Installing a skylight in bathroom

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Installing a skylight in bathroom

Wolf555

90 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 19
Inactive user

#272724 12-Jul-2020 08:53

Looking at getting a skylight installed over our bath and wanting to get a rough idea of cost, what's involved and what to look for.

There's some ceiling space above the bathroom which is under a 30-40 degree iron roof.

Any recommendations for what to get or to not bother with (I see some are rain sensing?).

Basically looking to get some more light in our bathroom and may as well be able to open it for some fresh air as well.

Auckland if anyone has any reccomendations for companies (can a builder do it or proper skylight installers?)

1 | 2

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2521371 12-Jul-2020 09:54

Some lights and a fan would probably be a lot cheaper and easier.

Jase2985

13732 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6205

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2521373 12-Jul-2020 09:58

check where your rafters etc are above your bathroom and see if they will effect the placement of where you want the skylight. if you dont have to alter them it will make things much easier, and likely wont require consent

Wolf555

90 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 19
Inactive user

#2521377 12-Jul-2020 10:21

timmmay: Some lights and a fan would probably be a lot cheaper and easier.

We have lights and a fan in there. Some natural light would just be nice

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2521380 12-Jul-2020 10:42

Wolf555: Looking at getting a skylight installed over our bath and wanting to get a rough idea of cost, what's involved and what to look for.

There's some ceiling space above the bathroom which is under a 30-40 degree iron roof.

Any recommendations for what to get or to not bother with (I see some are rain sensing?).

Basically looking to get some more light in our bathroom and may as well be able to open it for some fresh air as well.

Auckland if anyone has any recommendations for companies (can a builder do it or proper skylight installers?)

We are thinking the same also curious about solar tubes which might be easier?

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

Rabbitcat

26 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Lifetime subscriber

#2521969 13-Jul-2020 11:44

The actual cost of the skylight can be found by going to Velux, and downloading a product brochure but as a general example $900 ish for basic manual version to $2000 for solar powered one. Then there's the flashing kit, and back/soaker flashing for the roof. So probably $2000-4000 just for the bits.

It's probably then $500-1500 for cherry picker/scaffolding, couple of days for a couple of builders = $2500, plasterer/painter, sparky to move some lights/wires? Maybe plumber? Skip bin.

In ballpark figures would be looking somewhere in the $5-10k depending on skylight selected, complexity of build, and where in the country you are. If it's installed between roof rafters probably no Building Consent needed.

It's a pretty big thermal envelope hole, and also in bathrooms the lightwell can be a pain to clean (warm moist air rising, then condensing on cold glass and running down lightwell walls.....

mentalinc

3384 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1023

Trusted

#2521976 13-Jul-2020 12:05

Have you considered something like a solartube instead?

https://www.hometech.co.nz/contact

should be much lower entry point in terms of costs!

CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9333 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6203

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2522230 13-Jul-2020 15:42

mentalinc:

Have you considered something like a solartube instead?

https://www.hometech.co.nz/contact

should be much lower entry point in terms of costs!

We had two Solartubes installed in a new home when we moved in five years ago - a large one in upstairs en-suite and the smaller version in the walk-in wardrobe. I’m biased because we have them but honestly they’re fantastic and money well-spent IMO. The reason we installed the smaller one is because the rafters/trusses positions did not easily allow a second large one.

One thing we have found interesting is that on any night when at least a half-moon is visible overhead, there’s enough light in the bathroom to not need to turn the light on if you need to go in there in the middle of the night.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Paul1977

5171 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2192

#2522586 14-Jul-2020 09:56

I think you'd have to be lucky if your roof trusses happen to be positioned so you can get a Skylight where you want it without having to make expensive changes that would require consent. I'm certainly never that lucky with this sort of thing. Skylight are expensive to put into a new build, and I can only assume it would be a lot more to put one into an existing house

As others have said, a solar tube can deliver a lot of natural light for a fraction of the cost.

As far as fresh air goes, is it an internal bathroom with no windows?

mentalinc

3384 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1023

Trusted

#2522591 14-Jul-2020 10:03

How much did the skylight cost to install?

CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2523452 15-Jul-2020 11:49

3 or 4 years ago parents got a non motorized one installed for $1400 building work excluded (gib and box).

My brother just brought one for $1100 excluding installation but that is trade price and he will install himself.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2523456 15-Jul-2020 12:15

Just spoke with my brother who is a builder.

1000-2000 for the skylight
500 for the install
500-1000 for the framing gib

And guessing here but 200 for stopping and no idea regarding painting as have always done it myself.

So probably looking around $3-4000 if it is a simple install.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Wolf555

90 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 19
Inactive user

#2523459 15-Jul-2020 12:21

Thanks for the replies. Definitely more expensive than first thought, especially how much is involved on top of the cost of the skylight itself.

Those that have had those solartubes - what sort of cost all up were they?

nzrock

113 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#2523514 15-Jul-2020 14:05

Just a heads up, any work that's alter the external skin of a building requires a building consent, and must be carried out by a licensed building practitioner. so you can't just buy a skylight at Bunnings and install it yourself.

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2523716 15-Jul-2020 19:02

nzrock:

Hi

Just a heads up, any work that's alter the external skin of a building requires a building consent, and must be carried out by a licensed building practitioner. so you can't just buy a skylight at Bunnings and install it yourself.

Not true. There are a number of exceptions including the installation of a skylight.

http://www.bc.org.nz/consent/dbh-guide-for-building-work-consent-not-required%20(1).pdf

You would want a licensed builder to do the work or appropriately trained roofer.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9333 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6203

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2523724 15-Jul-2020 19:39

Wolf555:

Thanks for the replies. Definitely more expensive than first thought, especially how much is involved on top of the cost of the skylight itself.

Those that have had those solartubes - what sort of cost all up were they?

Just dug out our invoice dated 15.07.15. As mentioned above we had a large and a small installed and they cost respectively $1,409 and $1,139 - all up, including installation and GST. The tube length needed between the ceiling and roof units was 1.1 m.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

1 | 2