Sunlight from above can enliven a house dramatically. However, this is possible only when you have a skylight at your place. Skylights, like windows, are distinctive features of homes that greatly influence their aesthetics. But unlike the windows that provide limited light to the house, skylight allows in more direct sunlight and warmth. Moreover, these are great in sprucing up your home and giving it a makeover.
Here is what you need to know to install a skylight. You would require skylights 2-by-4s for framing, roofing paper, roofing nails and 16d galvanized nails, step flashing, continuous flashing, circular saw, hammer; flat pry bar, utility knife. In order to avoid any kind of interruption, have them all before starting the project.
Begin by determining the best location for a new skylight window. Next, measure, mark, and cut out the area of the ceiling that will accommodate the window. Install the frame over the opening and fasten that with the help of header joists. These are essential to support the frame in place. Also, take care that the joists are nailed in the perpendicular direction to the existing ones.
Once the frame is in place, you are now required to detach the roofing material from that particular area of the roof. Place the skylight and fix it into the frame. Use galvanized nails or even the mounting screws and washers to tighten it.
Next step is to put in the roofing paper under the roofing material. For that, cut strips of roofing paper about 8 inches wide and slip them under the shingles or any other material. Use a flat pry bar to lift up all the roofing nails as it is quite difficult to sneak the paper under the roofing material.
Next step involves installing the bottom and step flashing. In bottom flashing, a single piece wraps the partway around the skylight and sits on the top of the roof material. Secure them with the galvanized nails in horizontal direction.
Next, slip individual pieces of step flashing under the shingles. On each side, start at the bottom and work up. Attach the flashing pieces to the skylight, not to the roof.
The final step is to lay down the solid flashing pieces. Its basic purpose is to refrain moisture entering into the step flashing and the skylight. It is better to first adhere the bottom pieces and then side pieces. This is the difficult project therefore, there is no harm is calling in the roofer to do this for you.
Scott Rodgers is a highly skilled writer on roofing works. His stupendous exposure on roofing has helped a lot many Destrehan Roofers and Apache Roofers .
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