Installing a skylight: Part 2

Last week, we explained to you the first part of an essential living room or bathroom DIY project: How to go about getting the framing ready for your roof, so you can get a skylight installed. Have you followed the steps? Is it all ready?

Good, because now's the part when you get to actually install the skylight itself. Let's crack into it. 

Step 1. Installing the window frame

Before putting the window frame into the opening on the roof, take the window sash out. When the frame is in place, reinstall the sash and fasten the frame to the roof. Drive screws through the brackets on the sides of the frame and into the rafters of the roof. 

Step 2. Installing the flashing

The flashing for a skylight window is typically made up of a sill, head and step flashing for the sides. Before installing it, staple roofing felt around the frame's perimeter that's about half a metre wide.

Then slip the flashing in. The sill flashing goes along the bottom of the skylight, over the shingles. If you took our advice and removed the shingles you removed around the opening, nail the roof shingles on each side of the skylight and weave the step flashing into the roofing by slipping it under every shingle. All four sides of the sash frame should be covered with aluminium counter-flashing. 

Then put in the head flashing under the shingles over the opening. Screw it to the sides of the frame, then cover it with roofing felt. Nail the shingles you have left to where they are meant to go. 

Step 3. Finishing the inside

Put a header into the space above the skylight from inside, making sure it's parallel with the ground. Then place a layer of drywall. To keep this protected, add a further layer of plywood around 1.3cm thick. 

Any exposed framing on the inside of the skylight should also be covered with drywall of identical thickness. After this, give it a nice paint job to make it look attractive.