How to Install a Skylight

Skylights are not only attractive, but energy efficient as well. They allow the light to come in and add natural beauty to any room. The downside is it can be expensive to have them professionally installed but taking the job on yourself is possible. You just need to do a little planning and add lots of elbow grease.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drywall
• Drywall screws
• 2-by-4 inch studs
• Joint compound
• Drywall tape
• Taping or putty knife

Prepare and Cut From Inside

1. Pick the right skylight. Some have pre-engineered flashing systems which seal the roof. This type makes installation quicker and easier.

2. Locate the ceiling joists and mark where the opening goes using a level, tape measure and pencil.

3. Cut along the lines you made with a drywall saw and pull the drywall out. Hold your level against the edges of the cutout and mark the inside of the roof with a pencil.

4. Drive nails through the corners and intermittently along the lines you drew on the roof ensuring the nails you're using are long enough to poke through the topside of the roof. This gives you a guide of where to cut the roof.

5. Staple plastic sheeting over the hole you cut out inside the house. This protects the inside of your house from debris while you're cutting the roof.

Working on the Roof

6. Remove any roofing material from the area immediately around the nails you sent through the roof and from the area inside of the nails. If you're careful, most of the roofing material can be used again.

7. Use the level to connect the nails to outline where the skylight is to be installed on the exposed plywood.

8. Saw through the plywood using a reciprocating saw carefully holding on to any roofing material so it can be removed from the top rather than falling onto the plastic sheeting below.

9. Follow the manufacturer's directions on installing mounting brackets and anchors.

10. Place the skylight in position in the hole making sure it fits securely and is level. Again, follow the manufacturer's directions on securing the skylight with screws to the brackets making sure the screws are going into the rafters.

11. Finish the skylight with the materials provided or suggested by the manufacturer. This includes a moisture barrier and the pre-engineered flashing.

Finishing Touches on the Inside

12. Trim the rough inside edges of the exposed roof with drywall. You may need to cut 2-by-4 inch boards to be installed as extra support studs for the drywall screws to go into.

13. Be careful to get the drywall flush against the opening of the skylight and finish the drywall with joint compound and tape.

14. Prime and paint the walls after a thorough drywall process has been completed and dried. Sit back and enjoy the natural beauty of sunlight flowing into your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Thoroughly read and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions for the skylight you purchased. These steps are meant for general guidelines.
• Always turn off the electrical supply to the room you are working in until the installation is complete.