Vertical windows on a sloping roof. How to install a skylight with your own hands? Roof window installation

Many owners of country houses are trying to make a full-fledged living space out of the attic. One of the requirements for such premises is access to fresh air, as well as the proper level of illumination. Installing a window in the roof can solve both problems at once. This solution is quite popular today, and most often for this task, the owners prefer to hire third-party performers, although you can do it yourself. So, how to install a roof window?

Roof window installation

The scope of delivery usually includes the following components:

• marquisette or roller shutters for external blackout;
• salary for protection from negative atmospheric influences;
• the window itself is a closed hermetic system;
• waterproofing seal;
• internal slopes.

The standard set of a roof window includes a double-glazed window, salary, frame, slopes, fittings

Of course, more modest sets can be found on sale, but it is recommended to choose the option with built-in curtains. Due to the fact that the design itself will be located at an angle, the classic means of dimming may not be effective.

Planning and calculations

Installing a skylight in a finished roof should start from the planning stage. First of all, you need to calculate the required dimensions. The formula for calculating is quite simple: 1 square meter of glazing for every 10 square meters of the room.

You also need to choose the right height at which the installation of windows will be carried out. The location of the roof windows should be selected in such a way that the lower part of the frame rises 1-1.5 meters above the floor level.

The lower part of the frame should be 1-1.5 m above the floor level

The choice of the installation location of the roof window in a metal tile or soft roof and dimensions should be done in such a way that, if possible, the truss system is not affected during installation. The dimensions should allow you to mount the window frame between the rafters and leave a margin of about 10 cm.

Work plan and tool

Whether it is installing a roof window in a soft roof or a metal tile, for any option, the installation instructions here are as follows:

• opening preparation;
• frame installation;
• heat and waterproofing;
• preparation of the drainage system;
• installation of salary details;
• installation of a double-glazed window;
• interior finishing, including installation of slopes and vapor barrier.

Do-it-yourself installation of skylights is a quite feasible task, but the master will not be able to do without a suitable tool:

• screwdriver and screws;
• slats and beams made of wood;
• level;
• nails;
• materials for thermal and waterproofing.

Window installation

After the place for the installation of skylights has been selected, the planned site for work should be marked in advance. Following the outline, several holes are made in the material to unload the materials of the roofing pie - this will help to avoid damage in the process. Cut the opening with a circular or band saw. It is important to cut diagonally, and not along the contour, after that the vertices are cut off from the resulting triangles and only after that an opening is formed.

The opening in the roof is formed using a circular saw

Separately, it should be noted work with roofing material. Installation of roof windows in metal tiles is carried out in the same way, as well as in the case of corrugated board or sheet metal. If we are talking about dormers in a seam roof or similar materials, then the sheathing will first need to be disassembled.

Frame installation and adjustment

Important: for safety reasons, the frames are mounted without glass. It can only be established in the final stages.

It is recommended to install the frame without glass

When mounting the frame for skylights, you should immediately carefully fix the lower brackets, but you should not tighten the fastening of the upper brackets to the end - this will help then to adjust the sash more easily. This is done with a level. If any deviations of the inserted window are found, they should be eliminated with the help of plastic corners - these spare parts are often included in the delivery. It is also recommended to briefly insert the glass into the frame to check the quality of the installation. Once the adjustment is completed, tighten the screws.

Insulation and drainage

After the fasteners are securely wrapped, heat and waterproofing material will need to be laid around the frame for greater tightness. The waterproofing apron is fixed with a stapler.

Waterproofing is fixed with a stapler

A drainage gutter is made at the top of the frame. In the crate right above the opening, two pieces are cut to fit the size of the drainage gutter. A cut of waterproofing material is prepared in the same size. The gutter is brought under the trimmings of the waterproofing and attached to the crate. It must be installed at an angle, otherwise the sealing will suffer - rainwater can go out the window.

Today, two main types of salary are used for different folds. The first is used to work with flat roofing material, the second - with wavy. Companies engaged in the manufacture of skylights, in production, apply a salary to the delivery set. At the same time, the principle of working with both types is identical.

