Just finished replacing the skylights in my barn roof. A hail storm 2 weeks ago punched the old ones full of holes. I built the barn exactly 8 years ago and was surprised how brittle and yellow the lights had gotten when I pulled the old ones off. The new ones are Palram brand and are guaranteed for 10 years, but I have my doubts. Is this something I can expect to be replacing every ten years or so? Thought about replacing with metal, but I spend alot of time in there and it would be like a dungeon.
The sun's UV rays really destroy any type of plastic sheeting and flexible tarps... including (we discovered) clear vinyl tarps. Older airplane wings and modern ultralight wings are victims of UV rays if they're not painted/treated with special chems to block the sun's effects. You might look into clear Lexan for skylights next time. 1/8" and 3/16" thick is common in the sign trade. Glass companies too.
The new ones I put on are polycarbonate. Same as my greenhouse is made of. The greenhouse sustained no hail damage so I am hoping the new skylights will perform the same (at least for a few years). Greenhouse is only 4 years old so time will tell.
I replaced the ones in my barn when the started to leak with the best polycarbonate one Lowe's sells.. no leaks after 6 years mine are 30 wide 10 feet long and got 6 of them .... cannot say how brittle but I put up clear ones and still pretty clear. About 30 bucks apiece ..
I sell a lot it the polycarbonite panels for skylights, side lights and even have ridge caps available in it to have ridge lights. I try to steer customers away from skylights, they are most prone to leaks and breakage. We have also found on wider buildings (70 ft wide+) the ridge lights have issues with cracking around the screw holes. Side light is my preferred way to get natural light. But, the poly panels are tough stuff, I have one building that the roof steel was damage by large hail, but the ridge lights all survived.
