Holes in my skylights

[kc5dlo]

Not really offering advise here but the topic did bring up a question I would like to ask. If the panels are fiberglass, could a fiberglass patch and resin be used? I would imagine the area around the hole would need to be sanded or ground a little and the repair would be visible from inside but still allow light thru.

 

[jimmysisson]

The panels are pretty cheap (esp if insurance pays) and the only hard part is getting the right profile and getting the lead edge(s) under the neighbor panels. Agree w hiring this out.
Jim

 

[2horsewheel]

Thanks for all of the advice. Sorry I'm just getting back to this, but somebody rear ended me shortly after I started this. Not a big deal, but something else to work through. I did call the insurance folks, and I think that they'll pay for (some of)it. The more I read, the more I know that I want to hire it done -- which might be a challenge.

Thanks,

hj

 

[Deere Dude]

Glad you didn't go off, but after sliding over 18' worth of screw heads, dropping 14' would be a vacation.:laughing:

You are right, walking up on the screw heads is one thing, but working on something is another for sure. An old couch cushion (fabric removed) foam is great to keep your butt planted while working on a metal (or steep shingled) roof.

The ride was on nail heads but I was alone at the time and my wife was out walking. She just got back and was swinging on our two man swing near a pond by the pole shed.

I slowly sauntered over there once I got down. As we were swinging she asked what the heck I got into? I was wearing shorts and was bare back at the time. I looked at my side and legs and saw a bunch of linear deep scratches like I got into a fight with a bobcat, so I told her I must have bumped something. She bought it.

I did finally confess to her after the roof job was all done though or I would have had more than just a few scratches..

 

[Deere Dude]

Hi,

First post -- just an inept homeowner with a few acres.

Anyway, we had some golf ball sized hail the other day ( never saw that before). Only damage seems to be a few holes in the skylights of my barn (24 x 40 with a 16foot peak).

I have no good idea about how to repair them. The biggest is probably about 3" x3" and the rest are smaller. The purlins seem to be on 2 foot centers and all of the translucent panels are near the peak.

I read an old post from this site that talked about getting up on the roof, but I'm not sure. Not sure on how to place a ladder and not sure how to avoid bending the metal on the roof. People talked about putting a sheet of plywood down, but there's nothing there to hold it in place. (4/12 pitch as far as I can tell).

So any advice on how I might at least patch it for now, and how to actually get a patch on it would be greatly appreciated. NOthing too exotic -- I'm and older guy and I weigh in at about 250. I don't have any real problems with ladders, but I'm pretty careful.

Thanks,

hj

I had some fiberglass type panels on my pole barn and a pole barn builder said they are meant to be replaced every ten years or so because the sun eats them up and makes them brittle,

 

[aczlan]

These issues are one reason why when we had our pole barn put up we put the clear panels at the top of the walls rather than on the roof. Less opportunity for them leak that way.

Aaron Z

 

[redman135]

Hello 2horsewheel. DRY roof and DRY rubber soled footwear or expect to slide and probably fall. Wait until the dew has evaporated from the roof and if it starts spitting rain get off before things are wet(you will be surprised how little moisture it takes to make things dangerously slippery).
When walking on the roof walk along the screw/ nail heads( greatest strength).
Ladder, tie it at the top so it can't slide sideways and dump you( A standard requirement on construction sites).
Hire or borrow a safety harness
Get a piece of timber about as long as the width of the sheet of roofing and place against the end of the roof and draw a line along the profile with a carpenters pencil and take that in so you can order the correct profile replacement roof, and get the length too.

 

[kc5dlo]

These issues are one reason why when we had our pole barn put up we put the clear panels at the top of the walls rather than on the roof. Less opportunity for them leak that way.

Aaron Z

I saw that done on a barn after mine was built. I agree and think it would prevent leaks. I did make sure my two panels are above open space in my shop to minimalize damage in case of a leak

 

[drizler]

I saw a guy take down a hanger a few years back it has the same fiberglass panels that hut up there himself in 1972. They were still ok. I used that cheap crap plastic polycarbonate clear on a shed barn. Cheap , hard to seal, weak as a kitten. Sun rots dries out and falls apart in 3 years. Absolute trash.
Fiberglass translucent panels have the fiberglass threads in them easy to see in the panel and yellow with age. Fiberglass panels are expensive and special order around here. You can easily patch the old ones using one of those polyester fiberglass kits from a Walmart store. It won't be a thing of beauty but who cares up there.
When I go up on a roof I just take the truck park it on The other side of building. Tie thick rope to trailer hitch ect and toss it over as a poor mans safety line. Works well doing small jobs.

 

[WM75Guy]

If you have a Morton Buildings office close they will give you an estimate on repairs. They built our stables. They will not be the cheapest by any means but they will do a good job and safely.

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