Possible Skylight solution

[Darkspeed]

A friend decided not to use these so i may get my hands on them.

100% PVC coated wood, insulated , storm rated, and open like a hatch... Velux

You can also get an optional 100% sliding shade that snaps to the inside of the window.

Designed for a minimum 15deg slope for proper drainage but that can be solved with some creative use of EPDM seals.

I figure if I can cut holes in my roof and glue them in before he gets back he will have a harder time taking them away 

[OneLapper]

Well, the 8" floor drop will come in handy........

[luvrbus]

You really don't want a house type in a bus,if you want sky lights the marine hatch is the way to go I installed a Taylor Made in our bathroom

[Darkspeed]

This is much different than any other skylight i have seen, it seals really well and the pvc coating is a plus.

This one is above the sofa / dinette, the second one will be directly above the bed  

I did not want a marine hatch because they are not insulated and I wanted a big surface area.

I have not set it all the way in yet that is why the mounts are above the roof line.

I ground away the white EPDM layer on the inside of the bus so I could get a fresh sealing surface.

I will reinforce where I had to cut out the rib, the frame is very structural.

It took two strong guys to pick up that skylight  . heavy!

I will be the guinea pig on this one  

..Drinks on the roof at 6 sharp...

[Geom]

Wow Darkspeed, you went from idea to execution in the span of barely one thread post, LOL.
I love that kind of initiative.
It looks good though. Good luck with it.
I'd been considering something like that in the looooooooong term future in the bedroom, but am also concerned about how it will affect insulation and such.
Plus I'd be terrified of it being an endless leak potential point.
I suppose the AC and vent warts have been up there for years without a problem, so what's another hole? LOL.

[Darkspeed]

Thanks Geom, enough expresso and im just a moving blur...

These are tempered Argon Low-e Neat Glass so they are very insulated.

I will post if i have any problems with them.

Sure makes the inside a lot brighter!

[luvrbus]

Good luck but the thin tempered and lowE glass don't do real good in bus btdt home type tempered glass is not a solid temper like the dot or marine glass,  and my hatch is insulated fwiw

[Iceni John]

I had also thought about skylights like yours, or marine skylights that I can buy used quite cheap, but how did you make it work on a curved roof?   My bus has a curved roof like yours.   Did you make a concave/flat spacer between the roof and skylight, or how?

I want to convert my Transpec rear roof hatch into an opening skylight, but how to do it isn't coming to me right now!

Thanks, John

[pabusnut]

Darkspeed,

Not that I am a structural engineer(just a dumb mechanical engineer), but you might want to think about reinforcing that huge opening, since you cut one of the roof bows to put it in.  I know there is a "header" above the window, but I hate to see a wrinkle in the roof around that opening when the bus does some twisting.

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut

[Geom]

LOL, wish I had that kind of energy, no matter how much expresso is on-board,  I'm much less blur and more blob, lol.
It takes me forever to get anything finished.

I saw your other post on the peninsula windows. Interested to see how that goes too.
We're seriously considering replacing our single-pane windows with dual-pane windows.
We want to be able to winter, generally anywhere, and those single-pane windows are brutal in MO winter

We made do last year with some creative use of plastic window-sheeting, but I'd like to unhack that for next winter (although probably too late for that already).

luvrbus, how much flex do these frames induce when the bus is in motion?

Should the windows be mounted such that they're firmly attached to the frame/skin or should they have some give in them to account for flex of the skin so as to not break the dual-pane seals at least?

[Darkspeed]

I had also thought about skylights like yours, or marine skylights that I can buy used quite cheap, but how did you make it work on a curved roof?   My bus has a curved roof like yours.   Did you make a concave/flat spacer between the roof and skylight, or how?

I want to convert my Transpec rear roof hatch into an opening skylight, but how to do it isn't coming to me right now!

Thanks, John

The skylight drops through the roof so I only have to match the curve at front and back of the skylight.
I glue plywood together and then cut it to match the bow of my roof.
I then use this as a form to shape aluminum L stock, using some heat and clamps.
This can be used on front and back, along the sides can be a straight L stock.

[Darkspeed]

Darkspeed,

Not that I am a structural engineer(just a dumb mechanical engineer), but you might want to think about reinforcing that huge opening, since you cut one of the roof bows to put it in.  I know there is a "header" above the window, but I hate to see a wrinkle in the roof around that opening when the bus does some twisting.

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut

Yes correct! On the 4106 there are two minor structural ribs between the major structural ribs and I cut a minor one but I am planning on welding a L between the ribs and also the front and back of the skylight making  box structure.

[Darkspeed]

I saw your other post on the peninsula windows. Interested to see how that goes too.

Depending on how it looks the steel adapter + a 4106'ish insulated window may be a slick solution! I will keep you posted!

[Darkspeed]

I have not seen marine hatches that large that were insulated..

Well if luvrbus is correct about the thin temper and it all blows up it was worth a shot...



Woooo how sexy is that! Wonder if I could mount that in the celling just before the skylight>

[Darkspeed]

I officially like it..

Yes I have a lot of aluminum patching that needs to be done on the roof..