Basic Pole Barn Questions

Anonymous Poster · Jun 10, 2003

<font color="blue"> Don't use skylights. They crack, break and leak. Use the light panels 2' on all sides of the building. Unless it's pitch black you will never need lights. </font>

I would have to say this depends...

I put some "skylights" in a little shed I built several years ago. They make a big difference! Skylights seem to let a lot more light in than a side window does.

Back to the question though. I used 1/4 inch acrylic sheets, 2x4 foot in size. Shingled up and around the openings between the rafters, then layed the sheets on top of a bead of silicone rubber that I put on top of the shingles around the opening.

I pre drilled the plastic sheets and attached them to the roof with screws that had rubber washers. Similar to what is used for corregated plastic sheeting.

Then I ran the remaining corse of shingles over the top end, also putting ample silicone rubber calking there. Have had no problems or leaks at all, and I will be doing the same kind of installation in the new shed I am building.

These 2x4x025 inch sheets of clear acrylic plastic are sold by home depot for about $27 each. If you want a bullet proof skylight get some lexan for about $50 each. In either case, I don't expect you will have any problem whatsoever with cracking or splitting if you use this method and acrylic or lexan 1/4 inch thick.

Cheap plastic yes, I agree with Cowboydoc, stay away from it...

I'm about to rip off that roof with the skylights [this morning, shed is growing into a new home for my Kubota B22910] and if I remember I will take a pic and post it here. They are dirty from years of no washing, but still leave in a lot of light...

Have fun in planning and executing your project!

Anonymous Poster · Jun 10, 2003

4. Don't use skylights. They crack, break and leak. Use the light panels 2' on all sides of the building. Unless it's pitch black you will never need lights.

<font color="blue"> </font> Richard, Do you have your barn wrapped with the light panels? I'm looking at ideas on building a pole barn and have noticed a few in my area with the light panels wrapping hte building just under the eaves. You stated you have the roof insulated how about the walls, do you think you lose much of the R value with the light panels? Thanks

CTyler · Jun 11, 2003

fyi...The planned service coming in to the house is 320. I'll be darned if I can't remember what we are running to the shop, but its over 100....120 or 150??

cowboydoc · Jun 11, 2003

In some of my barns I do have them. I did them just under the eaves. If you ever need to replace one it takes about 5 minutes. Just be sure and use screws. If you are going to use eavelights you can't use insulation on the walls. My polebarn shop I have it fully insulated with no light panels. In my barn for the horses and my indoor arena I only have the ceiling insulated. It's too big to heat /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif.

buckeye · Jun 11, 2003

Thanks to everyone for their responses! I really appreciate all the great information. I have been on business travel away from a computer for the last couple of days. The insights are, as usual for TBN, great.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 11, 2003

As threatened, here is a picture of one of those skylights I mentioned.

Dirty...I know, but still let a lot of light in.

Picture from my "I feel like Spencer Jr." thread.

I plan on wrapping the walls inder the roof of the little pole building I am building with that clear corregated plastic stuff. But I am also going to install some skylights. Now that I have a good portion of the roof on I can see what the light level is going to be...satisfactory, but I guess I like bright spaces.

If anyone does use a skylight like in the picture, remember where the plastic ends. I hit one of mine with roofing nails at the top and cracked it under the shingles. Never leaked, but still better to keep that plastic intact!