MaxLight Skylights Installation – What to Expect on the Day of Your Installation

In my experience of helping thousands of skylights customers over the years one of the most common questions I am asked by customers is “What can I expect on the day of my MaxLight tubular skylight installation?”

It is only natural for the customer to want to know what will happen on the day of the skylight installation. Their home is their largest asset, and with work to be done on the home, it is natural to be a little concerned.

One of the benefits of my experience is I know the customer has nothing to be worried about. Let’s look at what happens on the day of your MaxLight skylight installation.

Determining the position of your tubular skylight installation.

When any of our skylight experts go to a customer skylight consultation one of the first things to discuss is where the customer wants the skylight positioned in the home. Back in the office the customer’s order is processed and our skylight expert’s put all the details into the installation paperwork. This means the installer will know exactly where the skylight will be positioned.

Although the skylight installer is already briefed when arriving on site, the customer should check with the installer where he will be putting the skylight.

The installers will check the roof cavity through the access hole to see if the skylight can be positioned where indicated on the paperwork.

Occasionally the installer will find the skylight cannot be positioned exactly where proposed. This could be due to a few reasons.

The Common Reason’s an Installer Will Move the Position of a Skylight.   

The most common cause of having to move the skylight position is due to an obstruction in the ceiling cavity or on the roof. The installer is going to get into your cavity and ensure there is enough clearance from any objects to safely install your tubular skylight. With it being a tubular skylight they do have some flexibility in being able to angle the skylight around small obstructions they cannot move anything in your roof.

Common obstructions include:

• Utility conduits carrying power or water.
• Air conditioning ducts.
• Another issue is if you have a solar system, a solar hot water system or vent pipe on the roof in the way. While the skylight consultant has looked to check, sometimes it is hard to judge the exact position of an obstruction until the installer climbs into the roof.

Our skylight installers are professional and will work with you to ensure you get the best positioning and result from your skylight.

After positioning of the skylight is finalised the rest of the skylight installation process begins.

Tubular Skylight Installation Process

At the start of the skylight installation the installer will place drop sheets underneath the installation position to ensure your home is kept clean.

On the day of the skylight skylight installation process the installer needs to work in three areas of your home:

• On the Roof:

The skylight dome and flashing is fitted into the roof. One of the benefits of Maxlight skylights are the custom designed leak proof flashings that perfectly suit Australian roof types.

On a tile roof the skylight installer will remove one tile for an ML250 install and four tiles for an ML400 installation. On metal roofs the installer will cut a hole (250mm or 400mm) depending on the skylight size.

Compared to a standard skylight the MaxLight tubular skylights make minimal penetration into your roof. This is a good thing.

• In the Roof Cavity:

The metal tube that channels light from the dome to the diffuser in the ceiling must run through the cavity. The installer will adjust the tube and make all the connections of tube pieces. Some installers will assemble the tube on the roof or in your room. This depends on the complexity of the job. They may do the assembly working inside the cavity, depending on the angle of the tube.

• Inside the Room:

Inside your room is where the hole for the diffuser is cut into the ceiling plaster and the diffuser is installed. The decorative rim around the diffuser is screwed into the ceiling, covering the opening and sealing it. This is the part of the skylight you see every day and from where the light will be transmitted around the room.

Since 2002 SolarBright has installed thousands of skylights. Depending on the complexity of your job the installer will be onsite for only 1 – 2hrs. By the time he is finished you will be enjoying natural light in the previously dark area. In contrast a standard skylight takes days to install, cuts a massive hole into the structure of the roof (increasing the risk of leaks, and involves several trades.

If you have a dark area or room in your home, consider installing an economical and efficient MaxLight tubular skylight. Call SolarBright today for an obligation free consultation with one of our skylight experts to see if it is right for you.