Using a fabric cover over 4" foam block to seal heat loss through skylight no light in winter any way. Stupid skylights those that leak and those that have not leaked yet are the 2 common types here in AK!
I've installed over 30 Velux skylights, a few in upstate NY and the rest in the SE. I've had exactly one leak, and only in 50+mph winds.
The problem with skylights leaking in AK is that people up here love to have flat/low pitch roofs with poor insulating qualities. The snow sits on it, melts, and the weight of the ice/snow pushes the water through any crack and crevice, no matter how well sealed.
I live in Anchorage, and I see new houses going up that have no wind barrier, no vapor barrier, and 1/2" gaps in the T111 siding that are filled in with caulk. All this for $325k. You start throwing in other things like no drip edge on the roof, 2x4 walls, and inadequate ventilation, and then people act all surprised when their house starts falling apart in 10 years. "Oh, that's just the way it is up here, because our weather is so extreme!" has been told to me DOZENS of times.
ATV, I'm not sure I agree with your soffet/gable or soffet/ridge. You might have to explain this to me. In my house I have gable, soffet, ridge vents and fans. Since we use and want the heat only while it is contained within the house, after it leaves the insulation I want it out of the attic ASAP. The reason I have all 3 vent types is snow can cover the ridge vents compromising the convective air flow. This is where the gable vents are a back up. The type of insulation can also be a factor. Blown in type can be moved around within the attic durning high winds. It is not uncommon to have a big pile in the center of the attic and bare areas around the edges.
I'm not real fond of the tyvex type house wrap, but prefer tarpaper. This is another topic.
'Often mistaken, never in doubt'
'Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge' Darwin
Pak, the only way to know for sure is get in the attic with one of those smoke pencil things and analyze what's happening. The "problem" with the gable vents is the air may not be flowing up from the soffets. This can overheat shingles and induce heat-related failure. I wouldn't think that would be a problem in your area. Worst case scenario would be to block of the gable(s) for the summer and open it up in the winter.
i have a feild guide from ccr i will see if i can post it...show how the air moves in the roof....btw i have built a 5 star home (i=me driving every nail -sold it for 320$$$) in this case and i'm going for 5 star+ this go around.......1/2 mil tag going on this one....
When we built our house we had the same issue. Our answer was to place roof/attic turbines at the peak of the metal roof. We installed 2 and even on calm days they passively spin and remove any trapped heat and moisture. It was low cost and worked fine.
The problem with skylights leaking in AK is that people up here love to have flat/low pitch roofs with poor insulating qualities. The snow sits on it, melts, and the weight of the ice/snow pushes the water through any crack and crevice, no matter how well sealed.
I live in Anchorage, and I see new houses going up that have no wind barrier, no vapor barrier, and 1/2" gaps in the T111 siding that are filled in with caulk. All this for $325k. You start throwing in other things like no drip edge on the roof, 2x4 walls, and inadequate ventilation, and then people act all surprised when their house starts falling apart in 10 years. "Oh, that's just the way it is up here, because our weather is so extreme!" has been told to me DOZENS of times.
I'm shocked that code allows a 2x4 wall up there. 2x6 would be minimum, IMO. I'd want nothing less than a spaced double 2x4 wall in the interior.
Down here in Colorado we have this dehumidifier called the sun ...
Here on the coast of Washington, there is an old legend repeated by local native elders that speaks of this "sun". Of course, like most legends it has not been observed in recent memory and cannot be confirmed. Few lend any credence to the story but it is useful for scaring children around the campfire.
Here in RI. We got a foot of snow yesterday! It's code to have both ridge and soffit. They are supposed to work together. I have gable vents too. Since I wrapped my house in vinyl, I figured I couldn't be too careful.
"I didn't get the sophisticated gene in this family. I started the sophisticated gene in this family." Willie Robertson
That's the problem, gable vents, plus ridge vents, can cause short circuiting, air flow needs to be uniform and even. Our winters are so long problems can result.
Now need to vent bathroom fans to gable ends, one of the fans vents to eaves.
kk alaska
Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
I was sent some materials from a fellow poster which have some air flow patterns for various attic/roof vent scenerios. I have gable, ridge and soffit vents. Because my ridge vents are often covered with snow I am going to leave my configuration as is. After many years I have had zero issues with my roof. Lousy venting is sure a PIA.
Last edited by pak; 01/01/13.
'Often mistaken, never in doubt'
'Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge' Darwin