Reduing a bathroom. Homowner wants a sky light I recomend an exhaust fan. What are the goods & bads for each or both?
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Go with both. Here in Massachusetts, a fan is required in all bathrooms whether or not there is a window. There will be plenty of times when the fan is used when the skylight won't be open.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
The fan is a must and a timer switch is a nice way to control it. If you do an operable skylight you are required put the plumbing vent at least 10 feet from the nearest corner of the skylight. Last two bathrooms I did had Velux motorized skylights with rain sensors. Love 'em and would not remodel without.
Another nice control is a humidistat build into the fan. Comes on when you need it and then shuts off when the moisture is gone.
"you are required put the plumbing vent at least 10 feet from the nearest corner of the skylight."
Dave,
How do you do that in the upstairs bath of an older cape? Typically those baths are not that big.
Jon
Run the vent up into the roof framing or attic space and then run laterally until you're 10 feet away.
Why not both? Why does he want a skylight? They are not interchangable devices.
However, you can get tubular skylights that have an exhaust fan in them, I THINK.
Edited 1/16/2004 3:25:25 PM ET by Bill Hartmann
I noticed the tiles falling off the mildew walls, the paint peeling and the ceilling sagging, really hanging loose. I think they need an agressive moisture control, such as a high quality fan.
The customer is improving the bath and somebody told them that a skylight would take care of the moisture. They like that idea now, but I think they still need a fan.
The bath is getting a bit of work; it's being cut into the bedroom, the sink moved, the toilet moved, shower window reduced as well as moved up and a face lift.
Id like to keep it quality and practicle.
I installed a skylight in my own bathroom some years ago. It added a lot of light and allowed me to eliminate a window from the tub/shower, a guaranteed rot spot.
On the other hand, I used to get icy cold drips of condensation on my head when I had a shower in winter.
Two choices: quit having showers in winter or prevent steam from getting to the skylight glass, so I installed a horizontal sheet of lexan in the skylight well at ceiling level.
Skylight wells tend to collect condensation and deteriorate fast so i strongly recommend isolating it from the bathroom or giving it its own ventilation like a supply duct from the ventilation system if there is one.
Ron
Kutz, there is a new skylight available filled with a gel for very high R-Value. It's pricy but may prevent "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" from becoming their theme song. Regardless, they have to solve the humidity problem, and a picture window in the sky won't do it. Paul