We have been helping build brighter homes since 1976. We are made in the Pacific Northwest for the Pacific Northwest. Our quality products are manufactured in-house by people who live here and embrace our lifestyle and culture. We are proud of our products and are committed to making you a satisfied customer.
Western Skylight’s innovative frame design has stood the test of time and consistently performed against Pacific Northwest weather for over 45 years. Our 360° Snap-Lock frame design pairs our anodized aluminum outer-frame together completely with our PVC thermal-break inner-frame to form a leak-proof seal.
“A room is not a room without natural light”
– Louis Kahn
Natural light is essential for health, happiness, and productivity. Study upon study preach its benefits: improved mood, better sleep, reduced anxiety. Unfortunately most of us are stuck inside during the day and are not taking advantage of this powerful resource. As famed architect Louis Kahn stated, “Depending on the touch of a finger to a switch, we are satisfied with static light and forget the endlessly changing qualities of natural light, in which a room is a different room every second of the day.
Installing skylights is the best way to bring in more natural light to rejuvenate your environment as well as your health. Skylights can bring in up to 7x more light than a similar sized vertical window, and can be installed in areas where windows might not be possible. Skylights will brighten your spaces, reduce your energy costs, add architectural interest, and increase the value of your home.
The outer frame is 6063-T5 aluminum anodized medium bronze. Corners are folded from continuous pieces rather than welded and painted or screwed together. This frame design gives UV shielding protection to the sealants for longer life and provides a cleaner, more finished appearance.
The welded PVC inner frame is snapped to the aluminum outer frame around the entire perimeter of the glazing, providing a constant and continuous compression force on the sealing tape. Screw together frames have “hard” spots where the screws are located and “soft” areas where the inner frame can sag allowing for uneven seal compression . Our snap-together design provides a state-of-the-art thermal break technology as well as an excellent condensation drainage system. With weep holes in all four corners, we ensure that any condensation that collects will drain out of the gutter, outside the flashing, and onto the roof.
We have an expansive product line with the breadth of glazing options, standard sizes, and venting options available – over 400 standard options to choose from as well as countless custom configurations. Glass models include ultra high-tech coatings that enhance energy efficiency, reduce solar heat gain, and help create a safe and UV protected interior environment. Low profile acrylic domes are suitable for all roof types, especially flat roofs. Their lightweight design is ideal for larger openings.
Glass units are 7/8” overall insulated glass. The exterior pane is tempered glass and the interior pane can be either tempered or laminated glass; tempered safety glass is standard. Other glass configurations are available (Low E, bronze, obscure, etc.) The entire unit is sealed using a two-part polyisobutylene and silicone process. Our warm edge spacer has the lowest seal failure rate in the industry with an integral moisture absorbent that eliminates fogging between the panes.
Clear tempered glass units are the most affordable glass skylight option. Tempering is the process of heating then rapidly cooling glass, which increases the strength to four times stronger than annealed (raw) glass. When tempered glass breaks, it does so in small pieces that will evacuate the frame (instead of long shards like annealed glass). The glass is very strong and impact resistant; only the edges are vulnerable but they are protected by the skylight’s outer frame. Clear tempered glass does a wonderful job of bringing in significant light if that is your main goal.
Laminated glass refers to multiple layers of glass that are adhered to a vinyl interlayer. The interlayer remains attached to the glass even if it breaks. The clear laminate also blocks up to 99% of damaging UV energy while still allowing visible light to enter, so if you want to protect your custom upholstery from fading this is an obvious choice. Laminated glass is also an excellent insulator, doing the best of any glazing option to dampen unwanted noises such as planes, trains, and automobiles or the persistent pooch next door.
Low-E glass refers to glass with a low-emissivity metal coating that improves the overall energy efficiency of the unit without sacrificing visual clarity. The coating basically acts as a barrier, reflecting heat energy back into the space it originated from instead of passing through the glazing. Long wavelength infrared energy is filtered, while short wavelength visible light is allowed to pass. Summer heat stays out (along with harmful UV waves) and winter warmth stays in, and you still benefit from the natural light. The reduced heat transfer allows you more control of your spaces, keeping your home comfortable and efficient year round.
