Adding a Skylight to a Metal Roof: Things to Consider
Posted on: 11 June 2020
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Is installing a skylight on a metal roof going to be any different to installing it on a tiled roof? Not really. In terms of the logistics of installation, it can even be more straightforward to install a skylight on a metal roof. But will the nature of your roof make a difference in your subsequent enjoyment of your new skylight? Will it make the sound of rain hitting your roof even more pronounced? Will the sunlight moving across your metal roof end up concentrating heat through your skylight? There are some considerations to think about when installing a skylight on a metal roof.
The Sound of Rain
If the sound of rain on your metal roof is problematically loud, the addition of a skylight will make any change to this sound negligible at best. It will not noticeably amplify the sound, nor will it dampen it. And yet, you might wish to kill two birds with one stone. Installing the skylight will require a section of your roof to be removed, and this might permit ease of access to add acoustic insulation at the same time your skylight is being fitted. This will increase the cost of the project, but it might be the most convenient time to achieve a degree of soundproofing for your roof if required.
The Amount of Light
Although the skylight won't alter the noise level of your metal roof, it will increase the amount of light that enters the room beneath it. This is hardly a revelation since this is obviously the point of the skylight. But with sunlight comes heat, and you must consider whether this new feature of your roof will cause a problem. While the colour and slope of your metal roofing might be intended to deflect sunlight, this will not be the case with the newly installed skylight. Think about how you can prevent it from adversely affecting the temperature in your home while still allowing in sufficient light.
Controlling Light and Heat
The materials of the skylight determine how much UV light will pass through its surface, regardless of the composition of the roof it sits above. Some skylights are made of perspex, and while this is the most cost-effective choice, it also minimises your ability to regulate UV light. It's best to opt for glass, and the glass can be tinted so that it deflects UV light, but this has the drawback of reducing the amount of light as well. Laminated glass permits sunlight to enter the room while blocking the majority of UV light. For extra surety, you can add a skylight shutter that is mounted to the ceiling. This is perfectly straightforward and simply allows you to block off the skylight to regulate the amount of light (and the subsequent heat) that enters the room.
Adding a skylight to a metal roof isn't a massive project, but the composition of your roof means that you have a few extra things to think about before getting started.
To learn more, contact a skylight supplier.