bring like up here in Ohio. Up here, the bubble plastic skylights are basically trash and quite a few people have had water leakage problems with that style.

 

[kbs2244]

Plastics chemistry is one of the most active technologies out there.
If your skylights are just plastic panels replacing metal roof panels I would get in touch with the building manufacture and see if they have an upgraded panel.
If your buinding is more than 5 years old, I would expect they have a “New and improved” panel.

I like skylights.
They provide free, well spread, light that is handy when just walking in to find something.

 

[ford33]

Sky lights are nice in theory but in practice require additional building maintenance and costly repairs when they do leak. If it were me I would replace them with a metal insulated panel.

You are in Florida. Do the skylights allow additional heat into the building that a well insulated metal panel would prevent?

 

[Carves]

Carves, what manufacture is your building?

They call themselves Fair Dinkum Sheds.

If you're shopping ... freight costs might be interesting ..

 

[James-W]

I think skylights are like most other windows, if you have a high quality unit and it is installed correctly, it can be a very good thing. But if you scrimp on quality and/or don't get it installed correctly, then it is an accident waiting to happen.

 

[cbacres]

They call themselves Fair Dinkum Sheds.

If you're shopping ... freight costs might be interesting ..

I didn't notice where you live, yes that would be one expensive build.
Not shopping, just like the look of the galvanized framing. Had not seen that type of building, now I know why.
Could always tell the wife I'm going to look at a building, be back in a few weeks.........
Thanks