How To Install Apron Flashing

By letting in light, skylights can transform a room, making a bathroom seem larger, a kitchen warm and cheery, or a sleeping room a place to lookout man the stars. And because of marked improvements in flashing and quality control, skylights can exist installed without fear of leaks from the exterior or of excessive heat loss from within.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing your skylight so the warranty volition be honored. Here, a Velux deck-mounted skylight is being installed.

directional-flashing-kit — Velux units have integral curbs and proprietary flashing kits. This 1 is "directional"—that is, with a top and lesser. Having slipped caput flashing under shingles above, the installers will slip the unit's head underneath. Small L-shaped brackets forth the curb volition mount to the sheathing.

Screw the mounting brackets to the sides of the skylight adjourn; well-nigh brackets are adjustable. And then, with ane worker on the roof and one in the attic, pass the skylight out through the opening. Every bit the worker outside raises or lowers the brackets until the top and bottom of the unit of measurement are level, the worker inside centers the unit of measurement in the opening. That washed, the outside installer screws the lesser legs of the brackets to the sheathing.

Wrapping the curb with building paper or self-adhering membrane underlayment gives you an extra layer of protection before installing the unit'southward frock, side flashing, and caput flashing. Apply 12-in.-wide strips of underlayment, ane on each side, folding each so that it runs up onto the curb most 2 in. Employ the bottom piece first, which overlaps the shingles below, then place the side pieces and, finally, the tiptop piece. If possible, slide the top piece of self-adhering membrane upwardly under the building paper so you attach it direct to the sheathing. Slit the folded strips where they overlap the curb corners so the strips lie flat, and apply a dab of roofing cement to adhere the slit pieces.

Head flashing has two pieces, a base and a cap. Slip the base slice under the course of shingles above every bit shown, then hold the base snug to the curb and attach it with a unmarried spiral or nail at each corner.

In one case the unit of measurement'south mounting brackets are screwed to the sheathing, wrap the curb with edifice paper or cocky-adhering membrane as described in the text. Here, the apron's bottom flange overlays the shingles below.

Install the frock flashing starting time. Information technology runs along the lower edge of the skylight and overlaps the shingles below it. Holding the apron snugly against the curb, attach information technology to the curb—not the roof—using a single spiral (or smash) on each side. Although it's usually non necessary to caulk nether the apron'southward lower flange, follow the manufacturer's advice. Ideally, the frock volition line up with a course of shingles, but in renovation piece of work that's not always possible.

Install footstep-flashing along the sides, weaving the L-shaped flashing between shingle courses. Ideally, shingle courses should stop ane⁄iv in. shy of the adjourn so that water can run freely along the sides. The vertical leg of each piece of step-flashing should extend up high plenty so it volition be protected from pelting past curb caps; the horizontal leg should extend under the shingles at least iv in. As with all flashing, avoid nailing in the channel where water will run. Rather, smash overlapping pieces of step-flashing to the adjourn only and high enough so the nails volition also be protected by curb caps. If necessary, trim the final (uppermost) -pieces of step-flashing so they don't extend beyond the curb.

apply L-shaped step-flashing — Working from the lesser upwards, utilize L-shaped step-flashing along the side. Each overlaps the one beneath and is nailed with a single nail to the side of the curb. The uppermost pieces of pace-flashing slide upward under the head flashing. When these individual pieces of step-flashing are in place, a continuous cap slice will embrace each side.

Install the head flashing by slipping its upper flange nether the side by side full grade of shingles above and pressing the head flashing snugly to the curb. Attach the head flashing to the adjourn with 1 spiral or boom at each corner. Then install a strip of building paper—or a second strip of self-adhering membrane—over the caput flashing'due south flange before shingling over it. Note: Stop the flashing strip and shingles 21⁄2 in. to 4 in. above the skylight curb and so at that place is a clear area of metallic to articulate leaves and advance runoff.

Installing cladding (curb caps) is the last step. These pieces cover and seal the tops of apron and side (footstep-) flashing and, on some models, the meridian of the head flashing as well. Follow your skylight'south installation guide religiously. In some fixed models, the head flashing is the last slice to go along, roofing the upper ends of the side cladding pieces. Details vary, merely caps snap or screw on. Better-quality units take self-sticking cream gaskets that are applied to the summit of the curb before the caps are installed, which reduces air and dust infiltration.

Cladding for a Deck-Mounted Skylight

Finish off with a couple more tasks. To reflect calorie-free, calorie-free wells should be covered with drywall and painted a light color. Insulate around the low-cal wells to reduce heat loss and condensation. Because condensation is mutual around skylights, comprehend the calorie-free well with water-resistant (WR) drywall, often called greenboard for its colour. Stiffen the well'southward outside corners with metal corner beads.

Renovation 5th Edition