Skylight Installation

Aus Struct can offer a vast range and variety of skylight requirements ranging from polycarbonate skylights (single and double skin ) to more commercially rated systems from single skin fiberglass to double skin acrylic, glass and  polycarbonate systems used as either roof lights or wall light panels. Most clear sheeting is manufactured with a coating to minimise the UV rays. UV rays bounce back into the outside environment.

This rule of thumb for natural lighting to large commercial / industrial areas is 10% of  roof / wall area for clear sheeting. This rule of thumb relates to light allowance and heat gain and loss allowance.

Commercial / Industrial / Domestic

Most breakdown of fiberglass sheeting occurs due to the gel coating wearing away on the top side and fiberglass fibres being expsoed, allowing a minimal of light into the building. Another systimatic problem during installation is the inability of the installer to allow an oversize hole for the shank of the fasteners, not enough fasteners and improper watertigh washers being installed. Additional to this, protection from the underside of the fiberglass sheet to the top of the purlin is not installed. A sacrifical strip of fibreglass should be installed between the top side of the safety mesh and the underside of the fiberglass. for protection.

New products on the market can offer up to a 25 year guarantee if installed correctly.

Areas where condensation and heat gain / loss may be a determining factor on new design or replacement of existing skylights the revolutionary twin skin approach tends to lead the way. The twin skin approach creates  an air gap between two clear sheets of material that are are placed together with a minimum of 20 mm spacers in between and sealed down the sides  This creates a physical air gap between the top sheet and the under sheet allowing any condensation that occurs to reach its due point and run onto the top side of the under sheet, then runnig down the sheet into the gutter. However care must be given to the installation  of these materials in relation to pitch and purlin spacings for support.

On domestic type skylights alot of attention is required to the style of roof. If the existing skylight is in a high altitute areas, lets say  160 meters above sea level alot of consideration must be given to the design of the skylight. The 2 main differences with skylights are  in the vented as apposed to none vented  and / or single skin / double skin skylight system.

Again Aus struct services can walk you through all the pitfalls and confidently explain the benefits that the different materials offer in this field when the time comes to replacment or upgrades of existing works areas are required.