Is There A Code For Skylites And Their Proximity To Valleys?

ron schenker

A friend of mine who owns a 3 yr. old bungalow had a severe ice dam last week causing alot of leaks inside the house. The worst area was around the kitchen skylite which is very close to a valley in the roof. We couldn't get up on the roof because it was very slippery but it looked like the melting snow and ice were creeping up under the shingles. There was water coming into the attic and my friend had buckets all over the kitchen floor to catch the dripping water. The drywall was soaked, areas of the hardwood floor were cupping severely, the grout on the floor tiles was changing color and the insulation on one wall in the basement was soaked. I would think thousands of dollars in damage, and the builder sent out an inspector who said "sorry ice dams are not our fault". Even Tarion (the new home warranty org.)
said they can do nothing Is there a code for skylites and their proximity to valleys? I'll try to post some pics asap, there must be something that can prove error on the builder's part.

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MJW

There is no code that I'm aware of. I'm sure canada uses the same international code we use here. There was actually part of the code that excluded all skylites, but this was only for those areas that wanted to go along with that code. I think MN went against it.

Anyways, it sounds like a home owners insurance claim to me. It was built and inspected. It's not the contractor's fault it leaked from bad weather. This is an insurance claim. Get an adjuster, get the money, and get it fixed.

Your Contractor should know this and should have told your friend.

thom

Years ago a couple wanted me to install a skylite in a valley (existing home) I said we couldn't/wouldn't do it because it would be a problem. They both insisted the skylite had to be "right there". This was to close to an outside wall to use a shaft to locate the skylite away from the valley.

I asked why it had to be "right there" and he told me "so there is more light for doing dishes". I responded, "why do you care, she does the dishes doesn't she". They promptly tossed my ass out of there calling me a sexist pig.

Oh well.

ron schenker

It was a large well known homebuiler building a whole community

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dougger222

Measured one yesterday that had a Velux large skylight in a really bad spot. On the back of the house (8/12) they put the bottom left corner of the skylight right to the center of the valley. There is 12ft of open valley on the bottom side and 5ft of weaved valley on the top side. The house also had a really pretty flat spot on the front were two valleys end and two ridges start.

reveivl

"Is there a code for skylites and their proximity to valleys?"

Not that I've ever heard. Certainly isn't a good idea to put a light in a valley, but I guess if you're a boat builder you could feasibly build it so it didn't leak. (At least until the check cleared)

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Roofboy

Hello,
If your friend has not had the ice dam removed , he should as it will continue to cause damage as more snow melts. As far as the skylight is concerned they are a big heat loss area. If moving or totally removing the skylight is not an option then your friend should think about removing the shingles from around the skylight and down to the eave. I would also remove several feet of shingles up the valley above the skylight. Start at the eave and install Grace Ice & Water up to the skylight , wrap the skylight then install more I&W above and into the valley area. Then reinstall shingles.
As far as I know there is no code for that issue here in Alaska. In fact I have roofed some houses that had kitchen hoods and bath vents blowing right into the valley area.

Hope this helps.


Keith

Grumpy

I've never heard of a code, however I try to space every roof detail no less than 18" apart. Meaning I would not install a skylight within 18" of a valley.

tinner666

If it has to be "right there", in the ceiling, I'd suggest switching to a tube lite and put it in the roof where it needs to be, and in the ceiling 'Right there".

AaronB.

Actually, you could install it right in the valley for the right price, butwould involve mucho extra framing above the deck, as well as low-slope waterproofing instead of water-shedding.

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skyhook

Can't blame the inspector, roofer, builder. Piss poor design. Btdt. Look to the architech or struct. engineer. S**t is always gonna roll downhill. Not responsible for bad weather ? I feel sorry for the H/O.
Move the light and repair the hole. ( I second that )

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