skylights and ridge venting

[MikeT]

As I try to go to sleep in the loft of my beach house project, my mind is buzzing with things I need to do and thinking of options.  One of those issues involves what, if anything, I need to do with respect to venting in the rafter bays that are accommodating skylights.  I have my roof on and have ridge venting and the skylights are installed.  But I do not have insulation and drywall up yet. 

Currently the skylights block the venting in the bays in which they rest.  Is that a concern?  Should I drill holes in sides of the rafters just below  and above the skylights to allow air to move around and up to the ridge vents?  Should I just chill and go to sleep?

Thanks,
mt

[MountainDon]

I don't recall your project specifics, but I imagine this is a roof with the insulation placed within the rafter bays, then to be sheeted over from underneath with gyproc or some such material.

First, I don't know how much air would move through the holes Second I don't know that I would want to drill many holes in the rafters that keep the roof up there. For a floor, for example, it is not allowed to knotch or drill joists in the center 1/3 of the span (IRC).

One thing I do know is that sealed and completely filled with insulation such as one of the foamed in place types would alleviate all concerns as well as offer greater insulation value.

Perhaps you could use sheet foam cut as close to size as possible and use canned foam to seal it in place in those bays. 

I look forward to seeing what the answer to this is.

[MikeT]

Thanks, Don.

I suppose I could fill that space with a solid section of insulation.  As opposed to the complete spray in stuff (Iocene), I could do a combo of rigid insulation in most of the space and use the cans of expanding foam in the gaps.

mt

[MountainDon]

I used sheet foam and filled the gaps with Great Stuff for big gaps in my window header areas.

[PEG688]

   #1:  Is that a concern? 

  #2: Should I drill holes in sides of the rafters just below  and above the skylights to allow air to move around and up to the ridge vents? 

  #3:Should I just chill and go to sleep?

#1: Yes.

#2: Yes.

#3: Right after you drill the holes or at least add the task to your to do list.

2 or 3 1 1/2" holes a couple of inched apart here you stated they should go will do it. Hot air will rise and find it way thru the whole or out to day light.