Insulating Attic Skylights

If you have or plan to install a skylight in your home get the insulation details right to avoid problems with comfort and condensation.

Insulating attic skylights.

How to insulate a skylight shaft select the skylight size and location to avoid cutting roof or ceiling rafters if possible. House designs that use. Seal the corners of the box with housewrap tape or for a slicker and more tubular solution you could buy a large diameter sonotube cut it in half lengthways and assemble the sonotube around the insulated skylight tube. Skylight insulation in the attic probably wasn t installed correctly the first time duration.

No attic it should have been insulated when installed. Install headers across the ceiling opening as you did for the roof opening using a single header at each end if no. Cut 2x4 studs or 2x6 to. If a skylight is installed in the roof over an attic a shaft must be built to connect the skylight with the ceiling underneath.

Skylights are already insulated when manufactured. If you are doing a major home renovation project now may be a great time to tackle this project too. After confirming that your attic is air sealed you need to select insulation. Of all the various types of insulation used in houses fiberglass batts perform the worst.

There are many types to choose from including blown in cellulose batt such as fiberglass mineral wool or cotton. Adding insulation to the attic is generally a moderately difficult do it yourself diy project but the benefits can be substantial. To enclose and protect any insulation on the exterior of a skylight tube you could build a box out of rigid foam. Ther really is no way to insulate a skylight unless you cover it up.

The practices used to install insulation on a skylight will depend on the type of insulation that is being used. Rigid foam is the optimal choice for an attic side air barrier. Rigid foam is the best choice.