Sky Light Protection

[sprink52]

I think we are in pretty good shape building & shutter wise but I have a question about our skylight in our family room. The house was built in '99 and I believe the new code (post Andrew) addressed the impact & storm rating of skylights. We're in Royal Palm Beach which is about 8 miles inland from Palm Beach. I don't know if I need to do any thing extra to the skylight or not. I'm going to call the builder tomorrow to get information. If any of you South Florida roofing or skylight contractors are on this board please respond. I'm sure we're not the only ones thinkig about this.

[FireCracker]

Had the same thought. Bought plywood for after but how do you secure a domed skylight?

[sprink52]

I thought about a frame w/2x4s & plywood in the opening below it but wonder if it's necessary.

[Harbormaster]

I actually am a representative for a contracting company in New England so I am not up to Florida code, but I do know that skylights, though nice to have when the sun is out, area a stupid concept. Basically it is a hole in your roof. I look at skylight leaks more often than regular old roof leaks! You could board it up from the inside if you don't mind doing some ceiling repair afterwards (maybe a worthwhile risk to take so you don't have glass flying around your house). It is hard to board or protect them from the outside because with normal skylight designs, they protrude outwards and you would have to put an upside down bathtub over it or get creative to the point where you would damage the roof to the point that it would do more harm than good.

Wish that I was up on the codes down there, but we don't have the same strict codes that you have.

I just know that I have two skylights and they both leak. I am going to have them filled in if I decide to stay in this house!