I’m going to put a Cupola in the upstairs of a garage that may one day be finished/heated. Commerically available cupolas with glass instead of louvers(http://www.directionshg.com/productinfo.cfm?item=352) come with single pane glass and I don’t think they are built very tight. The intended purpose I think was to vent the structure so this is logical. Even if a custom one was built tightly I would think all the heat will find it’s way up through the cupola. Has anyone done or seen something like putting an interior glass hatch flush with the ceiling to let in the light and limit the heat going up into the cupola?
As always, I welcome someone pointing out the flaws in my thinking.
Thanks
-Jonathan
Replies
I am concerned that the space between the cupola and hatch could create a moisture issue. If you installed a high quality skylight with low-e argon glass at your proposed hatch location you would have the future energy efficiency you want. I'd keep the commercial 'not so tight' cupola so it breathes and keeps the space between vented, or modify the cupola so it is vented but weather-protecting. The cupola could have glass to keep snow and rain out but be fairly loose infiltration-wise.
Edited 9/21/2007 4:26 pm ET by formula1
Edited 9/21/2007 4:27 pm ET by formula1
Edited 9/21/2007 4:28 pm ET by formula1
Your points make a lot of sense. Thank you.
You need to consider that in the bright sunlight the temperatures up there could easily climb to 150-200F.
Understood. What I didn't include was that I intended to have the inner glass just for the winter.
If this becomes too much of a problem, I'll just put in commercial windows into a custom built cupola and be done with it.
Thanks