Kater Street Starter: Let the Sunshine In!

And then there was LIGHT! Mild November weather allowed us to install the skylight at the top of the new stair hall on the second floor.

Generally speaking, smart design in the mid-atlantic region avoids horizontal glazing (skylights) as they often contribute to uncontrollable heat gain. We decided we would make an exception in our design due our rowhouse's limited perimeter access to light. This is the only skylight in the design and it will allow much needed natural light to penetrate into the center of the floor plans. We also upgraded the skylight to be operable and thus passively ventilating the house by exhausting hot air up the stairwell using the stack effect.

We selected and installed a Velux VCE 46x46 - the largest electric venting skylight by Velux. It is constructed of a metal-clad wood frame w/ an insulated glass lite. The skylight will open with a concealed electric motor controlled with a wired key pad.

Additional Specs:
Energy Star Rated
U-factor: 0.60
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient: 0.29
Visible Transmittance: 0.48
Tempered over Laminated Low-E 2 Argon-gas filled Glazing

Once it is wired and powered up we will show the unit in action.

Here are some picts of the installation . . . enjoy!