The window frame is included in the delivery of the structure, and the installation rules are described in the manufacturer's instructions.

The first step is to attach the lower part of the salary of the roof window. It should be installed in such a way that the waterproofing apron extends beyond the frame itself and the roof sheets. After you should go to the side components. The edges of these elements must be laid on the frame itself.

The window casing is attached to the crate and frame.

The seal is laid on the outside of the frame. Most often, it, mounts and all other components are included in the delivery, but in some cases they will have to be purchased later. In any case, after these steps, you should carefully check everything for accuracy and strength, because. replacement or repair of skylights, if necessary, will cause a lot of trouble.

Installation of double-glazed windows and interior decoration

At the next stage of installing skylights, you will need to return the double-glazed window back to the frame. This is done quite simply, but the technology depends on the manufacturer, so the process itself is exhaustively described in the manual.

A double-glazed window is mounted at the very last stage, the finish is chosen for the interior

Also, the interior decoration of skylights should not cause problems - it all depends on personal preferences. In addition, many manufacturers also add special solutions for cladding to the set of roof windows. Most often, the kit includes a sealant, a miter box and a template. Such templates are equally well placed and, if necessary, removed.

As an alternative, you can use ordinary drywall, but in this case, mechanical mounting structures should be abandoned.

Features of roof window insulation

About work with insulation on the roof should be said separately. Very often, improper insulation of roof windows turns into a lot of problems with its operation. Many inexperienced builders prefer to use ordinary polyurethane foam for insulation. Do not do this: expanding the material can lead to distortions and problems with insulation. Proper installation technology recommends the use of materials in the form of stone wool mats with a long service life.

For the thermal insulation of the roof window, it is best to use stone wool.

As an additional measure, it is highly recommended to install heating devices under the roof window. The flow of warm air with equal success will warm the window slopes and protect against condensation. Metal elements for mounting insulation should not be used - they can form cold bridges.

That's all you need to know about installing a roof window in soft roofing or shingles. Despite the apparent difficulties, the process itself is quite simple and requires not so much skills as time.

The window opening on the roof serves as a source of light for the attic and attic. In addition, this element enhances the aesthetic appeal of the structure. Attic windows, another name for dormer windows, can be decorated in different styles and have different designs.

Varieties of attic windows

Another name for a dormer window is a skylight. Regardless of this, it must meet the requirements of the highest level. Structural strength and compliance with the architectural style of the building are important, as well as the ability of dormer windows to provide light and ventilation in the right amount.

Dormer windows have been an integral part of buildings for a long time. Depending on fashion trends, their design and structure changed.

Window openings can have several types of execution:

• A window aligned with the roof plane.
• Dormer windows that have side walls, as well as a gable wall in addition to the plane of the house.
• Windows with side walls and a pediment located in the plane of the building.
• Dormer windows that do not have side walls, the pediment of which is located in the plane of the house.

The last three options have vertical glazing.

Openings for a window in the attic can be triangular and trapezoidal in shape, and also have the shape of an arch with glazing over the entire vertical plane.

Structures with side walls are divided into the following types:

• With a pitched roof.
• With double pitched roof.
• Hip.
• In the form of a bow or circular arch.
• Flat French.

In order for the dormer window to blend into the overall exterior, you need to choose the right type of structure and its location on the roof and relative to the main windows of the house.

Drafting a project

Window openings, including a round window in the attic, must comply with certain Sanitary Norms and Rules, which must be followed during design and installation. The main regulatory documents are SNiP II-26 and SNiP 21-01. Only in this case, you can count on the reliability and durability of windows without compromising the quality characteristics of the roof.

The main requirements are as follows:

• Windows can be installed when the slope of the main roof slope is more than 35 degrees.
• When positioning the superstructure, you should adhere to the established distance from the outer walls of the house.
• The minimum parameters of the dormer window sashes are 60 * 80 cm, therefore, the size of the window opening in the attic can be no more than 120 * 80 cm.
• When installing windows with a hip roof and a quadrangular shape, it should be remembered that the facade of such a window should not continue the wall of the house.

