Operable vs. non-operable skylight

We are installing a new skylight and trying to decide whether it should be operable or not.  I am thinking it would be nice to be able to open it for ventilation (we will have central air but would still be nice to cool things down with fresh air when possible) but have concerns about durability and safety.  Are operable skylights more likely to leak?  Does the opening/closing and locking mechanism tend to break after awhile?  If you have an operable skylight, how often do you open it?   We are looking at a Velux manual operable skylight.  Any and all insights welcome!

backeast

in Skylight 12 years and 10 months ago

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backeast | 12 years and 10 months ago

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thanks for the helpful responses everyone!

SewardWasRight | 12 years and 10 months ago

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I have an existing skylight that is vented (in such a way that water does not enter). It sits on my roof at the end of a three foor “duct” or airway between the roof and my top floor bathroom. I had my contractor size a window for it and he installed it at the end of the duct (the ceiling of the bathroom), so that I can leave it open and forget it. The water never comes in and I have ventilation if I want it.

Bond | 12 years and 10 months ago

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You can get opening skylights that are rated for flat roofs.  Don’t be fooled by the fact that your roof has a slight pitch, if it’s the typical Brooklyn brownstone roof, it’s flat as far as a skylight goes, so make sure you get the right skylight.  I think the full opening ones are great, I’m with GoodProspect, they really help to cool down a space when open.  The problem with the manual ones is the pole is sort of a pain to have around, but you don’t have to worry about the motor ever going.  If installed properly, there’s no reason why you should have a problem, my two cents is go with opening.

Petebklyn | 12 years and 10 months ago

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check to see if opening skylight is recommended for the pitch of your roof. if you have typical kinda flat brooklyn roof not sure the opening ones are good idea or recommended.

GoodProspect | 12 years and 10 months ago

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FWIW, we have an Insula-Dome skylight with electric opening mechanism, and a rain sensor. We put it in about 6 years ago, and the plastic piece that extends and retracts to open it broke – not a big deal, except that when I called I learned that Insula-Dome went out of business last year. Their answering service forwarded the call to another company  — “Skylight Specialist” – now handling their parts and repair issues. Bummed that what would have been under warranty is no longer, but other than that we have been very happy with our Insula-Dome skylight.  Great ventilation on all but the hottest days – pulls the warm air up like a chimney, and cools the house right down.

stevecym | 12 years and 10 months ago

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I have a fixed which only vents a wee bit when we could really use good ventilation – like on cool spring evenings.  I would prefer one which opens.  Velex appears to be a good product.   Steve

snowman2 | 12 years and 10 months ago

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I have 2 operating, 2 fixed and one ventilating skylight.  I hav ecentral air and I do open the operating ones for ventilation and glad to have them.  I too have forgotten them open (and it rained) and now when they are open I leave the pole out and visible to remind me to close them. The only one that has leaked was the Velux ventilating (fixed sl that is supposed to exchange air via a vent)  that never ventilated a thing (I stood under it with a lit cigarette to test it) and when still fairly new leaked between the glass and the frame.  I would NOT recommend Velux. The 2 operating are Insuladome with powder coated exterior finish that does not require maintenance.  The powder coated paint peel off both skylights within two years and all Insuladome offered was to send someone to my house to paint them with regular paint – thereby creating maintenance when I had paid a premium to have none.  I would not recommend Insuladome. The 2 that have had no probems are some brand X.

jockdeboeraia | 12 years and 10 months ago

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You can buy one with a sensor that will shut it automatically if it rains.

windsorknot | 12 years and 10 months ago

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I can’t comment on the leak issues of fixed vs. operable, but my manually operable skylight has been opened once since I put it in 2 years ago, and I forgot to close it.  It then rained, and I had a puddle on the floor.  Now I’m affraid to open it, because my short term memory isn’t all that it used to be, and I’ll probably forget to close it again. A frind of mine got an electric one with a rain sensor.  I wish I thought of that when I put it in…