Roof window, how to install the roof window, useful tips
The desire to turn the attic into a living room will require some work, in particular the installation of windows that can provide access to fresh air and sunlight. You can install windows, depending on the layout of the attic, on gables or on slopes. Naturally, the installation of skylights in the roof will have significant differences - a structure equipped with glass will have to turn into part of a multilayer roofing system. Those. you will need to not only securely fasten the window, but also take care of maintaining all the technical characteristics that are inherent in a roofing cake.
Content
- What are the properties of skylights?
- Installation of skylights - how to make the right calculation
- Varieties and types of skylights video
- How to choose the perfect window for the attic
- How to choose a suitable window installation location
- How to properly install the roof window
What are the properties of skylights?
Since the design of a modern roof assumes excellent heat retention and is not prone to condensate accumulation, has a long service life, the same features should be inherent in the windows installed on the attic. In addition, the window structure should allow the free opening of the wings.
The roofing must withstand the increased loads created by natural forces - winds, snowfalls, showers, then the design of the windows should also be strengthened:
- triplex glass or tempered, with energy-saving characteristics,
- tight overlays and sealants,
- strong, protected from UV and moisture frame,
- shading devices
- insect protective equipment,
- devices that make it possible to ventilate the premises in winter and summer mode,
- mechanisms allowing easy operation.
Installation of skylights - how to make the right calculation
In order to prevent mistakes that subsequently adversely affect performance, it is recommended that you first carry out the planning and simple calculations:
- determine the installation location,
- calculate the area to be glazed.
The formula for calculating the area of \u200b\u200bwindow openings is very simple: for normal lighting every 10 square meters of floor space will require 1 square meter. glazed surface of the window. Placing a roof window in the roof allows you to make some minor adjustments to the formula: the higher the window is, the greater the luminous flux it can miss. But too high the location of the windows has its drawbacks - the residents of the room will be deprived of the opportunity to observe the surrounding nature. Installing windows is highly permissible only on the roofs of which the slopes are quite gentle and inclined at an angle of 15-20 degrees.
For roofs with ordinary steep slopes, it is preferable to arrange window openings so that the bottom line is at a height of 1 m - 1 m 40 cm from the level of overlap. The minimum allowable indicator is 0.8 m, the maximum is 1.9 m.
Actually, the height at which the windows are located has very little effect on the size of window structures. The area is usually calculated according to the above formula, and exactly how many windows will be installed - the owners of the house can determine depending on their own preferences.
Varieties and types of skylights
Before making a choice of a dormer-window it is not superfluous to get acquainted with information about types of dormer-windows. In Europe, only a few companies produce such windows:
- Velux (Denmark),
- Fakro (Poland),
- Roto (Germany).
Windows may vary in manufacturing material:
- wooden, the production material of which is glued beam,
- wood with a fade resistant polyurethane coating,
- PVC, which can be installed in rooms with high humidity,
- armored, characterized by a large weight, used in the arrangement of roofs constructed of concrete monolithic structures.
Regular skylights, having a rectangular shape, differ in the type of sash opening and can be equipped with:
- upper axis of rotation
- axle raised
- central axis.
The dormer-window with two rotation axes is characterized by great convenience for the user. The main difference of this design is the ability to control two opening systems using one handle, providing such positions:
- folding,
- 3/4 - for ventilation,
- for washing the window,
- the ventilation gap is two-stage.
Smart windows the new generation allows remote control from the remote control:
opening and closing window sashes,
window blinds installed on the window.
The sensor device installed on such windows reacts to raindrops and gives a command to close the window in case of bad weather, while the ventilation valve that remains open will allow you to effectively ventilate the room.
Another type of skylights - arc It is a curved structure that fits beautifully into the vaulted and arched roofs, allowing the creation of an interesting architectural composition.
Front windows for the attic they combine the properties of ordinary windows and dormers, their installation allows you to get enough room lighting and allows you to expand the field of activity when arranging the interior of the premises.
How to choose the perfect window for the attic
When choosing a skylight, the consumer will have a serious question, which model to give preference to and what characteristics of the product to pay attention to when choosing. Naturally, first of all, attention is paid to the dimensions of the roof windows, although it is much more important to determine the location of the handle and the pivot axis. If the handle is located very high, opening the window will be inconvenient; if low, being in the attic will be dangerous for children left unattended.
