Hi,
I am making a couple of skylights from salvaged
french door insulated(and tempered) glass.
The glass is 30″x60″.
I am concerned about these being too large a span for
a skylight.
Is there a rule of thumb or someone with an
opinion about this…?
Thanks
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Replies
Not knowing the thickness of your glass or your framing or anything, I won't comment on your specific situation. But, I once installed a greenhouse (redwood/mahagony precut mortise-tenon type) with double-pane tempered glass roof that had panels 3' x 6', and I could and did walk on the glass.
I would be concerned about snow loads. They're not
designed for that. Also concerned about flashing them.
Actual skylights are designed for both. Tempered is good.
Skylights above a certain size must be tempered.
I had a double pane full view French door rot out at the bottom so I replaced it. Not wanting to waste the old one, I cut the rotten part off and trimmed down the hinge and latch side so it had an even narrow trim all the way around. I placed it across a pair of really big speakers (glass to speakers, not the trim) and heaved a 100 lb television and a 40 lb surround sound receiver and all the other assorted devices onto it. That tells me I could stand on it no problem. I wouldn't even worry about the biggest thing to ever hit my roof breaking it. The biggest thing to ever hit my roof was a fat racoon that fell out of a big pine tree, rolled all the way to the edge, fell off the roof, and loped across the yard. Sounded like somebody dumped a bag of cantaloupes on the roof. My dog freaked out. If the racoon had fallen on that old door, I think he would bounce and not break it.
However, the glass is effectively surrounded by a wooden frame. It would hold water. What are you going to do about that?
B