Skylights - actual results of tinting and covering?

daveola · December 24, 2009, 06:11:19 PM

I read some of the forum posts on skylights, mostly they were about how people were going to install skylights or how they had them and they were too hot, so they were planning on tinting...

I'd like to do a skylight, but not roast under it, so I'm wondering if mirror tint works on keeping the heat out in the summer while still letting some nice light and view into the bus. I thought about possibly having an interior cover that's reflective, but if I'm using that, then I'm not getting light!

So - what's the verdict from people who *have* skylights and aren't roasting under them... or are there any?

luvrbus · December 24, 2009, 06:26:08 PM

I used the Taylor Made marine hatches for my sky lights their not hot or cold and can also be open for fresh air being made for marine use they don't leak. www.taylormarine.com

good luck

Tenor · December 24, 2009, 06:49:44 PM

I have tinted Fantastic Vent fans. When it's hot and the AC is on or it's cold and the heat is on, I use a 3-4 inch thick square of foam to plug it up. Once we choose the fabric for our couch, we will turn these plugs into pillows. Works great!

Glenn

bryanhes · December 24, 2009, 07:07:55 PM

I spent many years in the marine industry managing Cobalt, Formula and Doral yacht dealerships. Marine hatches would work great as Clifford said. Just stay away from Acrylic material. It has about a 10 year life span and tends to get cracks in it and craze. The tempered tinted units work nicely. I have been in some pretty severe storms on the water where the deck was being pounded and had no leaks around the hatches. Allot of high end boat and yacht manufactures spec Taylor Made.

HTH,
Bryan

paul102a3 · December 25, 2009, 05:03:44 AM

We have two hatches made by Bomar (also marine) and yes they do let a lot of heat into the bus during the summer. They are tinted and that does help but we also have covers that Velcro into place to block the sun and they reduce the heat load at least 60%. The covers are a marine material that has a vinyl like outer layer with a felt like inner layer. The covers do let in some additional light so it is OK to leave them on.

We also have screens that Velcro into place when we are in cooler climates and with both hatches open, we get a real nice natural air flow through the bus.

One last thought on roof hatches; they do give you additional escape roots should you need to evacuate the bus.

Paul

Dreamscape · December 25, 2009, 05:42:36 AM

We have a couple of Fantastic Vents, one in bedroom, one in kitchen and one regular non-powered in the bathroom. We use a plastic cover velcroed from the inside when we do not want any light in the bedroom. Seems to work OK, can be bought at any RV store. I just cut a piece of foil/bubble insulation to fit in between cover and screen. Seems to help when it's either hot or cold.

Paul

daveola · December 25, 2009, 06:20:34 AM

It sounds like I either need to tint them enough that I lose a bunch of light or else I have to cover them when it's hot... I suppose that makes sense, since light generally equals heat.

Maybe I'll just get my escape hatches working again and figure out some way to put a tinted, tempered glass cap over them that I can also open. Might be tricky to figure out how to have the glass there but also be able to open the escape hatch, but it would certainly be nice to avoid cutting another hole in my roof...

daveola · December 25, 2009, 06:23:49 AM

I suppose something like a Fantastic Vent (unpowered) could replace the escape hatch, but it seems they're all the wrong size (my hatch is 29"x20").

Not to mention that if I did want the fan, they're the wrong voltage to boot (24V bus and house system).

Any manufactured tinted vents that can replace the escape hatch door on an MCI easily?

luvrbus · December 25, 2009, 06:34:15 AM

Give Taylor Made a call they will build any size hatch for you double pane or single pane glass mine are double pane.

good luck

Tom Y · December 25, 2009, 06:40:53 AM

I put a boat hatch in place of my escape hatch. I had to change the hole some. I plan to have a small ladder for inside to access the roof. Tom

JohnEd · December 25, 2009, 11:40:53 AM

You "do not" want simple tinted glass. That stuff just gets super hot in the sun and radiates the heat inside. It is only good for making it dark or hard to see in. You need to spec the glass that "reflects/filters UV and stuff. It is realtively transparent and lets the light in without the HEAT....you cam have one without the other....think LED for proof. 80 plus reduction in heat loading and is amazing. Double pane, as Clifford said, is a must. I wonder that you can't integrate the sky light to the hatch and keep the stock mechanism/fixture and save a bunch? Double pane of any glass can be made in any size. I personally would not worry with safety glass. My mirrors and table ware are not safety glass, for what that's worth.

John

Kwajdiver · December 25, 2009, 12:38:45 PM

Tom, if you have a need for the escape hatch, won't the bus be laying on it's side? No ladder required at that point.

Just thinking,

Bill

jackhartjr · December 25, 2009, 06:39:23 PM

Bill, the bus might be jambed up against something at the front door! Remember the bus in SC that had a brake failure, she drove it against the side of the mountain in such a way you could not get out of the front door.
Jack

JohnEd · December 25, 2009, 09:15:58 PM

Jack,

I don't think you would or even could use the roof escape in that case. Don't all those windows open on the sides? Being trapped in a bus with a fire must be the worst nightmare ever.

John

bryanhes · December 25, 2009, 09:49:47 PM

You can get a tinted glas with LowE coating that will help with light transmitting and will also cut down on glare. I do not know if Taylor Made or Bomar does a LowE with argon gas but if they offer it that would give you the best light and heat reduction remedy.

FWIW,
Bryan