Skylights are technically translucent sheets that match the profile of the roof sheet and are heavily relied on with industrial buildings and warehouses for natural lighting. The main factors to consider is the material is different from the metal roof sheets itself, so it never gives a perfect lap seal, which over time if the skylight begins to age and lose integrity, that lap becomes a risk to water ingress. 

If skylight sheets are also not installed using the trafficable option of product, it immediately becomes a fall hazard on the roof, and needs to be catered to. This is important for any PCBU with ensuring your roof is compliant and safe according to the WHS act. 

The average skylight lifespan is 10-15 years, with higher grade products lasting more than 20 years. Since the metal roof sheets last longer than this, it is often a requirement for a building to retrofit new skylight sheets into the existing roof system to reduce the risk of water ingress where the skylights begin to fail from age.  Age also reduces the ability for the skylight to allow natural light in, so upgrading skylights can have great benefits to any industrial building. Consider the trafficable products to eliminate the risk of falls and allow for more height safety compliance on the roof.  

Our preferred supplier of skylights is Ampelite, who have a great range of products to choose from for any industrial building's needs. 

Ideal has highly trained and experienced crews for skylight upgrade and replacement on commercial and industrial sites with our industry leading retrofit services. 

For pricing, contact us now.

Roof penetrations are the main source of leaks ongoing for clients, and a big reason is the penetration detail itself is not to industry standards while also lacking ongoing maintenance.

To ensure you minimise risk of water ingress from a penetration, retrofitting back tray flashings are critical to divert the water away from the penetration into neighbouring pans to allow water to drain further to the gutter line. A penetration run through the roof sheet with just a dektite is simply just not enough and often can block the flow of water in the relevant pan. This leads to early corrosion and eventual water ingress when the seal is broken. Water can actually buildup behind the penetration and eventually flood the lap of the sheet if it is not able to drain properly to the gutter.

While the manufacturer specifies a tray flashing to the ridge, it is important to add the additional measure of a dry pan on either side of the penetration if it blocks more than 50% of the pan to allow for relief on either side of the penetration if it floods. This means allow for an extra pan to be covered on either side of the penetration to maximum protection.

Regular ongoing maintenance as per manufacturer's guidelines is also critical to ensure the seal of the dektite and penetration is watertight since exposure to thermal movement and weather conditions can often disrupt the seal leading to water ingress. Preventative maintenance is recommended to be completed every 6 months.

If you are interested in upgrading your penetration details to be more watertight, contact us now.