Experience with Velux openable skylights on flat roofs?

We had the Velux solar with rain sensor installed on a flat roof. It works great, the only disappointment being that the curb/frame they had to install means you lose some light.

ixmfrteyhywobz

in General Discussion 2 years and 5 months ago

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tsgrlc | 2 years and 5 months ago

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I have an old-school pyramid skylight on a typical townhouse low-pitch roof (the pitch is about 1 foot ofrise per 10 feet of run). Velux has a separate line of “flat roof” skylights that are not openable. I was wondering what sorts of experiences people had installing the regular openable skylights on the flat roofs?

tsgrlc | 2 years and 5 months ago

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I’m also curious if it’s worthwhile to buy a replacement pyramid skylight instead of a modern Velux one. Any thoughts on that? Do they make any pyramid skylights are at least double-paned for better efficiency? And pointers to the manufacturers of pyramid skylights would be appreciated too!

Guest User | 2 years and 5 months ago

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I manage a building with reliable operable Velux skylights that were built up on an angular curb on a flat roof. I would do that sooner than install flat operable on a flat roof. On a separate building I had good experience purchasing Velux non operable for a flat roof via Windows We Are that I had a GC install on a curb

tsgrlc | 2 years and 5 months ago

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Thanks Jeremy!

rd684 | 2 years and 5 months ago

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I have a Velux solar skylight with rain sensor on a flat roof. The installer just has to build a simple curb/frame for it. I had to replace the rain sensor once but they have a 5 yr warranty and it was hassle free.

justinromeu26 | 2 years and 5 months ago

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there is or was a place that make or made these at 125st and the entrance to the RFK bridge. on the southwest corner of 125 across from the bridge. they used to have them lined up on the sidewalk and might still.

my roofer neighbor orders these all the time. they come without glass in them. but i cannot say the thickness of the space for the glass would take insulated glass (it looks like they use 3/16 or 1/4″ glass) and then there is the issue of the metal, it will be uninsulated. these are also vented in the top. i placed a piece of plexiglass under mine to stop the air from going out the top of the vent. that plexi forms an insulation barrer. but it has to be cleaned from time to time.

i have to speak to the roofer about something anyway and will ask him where he sources his. i think i once heard a roofing supply up on astoria blvd out toward flushing. that was a long time ago though.

i will let you know this: ours was leaking when we moved in here. the metal had rotted through in spots, like where the bends were. i put karnack 19 on the spo ts with fiberglass mesh and told my wife “we need to replace the skylight. i put a temporary fix on it but it won’t last long”. that was 16 years ago and i have done nothing to it since.

it will be interesting to know what you do because sooner or later i will have to change mine. it would be nice to open something on spring and fall evenings but truthfully, those velux things are ugly compared to these old things.

steve
brownstonehomeinspection.com

tsgrlc | 2 years and 5 months ago

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Thanks Steve and rd684! Yeah honestly it isn’t leaking so I could be persuaded to follow the maxim of “if it ain’t broke” if I hear enough horror stories.

I agree the old pyramid style lights are better looking than the Velux ones. But mine was replaced in a cheap botch job in the 50s or 60s (they did a lot of shoddy “remodeling” in my house around then) and the result was ugly as sin. They installed a smaller pyramid light than what the well was originally designed for, and some sort of brown substance is permanently stuck onto the glass. Anyway aesthetics and energy efficiency are what are motivating me to look into replacement.

justinromeu26 | 2 years and 5 months ago

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when they put the glass in these they use some kind of roofing or flashing cement or glazing compound. when they do it in houses, they are usually clean and neat. we had a fire in a roof top elevator room once on 57th st and all of the glass in the massive industrial sky light was broken. a glazier came and replaced it and because no one would see it, he left messy black stuff all over it.

i will have to call the roofer about something anyway. i will ask.

also, these skylights all appear to be custom made so if you get one of these, it will fit. what happen where was, they found one, perhaps used, and put it on. i look at the ones the roofer removes and put out for the trash, wondering if one will fit here. unlikely.