Let there be (sky) Light.
Let there be (sky) Light
With the slate started and the steel sheeting in place, we start to make our way up the roof and it’s only now I realise how hard it is to walk on steel sheeting! We need to restart the tiling above the sheets, but they’re 6 feet long giving us nowhere to stand when we put the slate on. Resting on the tile batons above where we need to be and trying to drill upside down isn’t as much fun as it sounds so as soon as the first row is up, I heave a sigh of relief before we move on.
Owing to a communication breakdown (yes, probably my fault) I arrive at Armstrongs builders merchant and with no sign of Donald or Tom, I make the decision to start loading up the skylights into the back of the van. These things are huge and with the packaging around them, there is barely room left to fit your hand. Just as I close up the van, Donald and Tom rock up ready to collect the skylights too and instead, we leave with my little van struggling uphill, rammed with the three skylight boxes and accessories as Donald’s massive transit van follows close behind, carrying a roll of lead!
When we chose the skylights, we knew as an off-grid build, we needed to get as much natural light in there as possible without ruining the look of the building, and these things are massive! I’m sure they’ll look ok once they’re up as the building and especially the roof is deceptively big too, but the metal strips in the middle of the window (which make it a ‘conservation’ skylight) should hopefully help them to blend into the building a little better. Fingers crossed!
When you install a skylight, you’re weakening the structure above and below so we set out by measuring out where they need to go and install additional 6×3 rafters to either side to strengthen the roof. With the measurements made and re-made, we install a timber piece to hold the cut pieces in place before making up the box shape needed and removing the supports.
On the ground, Donald figures out the bits and pieces and we lift the frame into position, adjusting it to make sure it sits squarely into the space. Adding the flashing kit and securing it into place it takes all three of us to man-handle the glass section onto the roof and install it carefully into the slots before locking it in and closing it to check the seal and make sure it was still square.
That’s one in.
The next one goes in slightly faster and the last one faster still all sitting squarely in place and all located so they just miss the oak beam beneath them when they open. Looking at it from ground-level, it still looks like we have some way to go but I’m told help is coming tomorrow as Donald has drafted some extra lads in to help us back on schedule.