According to GOST, dormers are lined with various materials, including copper, metal or tiles. The window structure can have its own roof and gutter, but installation can be carried out without these elements. Overall windows can be equipped with a balcony, which makes the roof more attractive. Lucarne windows are the name of a window in the attic with side walls and a facade glazed over the entire area.

Triangular windows in the attic gable roof

When installing windows in the attic on your own, preference should be given to openings in the form of a triangle with steep roof slopes. The popularity of this design is due to the following: the window pediment does not have a penetration into the roof, it is located in line with the load-bearing wall. At the same time, the location of the opening of the dormer window and the windows of the house should be combined. This will help preserve the architectural features of the building.

The slope of the roof slopes of triangular windows is about 60-70 degrees, so the usable area of ​​the attic does not change. Window openings on the roof, having a triangular shape, make the appearance of the roof aesthetically attractive and allow you to make the layout of the attic or attic space more efficiently and in an original way.

When installing triangular dormer windows, it should be remembered that their roof is adjacent to a common roof. Therefore, there is no need to perform waterproofing of the junctions of the side walls with the roof. This makes the sealing process easier and faster, as well as gable roof cladding with dormer windows.

Assembly of the main part - how to do it right

The assembly of the window frame in the attic begins only after the construction of the gables and the truss system of the main roof. In this case, it is recommended to leave an opening between the rafters. The rafter system of the dormer window has some differences; in it, the rafters on the sides of the structure are reinforced with additional elements. Such a scheme will help the frame withstand significant loads.

The pediment of the window, arranged in the roof, must have support from the side walls. They are installed at right angles to the outer wall, their height is 1.5 meters. The frame of the side walls should rest against the ceiling beams.

The side walls of the attic window are installed after the installation of the main truss system. Next, the binding of the horizontal crossbars and racks of the gable frame of the window is performed.

After that, the solution to the problem of how to make a dormer window on the roof is to perform the following actions:

• The rafters that are adjacent to the walls are filed and aligned with the wall sheathing.
• Jumpers are installed between the reinforced rafters, the fastening of which is carried out with metal overhead brackets. At this stage, it is forbidden to make cuts or tie-ins, as this reduces the bearing capacity of the truss system.
• Check the verticality of the pediment of the dormer window.
• The ridge is installed and the location of the gable frame is checked again.
• In accordance with the template, the rafter legs of the roof window are cut out and fixed on the ridge and on the lower beam of the structure.
• When sheathing the pediment of a dormer window in a mansard roof, you need to pay attention to the fact that the sheathing must match the wall sheathing.
• In the manufacture of shortened rafters, you can use a universal template. This will help reduce the time spent on work.

Valley at the dormer window

A roof window can be arranged according to the principle of a multi-gable roof, but with some differences in installation technology. The different slopes of the slopes of a triangular window and a multi-gable roof require a non-standard solution to the problem, so the window and roof slopes are connected by non-standard grooves.

The design of the dormer window on the roof in this case involves the use of slanting rafters, they serve as a support for the shortened rafter legs. When installing a window of this type, it is necessary to correctly calculate the length and cross section of the valley, as well as the angles of the connection of the side walls with the ridge beam. Two grooves are installed for each opening.

Rules for mounting the bottom of the attic window

The window in the attic in its lower part has installation features, special attention should be paid to this. The inside of the roof should be hidden at the bottom of the attic window so that it is not visible from the inside. You can solve the problem with the help of a special installation of grooves.

The gutter beam is mounted directly on the roofing material of the common roof. It acts as a support for the rafters of the gable frame of the attic window. A crate made of moisture-resistant plywood is nailed onto the frame, onto which the roofing material is directly attached. Roof windows are sheathed, moving in the direction from the ridge beam to the lower part of the structure. But the finish coating is fixed in the opposite direction, from the bottom up.

Having decided to independently install window openings on the roof, it is necessary to carefully study all the subtleties of this process. When arranging dormer windows of complex design or original shape, it is best to seek help and advice from professional craftsmen.

