Man Hours: 5
Cost: £365
Tools & Materials: Fiamma Roof Vent, Maxxair Maxxfan Deluxe, Drill, Nibbler, Metal Primer, Pine Batons, Weatherproof Sealant, Masking Tape
The Skylights
We've chosen to install two skylights in the new van, the Fiamma Roof Vent and the Maxxair Maxxfan Deluxe. We had the Fiamma Roof Vent in the last van and it worked really well so we wanted to use that again. We decided to go for the Maxxfan Deluxe to add greater air circulation and cool us down in the hotter summer months. Now we have Bear we want to make sure the van can be as cool as possible and it will give us a bit more flexibility if we ever leave him to chill in the van while we go for a quick climb. We are ridiculously excited about the Maxxfan Deluxe. Yes really! It has has a built-in rain cover, remote control, powerful 10 speed fan motor, thermostat, air intake and exhaust. All of that, in a fan!
The Installation
Installation went smoothy without any issues. We installed both skylights in tandem for maximum efficiency and it worked really well. It took us 2.5 hours in total with two us. Here's what we did.
Step 1 - Measure and Markup. Masking tape works well as a temporary canvas to draw onto when marking up.
Step 2 - Cut opening into the roof. We used a drill to open up the corners and then a nibbler to cut the edges. We've gone for a nibbler as it's accurate and efficient (perhaps a little too efficient, be careful!). We used a jigsaw last time and that worked well too.
Step 3 - Paint the metal edges with a Metal Primer to prevent rust.
Step 4 - Apply weatherproof sealant to skylight base/flange. Our Fiamma Roof Vent was being installed onto an uneven surface so we layered up sealant on the lower ribs for an even coverage.
Step 5 - Fit the skylight and flange into place, and press down firmly ensuring there is full contact between skylight and roof surface.
Step 6 - Screw in the skylight and flange. We created a wooden frame and secured it to the roof beneath the van so we had something to screw into.
Step 7 - Apply sealant to cover the screws.
Step 8 (Maxxfan only) - Clip fan into flange using metal clips.
And then step back and admire! As scary as it sounds cutting into your van, it really is a simple and easy process. If we can do it, anyone can! Just take your time, measure carefully and have fun.
To see more of our skylight installation process head to our You Tube page to watch our installation video. Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to know when our next blog and vlog is live.
Total Man Hours: 14*
Total Build Cost: £283*
*Hours includes labour but not the many many hours of head scratching, planning and shopping.
*Cost covers all materials used but not the cost of the van, tools or shipping expenses as these things will vary for everyone.