Suntunnel electric kit

[Le Poisson]

I know this is a pretty specific question, but I'm hoping someone here can help me...

This weekend I'll be replacing the roof over our kitchen and dining room. This is a very dark part of our house, so I am installing sun tunnels as part of the project in order to cut electricity use. Both Home Depot and Lowes have the sun tunnels available, but neither of them have the electric light kits for night time use in stock - ie. web order only.

Has anyone either:

a) installed a suntunnel and then regretted it, or;
b) retrofit a suntunnel by adding the electric kit afterwards? If so, is there any reason a kit from one manufacturer wouldn't work in their competitor's tunnel?

My hope is that I can install the tunnels, see if I like them, and then decide whether to go to the expense/effort to add the night use lights. Today we have table lamps on the sideboard as the house was built without overhead lamps in the dining room. The kitchen has existing pot lights that will stay, so a Suntunnel is not critical in the kitchen.

Reference links;
Sun Tunnel:
https://www.lowes.ca/tubular-skylights/velux-52-in-x-10-in-non-insulated-acrylic-rigid-sun-tunnel-tubular-skylight_g2221866.html
Light kit: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/sun-tube-electric-light-kit/991309

[zataks]

I knew one person who installed these.  I think he installed Solatubes but I think it's practically identical.  Same concept, at least.

He found it to be a fantastic addition to his home.  But I never heard him mention anything about lights for them. 

[Greg]

The instructions here:
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/34/349f71d4-0112-44cd-9033-3b0273a897ff.pdf

Suggest it's pretty easy to install, and as long as you have good attic access, should be easily added later. 

I've installed Solatube brand tube skylites in some of my remodels and my clients are very happy with them.  The only caveat I can relate is that with the light kit, at night the roof lenses are lit up and it takes getting used to.

[Le Poisson]

Thanks Greg - Sounds good to me. We picked up the tubes and lenses at lunch. Unfortunately, the only ones they had were the big bubble type, and not the low profile ones. I can handle that since they'll likely shed snow better in the winter anyways.

Appreciate the info on adding in the light kits.

[Greg]

I've only ever installed the tall bubble ones, which can be nice because you can aim a reflector supplied with the Solatube ones to help gather the light.  Snow shedding is something I'd not considered, but it makes sense.

One thing to think about is that tube skylites are a potential heat loss and air leak location.  So careful detailing with spray foam and/or sealing tape is a good idea.  For instance the light kit for the Suntunnel comes with a foam gasket for the wire penetration.

[Le Poisson]

Thanks for your help guys - got them installed and they look good!

http://frosthaus.blogspot.ca/2015/10/two-tubelights-twinkling.html

[Greg]

The lights look good. 

But where's your roofing underlayment?  No tar paper or synthetic underlayment?  That's a big no-no where I live in the rainy PNW, and likely voids any warranty you may have on your roofing product.

[Le Poisson]

Up here you use the underlayment on the bottoms (over the eaves) then just giv'er. I've never had a roof fail like this, and this the fourth I've done.

The warranty on shingles has so many holes in it that you're lucky to ever collect anyways, so I follow the nailing pattern and reveal, but that's about it.

FWIW, I did put I&W over the top half of the hoods, at teh eaves, around the chimney base, and at the vents so they are protected there.

[Greg]

Huh, I've never seen it done that way.  I've never seen the directions say it was optional either.  Makes for easier tear off I guess.

[Le Poisson]

Huh, I've never seen it done that way.  I've never seen the directions say it was optional either.  Makes for easier tear off I guess.

Did some googling, and found this discussion - loads of opinions I guess - looks like its a code requirement down there in the land of freedom, but not up here.  http://talk.roofing.com/t/is-waterproof-underlay-needed/8679

[jba302]

We have one in our kitchen, which came with the house. It's... fine. Conceptually it was a good idea since the kitchen doesn't have much south face and the roof line above it does, but practically I can't say I notice a benefit until there's scattered cloud cover and then it's like "oh, I guess it does help a little."

[kendallf]

Huh, I've never seen it done that way.  I've never seen the directions say it was optional either.  Makes for easier tear off I guess.

Did some googling, and found this discussion - loads of opinions I guess - looks like its a code requirement down there in the land of freedom, but not up here.  http://talk.roofing.com/t/is-waterproof-underlay-needed/8679

I was a roofer in my younger years; my brother is a roofing contractor currently.  Here in FL, underlayment is mandatory and has been for at least 40 years.  When I was a teenager and worked in SC for a bit, it was optional and I did quite a few roofs without it. 

I did note one thing that you didn't show in your pictures; I hope you put bull (tar) on top of the flange as well as underneath.  You need that for the shingles to seal well and not be prone to water or wind damage.

[Le Poisson]

Thanks for the tips Kendalf - we got it covered.

[Le Poisson]

So we had a scare with the skylights at lunch today... One was shining bright white, but the other was giving off blue light. I immediately wondered why I had nevernoticed it before and thought that I must have missed peeling some plastic from teh reflective surface inside the light. Took the trim ring off - and nothing in there. I was completely flummoxed at why the light would shine blue.

Went up on the roof and looked down the tube - nothing doing, no reason at all for it.

Went to the back yard and looked up at teh house to try and figure it out... and solved the mystery. The shadow from the chimney was across one of the lights. The shadow was enough to change the light colour.