Skylights mounted in metal roof?

[aribert]

I'm a big fan of natural light. I know some roofers consider a skylight as a hole in the roof. I've installed 2 skylights in my first house (now a rental), one in my current house and have 2 in my workshop garage. All installed by me in roofs with shingles. I am meticulous in the installation and have never had a leak (other than when we forget to close the skylight in our residence and it begins to rain). My next shop will be a pole barn and while I would prefer a shingle roof, I am presuming that for cost reasons I may end up with a metal roof.

Does anyone here have skylight installed in a metal roof? I am referring to a dual pane glass skylight like a Velux, not a translucent panel in place of a metal sheet. If so, was the skylight installed at the time of the roof or retrofit later? Did you do the work or watch the installer doing the work? Have you had issues with the sealing of the skylight to roof? Looking at the Velux website I see that there are flashing kits for metal roofs and it appears the overlap panel is a conformable material https://velcdn.azureedge.net/-/medi...901&iar=0&w=900&cc=grid_4&key=155992564966126

I I have concerns about a pole barn building crew having the experience and the attention to detail to do a correct installation - I am **** when installing a shingle roof and more so around a skylight. How easy is it to remove a metal roof panel somewhere in the middle of a roof? I am thinking I want to install any skylights later - also in part to push some costs into the future.

 

[jack stand]

"How easy is it to remove..."
Just a bunch of screws, very easy!
Now you might need to remove several sheets to provide the required framing to mount a skylight, but there's not an easier roof to do this (R&R) that I can think of.

 

[Rusted Nut]

A skylight is no different than any other roof penetration. Flash it properly and you’ll be fine.

 

[CraigStu]

Your picture seems to show a side and bottom. Heck anyone can seal that. It is the top that I'd like to see. What ever you do I suspect that having the roofers do it isn't going to be anywhere equal to your own work quality.

 

[readhead]

There skylights designed for metal roofs. I don't install them around here because of potential hail damage. I install wall lights quite often. Usually high on a wall under the eaves. Light panels are available in various shades in just about every metal profile.

 

[jack stand]

Unless you're finishing the ceiling, the clear polycarbonate panels are worlds apart from the old "translucent" fiberglass panels from the past.
This was just taken and notice the trees seen through it. This is in my sawmill building, and like you I'm a big fan of natural light. I might have $160 in those 4 panels that equal 120 s/f of light. It's definitely economical and arguably the equals daylight enters the building as a glass skylight.

This is the sunshine on the wall inside. Doesn't look as bright as it really is with my $60 smartphone.

 

[readhead]

Agreed. I use that material but on the side walls. I find that the white material provides a lot more diffused light with no shadows. The gray and bronze might look better on the building but give some rather odd light inside.

 

[dcg9381]

Agreed. I use that material but on the side walls.

This, 100%. Especially in states that can have hail. I've replaced hail damaged polycarb panels before. You want them at the top of the side walls under the eve.

OP, we've done residences recently with those Solatube deals - they are outstanding.. Probably a little too good honestly, but they're more designed to direct light to a specific area.

 

[scofo]

After a hail storm in '09 I replaced the shingle roofing with R panel onto 1/2 OSB decking. I installed 3 Velux skylights on my home at that time. Between the Velux instructions and Mueller metal instructions for chimney flashing, I built "curbs" with 2x6's and flashed. I did not use the Velux flashing kit but made my own with metal sourced from Mueller. I did make small models with paper so I could get my head around the overlaps and how all the pieces come together before I cut metal. If you are careful with the cuts on the uphill flash, you can seal it with a very small amount of caulk. No leaks and very minimal caulk. My only regret was not springing for the opening skylights in the bathrooms like the one in the kitchen.

My central A/C evap began to leak so in the meantime of replacement, I could open the skylight in the kitchen and a couple of windows and the hot air would leave quickly.

 

[aribert]

Unless you're finishing the ceiling, the clear polycarbonate panels are worlds apart from the old "translucent" fiberglass panels from the past....

Thanks for the reply - I am aware of the newer, more translucent panels. I live in Metro Detroit and have wintertime heating - hence what I am asking about dual pane glass skylights in a metal roof. Till now, all my skylight installs have been in shingled roofs.

FWIW, I've started making my skylight shafts flare out to the ceiling. First one was flared 4 inches / side. With each subsequent installation I increased the flare. The most recent skylight is in my current workshop garage and is flared out 10 inch/side and spreads the light out nicely - image below. I used 3/8 drywall for the shaft and slowly twist the drywall over a period of several days - the steeper the roof pitch, the more twist will be required.