Windows or skylights, yes? No?

[Lelandwelds]

We installed Solatube‘ sin our kitchen and love them. They bring in a lot of light. Since they are only 14” it would be hard for anyone to break in through them.


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Actually, that ones supposed to be pretty good. Its one of the light tube type. No gaskets or caulk like Ive seen fail. It is more like installing a water heater vent or a woodstove chimney pipe. They're easy to remove or replace. ( I never have. Those didnt exist way bach then.)

If you must put a hole in your roof, that one ***** the least.

 

[metschers]

I went with (14)-12" x 48" transom windows $54 @ Menards. They're up high enough for security and the sunlight floods in. Actually 90% of the time I never even turn on the overhead lights except at night.
(See my avatar)

 

[reader2580]

Why did you remove your windows? Thats much harder than never installing some. What happened?

The windows were rotten and one or two had plywood instead of glass. The garage siding was falling off so I replaced the siding. I decided to just remove the windows and not replace them. I didn't want spend a bunch of money on new windows and i figured it would keep people from seeing what is in the garage.

I regret removing the windows now. It gets hot in the garage even with the door open. My garage mostly gets used for storing stuff and keeping my car in there. It is not a shop, but I do stuff in there occasionally.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I went with (14)-12" x 48" transom windows $54 @ Menards. They're up high enough for security and the sunlight floods in. Actually 90% of the time I never even turn on the overhead lights except at night.
(See my avatar)

Nice shop. I put those above each entrance to my house. They weren't that good a price but they are double pane low E with the green glass.

If I install window, it will be something like those but tucked under the eaves. Might put in Triple wall Polygal. Shatterproof. Inexpensive .

 

[Lelandwelds]

The windows were rotten and one or two had plywood instead of glass. The garage siding was falling off so I replaced the siding. I decided to just remove the windows and not replace them. I didn't want spend a bunch of money on new windows and i figured it would keep people from seeing what is in the garage.

I regret removing the windows now. It gets hot in the garage even with the door open. My garage mostly gets used for storing stuff and keeping my car in there. It is not a shop, but I do stuff in there occasionally.

I have a cargo container for that purpose. It doesnt have windows. I am considering wrapping it in adhesive ice shield and rigid XPS. Skin the sides with PT fence pickets alternating with 2 x 2 and metal on top. Or 4 x 8 Hardie.

Have you considered ridge vent or turbine vents?

 

[yeldogt]

We have a 3 stall garage - with a 2nd floor that covers the two main stalls. Above the 3rd stall I cut out a 5'x5' square in the ceiling (drywalled) and created a 'light well' with two skylights. Cleaned up the attic trusses by wrapping them in 1/4" hardboard, drywalled the 'well' and installed a small door for access to the other half of the attic (light storage). These were inexpensive 'bubble' type skylight from Lowes that have an raised aluminum curb. Never had any leaks. Good place to mount my Mr Slim also

Something like this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Skyview-Fi...x-46-25-in-Actual-28-25-in-x-50-25-in/4330612

Very happy with it and was well worth the effort. (note -every electrical wire in my house ran across this area which caused me a lot of extra work). That's a piece of unistrut running across for my light duty trolly. I keep my motorcycle lift/work table directly under this area

The deeper the well the better the light -- skylights work great on a flat roof w/ curb. unless due north -- skylights on sloped roofs produce bad light to work under ... ugly from the outside.

 

[Lelandwelds]

The deeper the well the better the light -- skylights work great on a flat roof w/ curb. unless due north -- skylights on sloped roofs produce bad light to work under ... ugly from the outside.

I just hate letting heat and water leak in. Other than that I have no problem with a hole in a perfectly good roof.

I think the light tube or light conduit skylights hold great promise. Either the shiny metal tube kind or the plastic ridge lined tubes which look like square rain gutters look like they will have the good features with none of the bad.

If you want a hole in the roof, that is.

 

[cybrdyke]

I think the light tube or light conduit skylights hold great promise. Either the shiny metal tube kind or the plastic ridge lined tubes which look like square rain gutters look like they will have the good features with none of the bad.

There's a product out there that's fiber optic. It has a light collector on the roof, and that is connected to fiber optic cable which transports the light throughout the building. The fixtures are available in familiar styles. It's more of a commercial product at this point, but very interesting.
CD

 

[kbs2244]

Still debating!
I will just say, after moving into a house with a 30 year old skylight that was leak free I had 2 put into my shop build.
Top of the line units installed by a guy the shingle layers brought in.
He knew what he was doing and proved it by pointing out one factory sealed box was missing a key part.

I love the security aspect and the freedom to put things where I want inside.
The fact that I don't have to turn on the lights to find a screw driver is nice too.

 

[Lelandwelds]

There's a product out there that's fiber optic. It has a light collector on the roof, and that is connected to fiber optic cable which transports the light throughout the building. The fixtures are available in familiar styles. It's more of a commercial product at this point, but very interesting.
CD

Thats interesting. Have you ever terminated fiber? ( I spent six weeks as a temp running data lines.) I hope it isnt as tedius as data cable.

Still debating!
I will just say, after moving into a house with a 30 year old skylight that was leak free I had 2 put into my shop build.
Top of the line units installed by a guy the shingle layers brought in.
He knew what he was doing and proved it by pointing out one factory sealed box was missing a key part.

I love the security aspect and the freedom to put things where I want inside.
The fact that I don't have to turn on the lights to find a screw driver is nice too.

I think skylights are only a minor security threat. Only seeing the bad ones may have colored my view a bit. I am confident the stuff I installed will be trouble free. I see a small contradiction there.

 

[My Old Tools]

That's a better idea. But who needs windows? Led lighting is efficient. Motion sensors, emergency lighting, simulated windows, and industrial night lights can make windows unnecessary.

You can't see my beautiful lake with fake windows.

 

[Git]

or all your beautiful tools laying inside behind a thin sheet of glass?

yeldogt - skylights are mounted on the 'back' of the garage roof for that very reason and they can't be seen from the street

 

[Lelandwelds]

You can't see my beautiful lake with fake windows.

Hey, I have a lake view! You need to put your eyeball about 35 feet above the ground. It is a bit inconvenient but it IS a lakeview. If I look out a window at a typical height, I see a bunch of overgrown weeds called "cedar" and some 90 yo oaks about 15 ft tall. ( saying my place is a bit rocky is an understatement.) The nice views are not by the garage site.

I never considered it before but I could build a short tower and aim a camera at my lakeview. I could have some fake windows with scenery!

 

[My Old Tools]

or all your beautiful tools laying inside behind a thin sheet of glass?

This place is so secluded that the locals don't even know it's here, and it's gated too. Only one way in or out. Everybody is retired and home all day. And the neighbors all carry

 

[Lelandwelds]

This place is so secluded that the locals don't even know it's here, and it's gated too. Only one way in or out. Everybody is retired and home all day. And the neighbors all carry

Interesting little town. Pretty small place for a Walmart like that. How do you get along without a proper HEB?

Most everyone carries in Texas. ( or, so you should assume) Thats how you tell the honest citizens apart.