SKYLIGHT II THE ULTIMATE "OPEN HOUSE"

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All's Well That Ends Well

How you blend your skylight to the living area below depends upon the type of installation. If the unit is built into a cathedral ceiling, your choices are clear: Simply trim below the curb with wood and molding, or butt your ceiling material against the curb liner's bottom edge, using a router to rabbet a notch if needed. Another solution is to finish the curb or box with drywall and corner trim, apply tape and joint compound over the nailheads and seams, then sand and paint the lining to match the ceiling.

For rooms in which there's a ceiling below the roof, you'll need to plan and build a light well. Don't negate all your effort by restricting the shaft to the size of the skylight itself. Rather, work toward splaying the bottom out by angling the well's head or the base wall away from the skylight frame.

The severity of this angle will depend upon the location of structural members, the size of the opening, and the configuration of the room. Keep in mind, however, that the angle is simply a corollary to the position of the sun; the low altitudes of winter may need a steep well angle to admit direct light. Also, remember that a well that joins directly to a room wall is less conspicuous.

To frame out the well opening, follow the same procedures indicated for the header box, but carry through any splay angles to the header framing, too. The side framing should fall in line with the rafter framing above it; hang a plumb bob from the header corners to check this. If it doesn't, add a trimmer joist to keep the side walls parallel.

Once the headers are installed, frame in the four corners between the rafters and the ceiling joists with 2 X 4s, toenailing them flush with the insides of the boxes. Add studs where the frames span more than 16". To finish the job, staple a plastic vapor barrier to the inside edges of the well framing, then nail drywall over that. Insulate the well from the outside, using 3" of rigid foam, 6" fiberglass batts, or whatever combination will meet your local code. Once that's done, you can tape and compound the well's corner joints, and paint its surfaces white .

Your next and final concern should be a minor one if you executed the installation carefully. At the first heavy rain, inspect the skylight framing for leaks. Don't be alarmed by minor condensation, for that's normal to any window. If you've come this far without a breach, consider the job well done.

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