A dormer window is a glazed window frame on the roof, designed to illuminate and ventilate the attic or attic space, as well as direct access to the roof. This small architectural element has many names: "birdhouse", "dwarf's house" and the historical "lucarne". As a rule, the dormer window is located parallel to the facade wall or is its continuation. There are a thousand ways to make a dormer window on the roof and decorate it in an original way, giving the building its own unique look.

What is a skylight for?

Initially, the auditory openings on the roof were conceived to equalize the air pressure between the outer atmospheric and the inner underroof. From the point of view of the laws of physics, excess pressure is more likely to knock out fragile glass than lift and deform a heavy roof.

In addition to its practical function, lucarna often has a decorative value. Decorated with carved platbands, stucco framing and other decorative elements, it serves as a decoration for both the exterior of the house and the interior of the attic.

What are dormer windows?

The variety of types of roofing superstructures is determined by the given shape of the window opening and the architecture of the roof.

Dormer windows are distinguished by the shape of the window frame:

• rectangular,
• triangular,
• arched (semicircular).

According to the design of the slopes:

• lean-to,
• gable,
• hip.

According to the method of location in the roof structure:

• Dormer - is made in the form of a ledge in the roof slope, requires increased waterproofing. The most common in the practice of construction work.
• Antidormer - built into the roof structure, therefore, it does not require additional waterproofing, which is why it is easier to perform. However, it takes up internal space from the attic and, apparently, is rare for this reason.
• An inclined window is the same as a roof window.
• In a gable wall - a dormer window is arranged in the end wall. The frame is often triangular, trapezoid, or arch-shaped.
• Skylight - a window or glass structure on a horizontal or flat roof with a minimum allowable slope (5-15 0).

Also, attic "birdhouses" are made with and without side walls. They are located with a pediment in the same plane with the facade wall or outside its plane, a little higher and further on the roof slope.

What is the difference between a skylight and a skylight?

A variant of the glazed opening on the roof is a roof window. Only it is not installed vertically, but at an angle, and lies in the same plane with the roof slope. By virtue of its structural arrangement, such a window must withstand the same loads as the material covering the roof: rain, hail, the severity of the snow cover. A significant advantage of skylights is that they let more light into the under-roof space than vertical window openings closed from above and from the sides by a “birdhouse” box.

If it is possible to make the roof window opening large enough, then you can turn it into a balcony door and organize a roof balcony, as in the photo below.

Since roof windows should not let in external moisture, it is unlikely that you will be able to make a waterproof salary for them yourself. It is recommended to purchase ready-made plastic and wooden double-glazed windows from an official manufacturer. Such window blocks are manufactured in compliance with the production technology and, as part of the roofing, meet all the necessary requirements.

Dormer window in the form of a skylight

Historically, a lantern in architecture is a beam architectural form that crowns the dome of a building and serves as a source of overhead lighting and ventilation. Lanterns decorated with decorative details were installed on temples and cathedrals. Nowadays, the lantern is the glass part of the horizontal roof. It is performed in the form of a flat window, dome, pyramid or in the form of a greenhouse. They visually increase the height of the attic space and let in more sunlight.

Roof window: practical and aesthetic

Because of these examples, one might get the impression that dormer windows are needed only in residential premises, and they are not appropriate in uninhabited attics used as storage for all belongings. This is not entirely true, since roof outlets are needed to ventilate the attic space and to provide technical access to the roof. Forms of roofing and options for roofing superstructures can be very diverse. Lucarnes are placed both on roofing slopes and gables - the end walls of a gable roof. Made with a creative approach, they will become a decorative decoration for your entire home.

Regulations

Sitting down to think about the design and starting to draw up a drawing of the future dormer window, it will be useful to familiarize yourself with the requirements of sanitary norms and rules, better known as SNiPs.

If the project provides for the arrangement of several auditory openings in a row, the distance between their outer edges should be at least 80 cm. Compliance with this requirement will allow you to freely arrange routine inspections of the roof, clean it from snow or leaves, and replace roofing material. On some roofs, you can see auditory openings in two rows, made one above the other. In this case, it is recommended to comply with the same standards: a step from the bottom edge to the floor and between the openings themselves from 0.8 m.

