DIY Network

Tubular Skylight: Installation From "Weekend Handyman" episode WKH-402

Paul cuts a hole into the roof. Inside the home, he saws through the ceiling in the living room. He secures the extension tubes with screws and seals them with aluminum tape. Finally, he gets the tube to angle correctly with the hole in the ceiling and roof, then secures.

advertisement

	Before, this family room was entirely too dark...
	but after a tubular skylight was installed, well, you see the difference!
	Figure A
	Figure B

Time: 15 hours over two days.
Difficulty Rating: This project rates a 3 out of 5 on the Weekend Handyman difficulty scale.

Materials:

Safety glasses
Disposable protective coveralls
Work gloves
Skylight kit
Ladder
Electric drill
Keyhole saw
Compass
Reciprocating saw
Hole saw
Coat hanger
Aluminum tape
A wallpaper roller
Roof sealant
Pile seal
Laser level
Utility knife
Tape measure
2-1/2 in. screw
Lumber crayon

Skylight Installation

1. On the roof, find the screw and place the flashing over it (figure A). Next, trace around the inside of the flashing with a lumber crayon.

2. Carefully cut out the shingles 1/2 inch outside the line (figure B).

3. Flip the flashing upside down and trace around the inner circumference.

4. Using a reciprocating saw, cut a 14" hole around the outside edge of the crayon mark (figure C).

5. Caulk around the flashing with roof sealant (figure D), and center the flashing over the roof hole (figure E). Fasten the flashing to the roof, and coat the screw heads with roof sealant.

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

6. With a tape measure, measure from roof to ceiling (figure F). This determines total tube length.

7. Tape around the seams of top tube (figure G) and secure with a couple extra screws.

Figure F

Figure G

8. Drop the top tube through the flashing and turn it so that it lines up with the coat hanger in the attic. Leave the bottom of the flashing exposed to allow for proper water flow.

9. Insert the deflector so it faces south (this is what catches sunlight) (figure H).

10. Place dome over the flashing (figure I), screw into place but don’t overtighten it.

11. At the original hole inside made with the hanger, use a compass to draw a circle around it (figure J).

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

12. Next, use a jab saw and starting from the "x" cut to the edge of the circle and then cut along the outside of the line (figure K).

13. The extension tubes come in two foot pieces and the notches just slide together.

14. Take aluminum tape and seal the seams and then use a brayer roller to evenly adhere the tape to the seams (figure L).

15. Slide and attach the top tube to the bottom tube – the tubes just nest together (figure M). Measure the extension and adjust to the correct length.

Figure K

Figure L

Figure M

16. Secure it in place with a drywall screw.

17. Once the bottom tube is in place, wrap the outside tube with 1/4" pile seal (figure N). Pile seal creates an expansion joint giving the tube room to rise and fall. It also prevents bugs and debris from getting inside.

18. Then, insert the tube into the hole (figure O). Adjust the angle of the bottom elbow so it fits the top hole. Use trial and error until they line up (figure P).

19. Once the tube is in place, pull it back down and seal the last seam.

Figure N

Figure O

Figure P

Figure Q

20. Pull zip ties through, tuck them up into the ceiling, push the tube back up and cinch the zip ties tight so that the tube sits flush with the ceiling. Secure zip ties with four screws (figure Q). Don’t overtighten the screws or the could damage the ceiling or deform the tube.

21. Trim the zip ties so they’re flush.

22. Pull off the protective film coating.

RESOURCES :

Tubular Skylight
Brand Name: Solatube
Model Number: 10", 14"
Manufacturer: Solatube International, Inc.
2210 Oak Ridge Dr.
Vista, CA 92081
Contact: Robert Phillips, Marketing Director
Telephone: 1-800-966-7652
Website: www.solatube.com

GUESTS :

Thomas S. Gilbertson, General Manager
Solar Midwest, Inc.
12829 Industrial Park Blvd.
Plymouth, MN 55441
Telephone: 1-763-557-5702
Website: www.solarmidwest.com