Child Item

How to improve old skylight?

Renovating an older Laundry. Have had wall asbestos removed. Ceiling is asbestos, budget doesn't allow at thos stage to touch it.

Bubble skylight still doing the job, just looks unappealing.

Can I use a material (not a fabric or blind) to sit inside the lower lip, like a ma hole, to diffuse the light and make it look fresh and not see the cavity and skylight?? Thank you for any help

Find more posts tagged with

Decorating

Lighting and Electrical

Accepted answers

All comments

Akanksha

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, @BF. We're delighted to have you join us.

Thanks for your question - your laundry project sounds exciting. Let me tag our knowledgeable and ever helpful members @Jewelleryrescue, @JacobZ95 and @Itai for suggestions on how to improve your skylight.

Please do keep us updated as your project progresses and share the final result. We'd love to see Before and After photos of how you transformed your entire laundry.

Akanksha

EricL

Hello @BF

Thanks for sharing your question about improving your old skylight. I propose having a look at the following:

Sunlite 8 1.2 x 0.61m Solar Grey Twinwall Polycarbonate Sheet - It can be cut to size and reduces overall sunlight glare, but still allows light to pass through. Its ribbed construction blurs the image on the other side thereby hiding the sun tunnel.
Sunlite 8 1.2 x 0.61m Clear Twinwall Polycarbonate Sheet - It's exactly the same as the Solar Grey but this is a clear product that lets almost 95 percent of the light through. Again, its ribbed construction will hide the sun tunnel.
Suntuf 1200 x 600 x 3mm UV Diffuser Polycarbonate Sheet - It is a plain polycarbonate sheet that comes in translucent and opaque finishes, it is highly durable, and you can cut it down to the size that you need.

These sheets are lightweight can can be cut down to size so that they sit on the interior lip of the tunnel thereby saving you having to install a frame or holder.

Let me call on our experienced members @JacobZ95 @Dave-1 and @homeinmelbourne for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Thank you So much Eric.

I was on the right track then. This is exactly what I'm looking for. However went to bunnings.. and my measurements needed are 72 × 73 to fit in the already existing wooden lip.

So I got a roll and cut it and covered with opaqu window contact ( does not look great, challenge to get the contact smooth.

So I need as suggested in a larger size.

MitchellMc

Hi @BF,

You'd likely need to cut the sheeting @EricL suggested to suit your size. I don't believe you'll find an opaque rigid sheet in your exact measurements.

Mitchell

Dave-1

Morning @BF

Your skylight is exactly like mine but in better condition! lol I have that coreflute as the walls and then a sheet of clear perspec plus contact over it I think. I didnt want to peel the edge as wasnt sure if it meant to be on it or not last week when I was cleaning it.

Id go with @EricL's and @MitchellMc's suggestion for sure. You just need an edge for it to rest on. The piece kinda fits like your roofspace access patch (For the life of me I cant think of the name of it roght now) So you push up and tilt to lift it up and fit it.

Dave

Yes. I found a polycarbonate sheets big enough yet it was clear. Cut it to size and covered with bunnings opaque glass contact. Fits well amd looks good yet a couple of bubbles I'm not quite happy with so have found a business that will cut to size am already opaque polycarbonate. Makes a big difference to the aestetic and not seeing the old tunnel.

EricL

Hello @BF

Thanks for the update, it's good to hear that you found a solution for your skylight. Would it be possible for you please post a photo of the skylight, I'm sure our members are very keen to see what it looks like.

Eric

KD2

will adding a reflective material to the shaft of these old skylights improve the amount of light coming in. I have one but it has cream painted side on shaft trying to work out how to get more light in? It has a diffuser already.
thanks

Dave-1

Good Evening @KD2

Welcome to the Bunnings community pages 🙂 I have considered that as well. Tho I backed away from the idea as I figured it could also transfer heat especially in Summer. If you are after more light then maybe paint the inside of the shaft white and change the plastic diffuser to something that is less opaque?

Dave

KD2

Thanks the diffuser which I think is the inside Perspex like product? Is clear with little triangle type patterning. I think it gets so little sun directly on it I would take more light over heat increase just not sure what best product would be to use. Definitely consider painting white is there a best white to use if o go that way.

Dave-1

Evening @KD2

Mmmmm Maybe a piece of clear perspex then. The diffuser is also there for privacy in case someone is up on the roof I suppose 🙂

As to what white, maybe a bright white of some kind. Have a look at the paint samples and go for something that seems more reflective.

Your existing one should be able to be pushed up and slipped out so you have a perfect template for the clear one.

Dave

EricL

Hello @KD2

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us.

I totally agree with @Dave-1 on this one. Adding a reflective material may produce more light, but it will also concentrate the heat inside the tunnel which technically becomes a fire hazard. Dave's suggestion of using brighter paint and a thinner diffuser or even frosted Perspex I believe is the way to go.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Child Item