Getting Started

As mentioned above and as will be seen from the drawings below, the most popular roof dormer design is the dormer. Therefore, in most sources, the description of the construction of an attic window involves the construction of just this type of dormer opening.

Installation of the roofing "house" is carried out only on the already installed load-bearing rafter "legs". With its constructive structure, the auditory opening resembles the structure of a roof, only in miniature. It has its own truss system, crate, and with a gable roof - a skate.

As for the inclined roof window, inscribed in the roof surface, its construction does not require the construction of a separate frame. However, there are additional requirements for the quality of the window unit. Since one of the purposes of the auditory opening is attic lighting, the owner should take this into account and plan a dormer on the south side of the roof. At worst - in the east or west, but most importantly - not in the north.

Manufacturing process

In the place where the dormer window is arranged, the supporting beams are sawn out and removed. It is better if the supporting rafters are at the same time the edges of the opening to be equipped.

Ideally, the width of the dormer window is equal to the distance between the inclined rafters.

Since it is better to install dormers without disturbing the truss system, several roofing superstructures are often constructed in the gaps between the beams. Then, reinforced vertical racks, a window frame and a top covering of rafters are mounted. As a rule, the frame of the "birdhouse" is made of beams, although, if the foundation and load-bearing walls of the house allow, the pediment and side walls of the "dwarf's house" are laid out with bricks.

Vertical racks are installed on the lower horizontal frontal board. Their tops are connected by another horizontal beam - a jumper above the window. Vertical racks are connected at the top with a run, and inclined rafters are mounted on the run - the basis of a mini-roof above the auditory opening. At the top point, where the rafters meet, a ridge beam is laid.

Outside, the structure is sheathed with board, plywood, other facade and roofing materials. Since the auditory opening is part of the roofing system, it must have reliable moisture and heat insulation. Therefore, special attention is paid to sealing joints and using a suitable insulating material: bitumen, insulation, silicone and acrylic sealants, vapor barrier film. All parts are fastened with metal corners and strips using self-tapping screws or construction nails.

After installing all the elements and completing the exterior finish, they move on to the interior design of the attic or attic exit. Here the owner has unlimited freedom for creativity. The wooden parts are covered with protective primers or paints and varnishes, the areas below and above the dormer window are made to match the overall interior of the under-roof space. Curtains or blinds are used as curtains from excess sun. If the attic is heated, then under the window, as is customary in standard city apartments, you can hang a radiator.

Conclusion

So, the dormer window has a functional and decorative value. On the one hand, it serves to ventilate and illuminate the attic space, and provides access to the roof. On the other hand, it adds variety to the architecture, gives the building a unique look. The homeowner who has decided to build a dormer window on his roof is faced with a choice: hire an experienced construction team or assemble the structure with his own hands according to his own drawings.

Roof windows in the roof of a private house are not only a functional, but also a decorative element.

Modern roofing eurowindows have turned non-residential attics into cozy, bright attics. Skylights have transformed mundane buildings into contemporary pieces of architecture, bringing light into the space and filling the home with fresh air. brought a new trend to architecture, allowing hatches necessary for maintenance to fit harmoniously into the facade of the building. A roof window allows designers to create a unique attic interior, a romantic bedroom, a nursery, a personal office, a bathroom, or an exquisite winter garden.

Types of skylights

Roof windows meet a number of requirements and perform several advantages:

• During the day, natural light penetrates the house, which has a beneficial effect on the general condition of a person.
• Skylights are easy to install and save space in the room below.
• Mansard roof eurowindows are reliable, ergonomic and easy to use.

Before installing a skylight, you must select the type of construction. The following types of roofing eurowindows are divided:

Auditory are structures that are vertically located in the roof and are necessary for ventilation and lighting of the attic. Their installation requires a separate erection of rafters mounted in the roof. there are:

• protruding beyond the roof (dormer);
• recessed inside (antidormer).

Inclined eurowindows differ from auditory ones in that they are mounted directly into the roof at an angle. Wind windows were invented in the 19th century, and dormer windows in the post-war fifties of the 20th century. Inclined eurowindow is characterized by tightness, practicality, high light transmission and sound insulation. With an excess of sunlight entering the room, the roof window is closed with a canvas or blinds. The light output of an inclined eurowindow is 35% higher than that of a gable or dormer window.

