Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?

On Sun, 05 Jul 2015 06:29:44 -0400, Tom Gardner
wrote:

Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sola-tube

Lots of data on YouTube on the SolaTubes

They are sold here in Cen. California as well, though Ive not seen one
nor do I know anyone with one.


http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_saca...+tunnel&_frs=1

Gunner

Tom Gardner fired this volley in news:mnb0uq$8lv$1
@speranza.aioe.org:

Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?

Tawm,
We have six such (but an 'builder brand' alternative to SolaTube brand).
So far, the ONLY drawback I have seen has to do with my fear of the
skylight portion of ours being broken in a windstorm. (ours have a more-
traditional glass skylight top, rather than the plastic dome of a
SolaTube brand).

There's _almost_ zero heat-gain during even the hottest parts the day
with overhead sun, VERY bright interiors, and virtually zero maintenance
(remove the diffuser and clean out the little bugs that get in there
inevitably).

Ours are now over 15 years old, and I cannot (visually) determine any
loss of performance or deterioration.

I have heard of the 'duct' of SolaTubes hardening and cracking if
mechanically disturbed... but I wonder why you'd ever disturb one, once
it's in place.

Lloyd

Tom Gardner fired this volley in news:mnb0uq$8lv$1
@speranza.aioe.org:

Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?

Oh... there IS a major downside I forgot about.

Any "roof penetrating" modification is best installed at construction
time or during re-roofing. INEVITABLY, a retro-fit on an existing roof
will end up leaking, because nobody is willing to 'weave' shingles
anymore.

If the job were _really_ done right, it would be just as good on an
existing roof as on a new one. But that just never happens anymore in
today's G.A.S. construction trade.

Lloyd

On Sunday, July 5, 2015 at 3:29:52 AM UTC-7, Tom Gardner wrote:
Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?


There is a reason that only 48% who work for Solatube approve of their CEO:

http://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Wo...2150.11,19.htm

The product is excellent:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/solatube-home-daylight-vista

They are located in Vista, CA former home of Larry Jackass who couldn't cut it here and who hates Hispanics.

Any "roof penetrating" modification is best installed at construction
time or during re-roofing. INEVITABLY, a retro-fit on an existing roof
will end up leaking, because nobody is willing to 'weave' shingles
anymore.

If the job were _really_ done right, it would be just as good on an
existing roof as on a new one. But that just never happens anymore in
today's G.A.S. construction trade.

Lloyd

My dad installed these. They leaked and ruined a bunch a sheet rock.
He was sorry he did it.

On another note, Tom would you send me your new email address
karltownsendATembarqmailDOTcom

Karl Townsend fired this volley in
news
My dad installed these. They leaked and ruined a bunch a sheet rock.
He was sorry he did it.

Just to be clear, Karl, it CAN be done correctly. Unfortunately, modern
construction folks think "BlackJack" is a substitute for proper flashing
and weaving.

Lloyd

On Sun, 05 Jul 2015 06:29:44 -0400, Tom Gardner
wrote:

Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?
The window company I worked for about 15 years ago was an authorized
installer of the "sola-tube" sky-lite, and if properly installed they
were fantastic. You could only buy them installed by an authorized
installer at that time - and I believe it was for good reason. Too may
ways to do it wrong and screw things up.

Done right they didn't leak, no condensation problems, and very
effective at bringing in light from outside.

fired this volley in
news
Too may
ways to do it wrong and screw things up.


Yup! The 'conventional way' seems to be to sabre-saw a hole in the roof
and "bull" the flange down until it looks like there's 'enough' Black-
Jack to seal it up. And then, of course, there never is.

But yes. Done right, there's no reason nor particular mechanical aspect
of them that could ever leak, unless something got broken by wind-driven
objects.

Lloyd

On Sun, 05 Jul 2015 06:29:44 -0400, Tom Gardner
wrote:

Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?

I haven't installed any, but I've seen a LOT of them and talked about
them with lots of clients. DEFINITELY get a frosted diffuser, as the
direct sunlight coming down that shiny metal tube is extremely bright.
Most setups come with the diffuser rather than a clear bottom lens.

The polished stainless sheetmetal tubes work much better than either
galvanized tubes or the flexible tube type, which are cheaper.

What I don't like about skylights and solatubes is that the entire
room will be very, very bright until a cloud comes along, and it will
go nearly dark. This is 5x more pronounced than you experience with
plain windows. Days with scattered clouds are like living in the
shadow of a wind turbine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbIe0iUtelQ
I've seen better luck when they are installed on the north side of
roofs. They produce less light, but are far less stroby.

Bottom line: skylights are nice, but I wouldn't want to live with
one. We get lots of scattered cloudy days here.

--
Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult,
whereas I am merely in disguise.
-- Margaret Atwood

On Sun, 05 Jul 2015 06:29:44 -0400, Tom Gardner wrote:

Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?

We have them, and ours leak. BUT -- we have a raised-seam metal roof,
and the people who installed ours no longer install them on such roofs.
I think there's a connection...

--
www.wescottdesign.com

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 05 Jul 2015 06:29:44 -0400, Tom Gardner wrote:

Is anybody familiar with this brand? I would like three; a 14" in
the
kitchen and a 10" in each of two bathrooms. Any down side?

We have them, and ours leak. BUT -- we have a raised-seam metal
roof,
and the people who installed ours no longer install them on such
roofs.
I think there's a connection...

--
www.wescottdesign.com

I've had mostly good luck using roof pipe flashing boots to seal other
things such as solar panel supports. The one leak from a dumb
shingling mistake ran through a ceiling light opening onto my
just-paid-off home mortgage papers.

When their kids were young, my S&BiL put in skylights and lined
the ~3ftx3ft tunnels to the roof with mirrors.

As a result, the kids could watch the moon and stars drift by as
they went to sleep.

They loved that.
--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close..........................
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433