Skylights under an oak tree

1250 Views 6 Replies 3 Participants Last post by akimbo, Apr 13, 2016

akimbo

Discussion Starter · Apr 13, 2016

We are planning to extend our west-facing dining room out 5' into what is currently a porch. This new area will have large windows, a window seat, and we are considering some skylights to create a sunroom effect. Adjacent to this new construction is a hundred year old oak and we wonder if it's advisable to have skylights under an oak, i.e. there is debris that falls all year, and in the fall, a mountain of leaves and acorns. Currently we have our gutter guy sweep off the 5/12 asphalt shingle roof about 3 times a year. The new lean-to roof extension will be 4/12.

I'm wondering if perhaps the glass will be more resistant to debris sticking to it. Don't want to be looking up at a mess all year. If we add three 2x4' skylights in the new construction, we could have the center one open so it would give us access for cleaning but it's not a job I relish doing more than once a month. Perhaps if the skylights have some kind of solar screen tinting, it won't show as much debris. Your thoughts are appreciated.

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FrodoOne

· #2 · Apr 13, 2016

akimbo said:
I'm wondering if perhaps the glass will be more resistant to debris sticking to it.

I doubt if glass is resistant to items sticking to it.
I have a need to park my car under an ornamental Maple tree and now (in the southern hemisphere) it is sheading leaves et al.
I need to clean the windscreen/windshield of my vehicle each day when I drive it out onto the street.

I am of the opinion that, if you wish to enjoy the tree, you will need to put up with the problems that it imposes.

You now find it necessary to have your gutters cleaned on a regular basis. The "extra" cleaning of a skylight should, surely, be a minimal consideration.

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akimbo

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 13, 2016

FrodoOne said:
I...You now find it necessary to have your gutters cleaned on a regular basis. The "extra" cleaning of a skylight should, surely, be a minimal consideration.

Thanks for your thoughts. Difference is that I don't see the stuff in my gutters from my sunroom.

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Nik333

· #4 · Apr 13, 2016

Can they be tented? /\ ?

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akimbo

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 13, 2016

Nik333 said:
Can they be tented? /\ ?

I've never seen that, but I suppose that's why they used to make them bubble shaped. We have one over our kitchen and it's fine.

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Nik333

· #6 · Apr 13, 2016

My neighbors in Hawaii had a very large roofed lanai built around a huge tree. So, it looked like the tree had grown out of the roof. It was very beautiful inside the tiled lanai/entry, but don't know how practical that would be in Victoria.

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akimbo

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 13, 2016

Well, the climate is very good compared to the rest of Canada, but not that good. :wink2:

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