Blinds are installed on the inside of windows.

From the outside, the windows can be protected with shutters.

The gable window is mounted vertically into the gable wall using a gable collar. Gable frames can be opening and non-opening. Such models serve to increase the overview of the surroundings.

Roof hatch window

The roof hatch should organically fit into the appearance of a private cottage. A wonderful solution is the hatch window, which is built into the roof without any problems and looks like an ordinary sloping Euro-window. The hatches are wonderfully in harmony with the external appearance of the entire building and the windows installed in it. Types of roof hatches:

1. The emergency roof exit looks like an inclined eurowindow. It is endowed with all the functions of simple windows. It is used for technical inspection and access to the roof. To open the sashes, you just need to press the handle and the hatch will open automatically with the help of gas shock absorbers. Such structures are installed on the roof with a slope of 15 to 55 degrees.

Characteristics:

• opening angle up to 70 degrees;
• combined system of opening and ventilation;
• laminated internal glass;
• the outer layer is a hardened surface treated with a self-cleaning agent;
• size from 700 x 1200 mm to 1006 x 1200 mm.

The roof hatch greatly simplifies roof maintenance.

1. The operating exit looks like an ordinary mansard hatch-window and serves to exit to the roof. It is installed on roofs with a slope of 15 to 55 degrees, equipped with a supply valve for ventilation of the attic. Opens outward along the side axis.

Characteristics:

• the eurowindow is opened with a handle;
• the hatch is equipped with a multifunctional double-glazed window;
• the sash can open both to the right and to the left;
• hatch size - 500 by 930 mm.

Operational access to the roof from the attic.

1. A hatch window is installed in the attic rooms of buildings for technological inspection and access to the roof. You can choose the type of opening and side. Equipped with a provision for ventilation of the room. Mounted on roofs with a slope of 20 to 65 degrees.

Characteristics:

• the lower overlap of the frame serves as a step;
• sash fixed in 3 places;
• opening angle up to 89 degrees;
• size - 490 x 760 mm.

Mansard hatches can have a variety of opening types.

How to choose the right skylights?

When choosing an attic eurowindow, a number of features should be taken into account:

• the presence of protection against moisture;
• the presence of seals;
• profile or frame material;
• opening method;
• glass strength.

Design features of roof windows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlwbG2I_Hss In the design of inclined windows, a single-chamber double-glazed window is used, which greatly facilitates the load on fittings and supporting elements. For dormer-windows, a frost-resistant heat-saving double-glazed window is used, which is filled with argon.

Cross-sectional window pane.

Double-glazed windows made using the "triplex" technology will save the inhabitants of the attic from fragments of accidentally broken glass. Since two glasses are glued together with a special film that allows you to hold the fragments. The Easy Clean coating breaks down the dirt accumulated on the eurowindow under the action of sunlight, which makes it easier to clean the glass.

Laminated glass triplex will provide excellent protection for your windows.

Important! It is important to pay attention to the location of the window handle. It should be at a convenient height for use.

Additional options, such as: roller shutters and retaining supports will protect the house from noise, hail, sun and serve as protection against penetration into the home.

Roof window design features

The simplest design of a recessed eurowindow. You can use an already erected ceiling and mount a window under an already finished roof. Such windows are mounted at any time.

This design is not only easy to install, but also very practical.

The protruding roof window must be designed at the construction stage. The design can be mounted for flat and gable roofs. It is much easier to mount protruding ceilings on a flat roof. The mounted side walls of the structure are sewn up with boards and covered with roofing covering material, which covers the entire roof.

This design can also be a good addition to the exterior of the house.

An internal window in the roof can be installed between the beams that hold the roof rafters. The support board is installed between the supports, then the window frame is placed on it. From above, the frame secures the fixing beam. The side walls and drains are covered with a covering material that covers the entire roof.

Roof window installation.