Tints allow even more versatility to those who wish to control the appearance and performance of their glass unit. Acting like sunglasses on a bright summer day, our tinted glass filters the natural light through whichever colored lens you select. For even greater privacy, you can select an obscure tint that still allows light to enter but blocks the view from the outside. This is a common choice for homeowners who install skylight in their bathroom or other areas of their home that may be visible to a neighboring house.
Acrylic dome skylights have their unique niche in the industry, their lightweight design makes them a smart choice for large commercial openings. They are also ideal for flat roof applications as their unique dome design aid naturally sheds rain and snow.
Acrylic is clear, 12x stronger than glass, will not yellow or discolor, and forms into optically distortion-free domes. Lower grades of acrylic are available and often used by other manufacturers, but due to surface ripple and reduced strength in the lower grades, Western Skylights uses only top quality acrylic.
Acrylic gains its strength by being heated and shaped. In response to customer preference, we utilize a low-rise dome design with an air space designed to provide maximum thermal efficiency. Our acrylic units are impact resistant and are tested to with 80 lbs of pressure per square foot.
The tint options for acrylic are darker than their glass counterparts, so this is a good option if filtering natural light or maintaining privacy is of importance. White acrylic skylights can mimic fluorescent light in warehouses, garages, sheds, or other applications where bright natural light is desired, but gazing through the skylight is not necessary.
Operable skylights are available in nearly all sizes and configurations. The units will open approximately 3/4” to allow ventilation while preventing leaking in our Northwest drizzle. For increased air flow, units will open a maximum of 12”. Manual operators are standard, but electric operators are available for high or hard-to-reach applications. Removable screens are standard for ease of cleaning.
Manual skylight operators are easy to install, simple to use, and can lift up to 140 lbs with minimal effort. A strong plastic case liner keeps the chain and sprocket sliding smoothly, making skylights easy to open. A hardened steel chain is detachable at the sash for easy installation and provides years of noise-free operation. Pole socket/straight drive and casement handle/angle drive options are available along with standard telescopes from 4’-6’) and long handled (telescopes from 6’-10’) poles.
For those who want an electric option, the Sentry II HS Motor System delivers quality and ease of use.
Designed for heavy skylights (160 lb hatch weight), this digital system features a power conversion built right into the control package that accepts direct connection of line voltages. ETL listed and CE approved, the remote can control and infinite number of windows, skylights, and even motorized blinds. The Sentry II HS Motor System features a rain sensor which automatically closes skylights at the first sign of moisture. Available remote control utilizes railing coded technology to provide high security and peace of mind. A built-in thermostat allows skylights to open and close together.
Our standard sizes are predicated on standard rafter spacing:
14 series (inside curb 14 ½”) = 16” on center rafters
22 series (inside curb 22 ½”) = 24” on center rafters
30 series (inside curb 30 ½”) = 2 @16” on center rafters
34 series (inside curb 34 ½”) = 36” on center rafters
46 series (inside curb 46 ½”) = 2 @ 24” on center rafters
All units are designed to fit either vertically or horizontally and align with combinations of rafters. Additionally, opening models fit the same curbs as fixed models. Custom sizes are also available to accommodate unusual or non-standard applications.
