Framing for a skylight

markiz41 · Jul 18, 2020

All,

I want to cut in a skylight in my shed roof.. Pretty straight forward framing, except I won't be building a light shaft inside, as I don't have any ceiling joists. Skylight will be supported by rafters and twp doubled headers only. My question is: should I sister the rafters or will it be fine as is? Thanks for any info.

Steve@Advance · Jul 18, 2020

What part of the world?

Snow load will be the determining factor.

A friend of mine built a shop with skylights. He later regretted it, let too much heat in.

But this is in Texas. plenty of heat to go around!

markiz41 · Jul 18, 2020

North PA, can get up to 2 feet

Scott 730 · Jul 18, 2020

Way too many variables. Rafter spacing, rafter size, rafter span, skylight size, how many rafters being cut out, roof pitch, snow load, ....................... Need more info.

markiz41 · Jul 18, 2020

16 OC spacing, 2x6 rafters, 8ft span, 6 pitch. Skylight is 30in wide by 45in long, so one rafter has to go. Will see snow.. Thanks.

Scott 730 · Jul 18, 2020

So the building is 16' wide, correct? My guess is with a 6/12 pitch you would probably be OK by just sistering the rafters on each side of the skylight. Metal roof or shingles? Snow load won't stay on roof as long as shingles.

markiz41 · Jul 18, 2020

Correct, it's a gable roof, shingled. I'll go ahead and put the extra rafters in. $20 piece of mind. Thanks again.

504 · Jul 18, 2020

skylights are really good for keeping your shop clean,they seem to leak a lot.

Scott 730 · Jul 19, 2020

(quoted from post at 22:47:26 07/18/20) skylights are really good for keeping your shop clean,they seem to leak a lot.

Good quality, brand name skylights, installed and flashed properly will not leak. Cheap skylights installed by Bubba and his cousin, well all bets are off.

IaLeo · Jul 19, 2020

Well my name aint Bubba and I did the work all by myself...18 approx 2 foot square in my solarium connection between garage and house. 5/12 pitch roof, cut sheating between 24" spaced 2 x 4 rafters, blocked between them with a treated 2 x 8 flush underside, lined the rafter with treated 1 x 8, all protruded up above the roof, caulked all joints, flashed raised edges to roof with alum. flashing and topped with a flat piece of plastic fastened with at least 20 SS screws through furniture washers.

Every year I spent several hours resealing, tightening, most of them leaked. After ten years, had to remove all 18 and the roof sheating was rotten too. Expensive lesson trying to save $250 each ($4500) I was trying to avoid. Final bill with entire reshingling was $7,000. Bah! Leo

Framing for a skylight

markiz41

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Steve@Advance

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markiz41

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Scott 730

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markiz41

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Scott 730

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markiz41

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504

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Scott 730

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IaLeo

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