Roof window installation

After the final choice of the model and location of the attic eurowindow, they proceed to its installation. Tilt window installation sequence:

• in the roof it is necessary to cut an opening for installing the frame;
• the roof is reinforced with additional lags and a frame for the window frame is mounted;
• insulation and waterproofing are laid;
• roofing material is laid;
• window block is installed.

Master class for installing a roof window https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mQz8E8v9A Before proceeding with the installation of the euro-window, it is necessary to strengthen the roof structure and mount the frame for the window frame. Strengthening is carried out with the help of rafters standing in the neighborhood. Jumpers are mounted between them, between which beams are mounted under the window frame. A window frame is installed in the resulting frame. The unit should be mounted without glass. The frame should be installed above the level of the roof, which guarantees the drainage of water. After mounting the frame, it is necessary to lay a waterproofing coating that provides water drainage. Modern models of skylights are equipped with additional features. These include remote control for opening windows, roller shutters and protective fences that form a small balcony. Roof window on remote control https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLKzwRMPCig

Ksenia Skvortsova. Chief Editor. Author.
Planning and distribution of responsibilities in the content production team, work with texts.
Education: Kharkov State Academy of Culture, specialty “Culturologist. Lecturer in History and Theory of Culture. Experience in copywriting: From 2010 to the present. Editor: since 2016.

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It is believed that the arrangement of a residential attic is more complicated and more expensive than the construction of a conventional non-insulated roof with a cold attic. There are reasons for this:

• It is necessary to qualitatively insulate the attic.
• It is necessary to correctly mount the vapor barrier and the superdiffusion moisture and windproof membrane.
• It is required to install skylights, as required by the manufacturer.

The last point is often problematic. Errors in the installation of windows on the attic floor negate all the advantages of this room. As a result of jambs of illiterate builders, skylights leak in the rain, and condensate drips from the ceiling, damaging the finish. It is not surprising that many developers are distrustful of attics, believing that it is better to build a cottage in the old fashioned way. To avoid the most common mistakes when inserting a roof window into a roofing pie with flexible tiles, our video and photo instructions will help you, which tells you:

• How to calculate the size of a roof window depending on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room.
• How to choose a place in the attic roof for window installation.
• How to prepare a window opening for installing a skylight.
• How to install a roof window box and salary.
• How to install a condensate drain.
• How to make waterproofing at the junction.
• How to install the salary of a roof window and make heat and vapor barrier.

Roof window installation: planning

You can mount a roof window both at the construction stage of the attic, and on a finished insulated roof with an already laid finish coating and layers of vapor barrier and hydro and wind protection. In the first variant, work is carried out sequentially, step by step, and usually does not cause difficulties. In the second case, you need to rack your brains on how to cut a window in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, going through the entire attic roof pie with flexible tiles.

The main difficulties of installing a roof window left “for later” will have to be carefully dismantled or cut through, moving from inside to outside:

• inner crate for finishing the attic;
• vapor barrier;
• insulation;
• superdiffusion membrane (moisture and wind protection);
• crate and counter-crate;
• sawing OSB boards under the opening;
• partially remove flexible tiles around the opening under the window.

The width of the roof window is set by the pitch of the rafters. If the builder does not want to install a narrow window, fitting it under rafters mounted at a distance of, for example, 60 cm from each other, then one rafter leg will have to be cut, strengthen the structure, etc. This increases the likelihood of errors by installers, the timing and cost estimates for the work. From here:

The installation of skylights should be planned at the stage of designing a house and calculating the truss system.

For reference, we are guided by the following figures:

• Skylights are recommended to be cut into roofs with a slope angle of 15 degrees or more.
• The window area is selected according to the formula: per 10 sq. m of the attic floor should account for 1 sq. m glazing.
• The upper part of the roof window (from the floor) is located at a height of about 2 m, and the lower part is about 1.2 m.
• The opening under the roof window should be at least 4 cm wider than it, optimally 6 cm.
• The length of the opening is approximately 4.5-5 cm longer than the length of the roof window.

Stages of installation of a roof window

alexnrg FORUMHOUSE Member

I decided to install a roof window in the house myself. Roof pie: rafters - a board with a section of 15x5 cm, a vapor-permeable moisture-windproof membrane, horizontal and vertical lathing, OSB, lining carpet, flexible tiles. Questions arose:

• How to properly install a skylight?
• How to prepare an opening?
• How to fix a window in the attic?
• How to remove condensate?
• What is a salary and how to set it?

