Retractable Roofing Systems Home Improvement Appliances

January 24th, 2011 by Lee Jones

Retractable Roofing Systems

Want to have a more open room? Get a retractable roof and bring the outside in.

Bringing the outdoors in has always been something that many homeowners desire. The natural look and feel of real woods and warm stone are comforting and give a home an elegant element that is not achieved with man-made materials. There is a way to completely bring the outdoors to your interior space. And it will provide a great view as well.

Retractable Skylight Systems

Skylights are a great addition to a home with their natural light. In the past, skylights have been avoided by many contractors because the flashing was hard to install and often failed after only a few years. Skylights today come with a prefabricated flashing kit for the brand of skylight being installed. These flashing kits help protect the skylight and allow them to last a decade or longer.

Retractable skylights are large skylights that can be anywhere from a few feet wide to spanning an entire room. The Skylight frame is composed of aluminum or stainless steel that is constructed with a thermal break to stop the transmittance of cold or warm conduction through the frame. The glass is a thicker grade than standard skylights to protect against shattering during movement. When the motorized opener is activated, the skylight opens on the exterior of the roof. This is important as a pocket in the ceiling would create a void that would create inefficiency because of a lack of insulation.

While these systems are not common for residential applications, they are becoming more common in western states, particularly in warm weather climates as the open hole allows heat to escape freely from the house. This increases the overall efficiency of the home while preventing indoor air pollution.

Retractable Roof Systems

The same concept of the retractable skylight has been developed into an entirely retractable roofing system that is typically used in pool areas to allow for the moisture to escape the room and to make the pool room an outdoor area in the summer time.

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Structural Considerations

While this skylight and roofing system is a great idea and has been installed in many residential and commercial structures across the United States, the structural load must be taken into consideration. The portion of the roof that is not skylight, for example, needs to be structurally supported properly in order to make the system structurally sound. Also, the span of the roof will likely need added support columns in areas where snow and ice are a factor during portions of the year. This could affect the layout of your room and may not work with your particular design. It also increases the overall cost of a project like this and may take it out of the range of affordability.

Having a structural engineer design your retractable skylight or roof will create a truly “open” concept for you and your friends to enjoy for years to come.

Home Improvement Appliances