| MODEL NUMBER | INSIDE CURB DIMENSION | ON CENTER DIMENSION | OUTSIDE CURB DIMENSION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1422 | 14.5" x 22.5" | 16" x 24" | 17.5" x 25.5" |
| 1434 | 14.5" x 34.5" | 16" x 36" | 17.5" x 37.5" |
| 1446 | 14.5" x 46.5" | 16" x 48" | 17.5" x 49.5" |
| 1470 | 14.5" x 70.5" | 16" x 72" | 17.5" x 73.5" |
| 2222 | 22.5" x 22.5" | 24" x 24" | 25.5" x 25.5" |
| 2234 | 22.5" x 34.5" | 24" x 36" | 25.5" x 37.5" |
| 2246 | 22.5" x 46.5" | 24" x 48" | 25.5" x 49.5" |
| 2258 | 22.5" x 58.5" | 24" x 60" | 25.5" x 61.5" |
| 2270 | 22.5" x 70.5" | 24" x 72" | 25.5" x 73.5" |
| 2294 | 22.5" x 94.5" | 24" x 96" | 25.5" x 97.5" |
| 3030 | 30.5" x 30.5" | 32" x 32" | 33.5" x 33.5" |
| 3046 | 30.5" x 46.5" | 32" x 48" | 33.5" x 49.5" |
| 3058 | 30.5" x 58.5" | 32" x 60" | 33.5" x 61.5" |
| 3070 | 30.5" x 70.5" | 32" x 72" | 33.5" x 73.5" |
| 3094 | 30.5" x 94.5" | 32" x 96" | 33.5" x 97.5" |
| 3434 | 34.5" x 34.5" | 36" x 36" | 37.5" x 37.5" |
| 3446 | 34.5" x 46.5" | 36" x 48" | 37.5" x 49.5" |
| 3458 | 34.5" x 58.5" | 36" x 60" | 37.5" x 61.5" |
| 3470 | 34.5" x 70.5" | 36" x 72" | 37.5" x 73.5" |
| 3494 | 34.5" x 94.5" | 36" x 96" | 37.5" x 97.5" |
| 4646 | 46.5" x 46.5" | 48" x 48" | 49.5" x 48.5" |
| 4670 | 46.5" x 70.5" | 48" x 72" | 49.5" x 73.5" |
| 4694 | 46.5" x 94.5" | 48" x 96" | 49.5" x 97.5" |
Curb-mounted skylights are relatively simple to install and remove (if necessary). The curb is a frame or wood box built around the roof opening upon which the skylight is mounted. It is typically constructed of 2×6 boards and flashed to become a permanent part of the roof. The skylight fits over the curb and is anchored to it with provided screws. The curb should be a minimum of 4” above the roof surface. (see our Installation Instructions for details).
Because our skylights have weep holes in all four corners, standard fixed skylights can be mounted vertically or horizontally. The skylight should NOT fix tightly on the curb as the weep hold are intended to be positioned outside of the flashing for proper condensation drainage. Installing your skylight tight to the curb will cause the condensation to weep onto the top of the curb which could eventually cause issues with its integrity.
The curb is frame or wood box built around the roof opening upon which the skylight is mounted. The curb is typically constructed of 2×6 boards and flashed to become a permanent part of the roof. The skylight fits over the curb and is anchored to it with provided screws. The curb should be a minimum of 4” above the roof surface.
If you want the benefits of glass but don’t want the hassle of regular cleaning, you can choose our self-cleaning glass option. This environmentally-safe coating can be added to any of our products. Activated by sunlight and rain (which we have in abundance in the Pacific Northwest), the coating accelerates the breakdown of any organic materials. Water will sheet on the surface and rinse away decomposed dirt more efficiently. The glass surface will dry more quickly with minimal spotting and streaking. The coating continues to work for 5-6 years and is safe for humans and pets. For quick touch ups, use only vinegar and water.
Western Skylights Flashing Kits are designed to be used on shake, shingle, and composition roofs. The kit includes all the flashing materials needed to install your Western Skylight: instructions, adjustable Flash Guard™ corners, step flashing, head and base flashing ,and nails. Their attractive brown finish complements the outer frame of all Western Skylight models.
Flashing Kits are compatible with nominal curb heights of 4”-6”. Small Kits fit skylight sizes up to model 2246 (2×4); large kits fit sizes up to model 4670 (4×6). The proprietary Flash Guard™ adjustable system adds extra leak-proof protection to the curb.
Please note: You do not need to use a Western Skylights Flashing Kit to properly install your skylight; they are assembled for ease of installation, especially for DIYers. The installation of flashing kits involves measuring, cutting, folding, fitting, and nailing the flashing.