Salary (metal frame) is a system of gutters for hermetic connection of a roof window with a roof covering. The flashing removes rainwater and moisture from the roof window when snow melts.

All work on installing windows in the attic is divided into a number of successive steps:

1. Opening preparation.
2. Assembly and installation of a heat-insulating contour.
3. Installation of a roof window frame in a thermal frame.
4. Installation of a shutter (double-glazed window).
5. Adjustment of the side clearance and window rebate.
6. Installing a condensate drain.
7. Installation of a waterproofing apron.
8. Salary setting.
9. Insulation of slopes around the window and restoration of the vapor barrier circuit from the inside of the room.

Let's talk about the key stages of installing a roof window and how to avoid mistakes.

Preparing a window opening for installing a roof window

In the video instruction, the specialist tells how to prepare a window opening for installing a roof window if a roof has been built and roofing has been laid.

When driving steam and waterproofing, the films are cut in an envelope (crosswise) and wrapped inside the room (vapor barrier) and out (wind protection).

The upper and lower parts of the opening are reinforced with lintels (between the rafters).

And batten bars, so that the edge of the OSB sheet does not hang in the air.

The lower support bar of the crate must be leveled in order to accurately set the box of the roof window and avoid, noticeable by eye, a height difference on the side slope.

Important! If OSB has not yet been laid on the roof- base for flexible tiles, then from above the opening is framed, made from striped OSB or plywood.

Assembly of thermal insulation and installation of a roof window box

The heat-insulating contour is mounted on a steel frame, which is easily assembled with latches.

The thermal insulation circuit is installed in the prepared opening.

Then disconnect the turnable part of the sash with double-glazed windows from the frame of the roof window.

Mount the mounting plates and install the box in the opening.

Important! Mounting plates(4 things.) are installed at the corners of the roof window, in the places prepared at the factory in the frame, into holes pre-drilled by the manufacturer for self-tapping screws.

With a large length of the roof window (more than 1.4 m), additional intermediate mounting plates (corners) are placed in the place of the pivot mechanism (hinges).

The roof window frame is installed in the finished opening. How to do it correctly, as well as adjust the side gaps and the rebate, is shown in the video.

Secrets of installing a condensate drain

The most important element of the roof window waterproofing system is a metal trough for condensate drainage.

The gutter is installed at a distance of up to 50 cm (optimally 20-30 cm) above the window in the same plane with a hydro- and windproof membrane.

In order for the condensate to flow down the chute, it is installed at an angle ( slope at least 3 degrees). Then the moisture will be removed to one of the sides (ventilation channel formed by the crate).

Difficulties with installing the gutter arise if it needs to be mounted on a finished roof. In this case, you will have to manually cut the openings in the crate, and do it carefully so as not to damage the wind protection film.

The easiest way to install a gutter is if the crate has not yet been installed on the roof, there is no base for flexible tiles and a soft roof has not been laid.

Preparing the site for the installation of the gutter consists of the following steps:

• In the middle of the rafter leg (on both sides of the prepared opening), a vertical cut is made on the film of the superdiffusion membrane.

• A chute is laid on the seat.

I will lower the gutters, using it as a ruler, a horizontal cut of the film is made, so as to combine the vertical cuts.

The result is a windshield valve that slides into the gutter and catches all the condensate.

Steam and waterproofing at the junction of the roof window

At the end of the work, a waterproofing apron is installed, which protects the junction from moisture.

The waterproofing apron is glued to the frame going from bottom to top. Installation is simple - the protective film is removed from the adhesive layer (strip) and the apron material is gently smoothed over the top of the frame. Then the waterproofing apron is fixed around the window with staples.

Important! The upper part of the apron is wound under a gutter that drains condensate, and a valve cut from the windshield is wound onto a waterproofing apron. To prevent moisture from getting into places where they are made vertical cuts in rafters, them waterproofed with butyl sealant.