The choice of window unit should be carried out taking into account the type of roofing material. The company Fakro, for example, applies special markings to its products, according to which it is recommended to use windows for attics, covered:
- tiled
- ondulin
- roll coating
- metal profile.
Windows come already on sale with fasteners, corners, a waterproofing apron, duct tape and sealant. It is better to purchase everything you need for installation in the kit, but if there is no insulation, vapor barrier or waterproofing material in it, you will need to purchase them separately.
An obligatory moment when installing windows will be the arrangement of the gutter for water drainage above the top line of the dormer-window. If it is not included in the kit, then you can make it yourself, from a strip of waterproofing material. The choice of location for installing the window should be made in parallel with the choice of the optimal design, i.e. a comprehensive solution to the issue is desirable.
How to choose a suitable window installation location
Experts advise against installing window openings:
- in the immediate vicinity of a chimney or vent,
- close to adjoining horizontal walls,
- close to the valley, i.e. internal corner formed by two slopes of the roof.
Moreover, it is generally not recommended to install any two units of the roofing system in close proximity to each other.
Influence on the location will have roofing material. If it is rolled, then installation can be performed anywhere. If this is a tile, then the bottom line of the window opening should be located above the row of tiles.
Windows should be purchased in such sizes that their installation was performed in the interval between two fragments of the rafter system, while stocks should be about 7-10 cm, they will be needed for installing a layer of thermal insulation.
Violation of the integrity of the rafter system is not allowed! If the rafters are too close to each other - it is better to purchase and install several narrow windows in a row.
The following moments should be fate:
- if a window with a remote control is installed, then it is necessary to provide for the possibility of connecting an electric cable to it;
- it is recommended to install a heating device under the window structure - this will save the windows from the formation of condensate.
How to properly install the roof window
The work will be carried out in several stages:
- openings preparation
- frame installation
- arrangement of hydro and vapor barrier systems,
- installation of a gutter for water drainage,
- setting the salary of the window,
- installation of a double-glazed window,
- interior decoration of the window opening, construction of slopes.
arrangement of a window opening
When calculating the dimensions of the opening, one should not forget that for laying a layer of thermal insulation material along the entire perimeter, an allowance of 2 to 3.5 cm corresponding to the thickness of the insulation should be left. The lower part of the window structure must be at a certain distance, it is determined by the roofing material, for example, a 9 cm technological gap will be sufficient for the tile. To prevent the window from skewing when the wooden truss structure shrinks, its upper part should be 5- spaced from the roofing material 10 cm. The window frame is mounted on special rails fixed in a horizontal position in advance.
The outline of the window contour is drawn directly on the wall finish or on the waterproofing material, but it is impossible to cut the waterproofing directly along the contour - it should be cut along the lines of the envelope, for fastening it will require 20-25 centimeter overlap stocks. When fastening, they will need to be turned out, fixed with a stapler to the crate or frame, the resulting excess should be cut with a knife. A waterproofing layer will be mounted on top.
how to fix the window box
First of all, the brackets are fixed to the frame, in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer. A layer of heat-insulating material is laid and fixed with the help of a stapler along the upper and lower edges. Experts recommend laying thermal insulation material in the opening and attaching it to the mounting rails.
Then the frame is installed and adjusted, for the convenience of its implementation it is recommended to firmly fix the lower bracket, the screws on the upper should not be fully tightened. You should carefully check the vertical and horizontal, if any deviations are detected, fit using plastic corners. Also check if the distances from the frame to the right and left sides of the opening are the same.
Be sure to put the sash in place and make sure how well it closes. You should not refuse such a check - having fixed the salary you will deprive yourself of the opportunity to correct large and small errors made during installation.
After adjustment, tighten the fasteners thoroughly, lay down the waterproofing layer, and strengthen the insulation material along the side lines of the frame.
setting a salary
At the final stage of the work, the setting of the salary is carried out in strict accordance with the instructions attached to the acquired window construction. They begin work by fixing the lower element, each detail of the salary is carefully placed under a seal made of elastic material. Next, the installation of the frame. Slopes from the inside are made out after installation of a layer of vapor barrier material.
The above recommendations are general regarding packages produced by different manufacturers, the installation of each specific window directly is carried out in accordance with the technology attached to this product.
