Smallest rooflight available?

andcarson

Hi all

I am looking for a tiny rooflight or skylight for my Nissan Vanette conversion. The smallest I have seen here in the UK are 400mmx400mm, but the Vanette doesn't have that much free space between the structural bits of the roof. Ideally I am looking for something tiny, such as 200mm square. I could go for a little dome vent but if I am going to the trouble of cutting through the roof, i would rather have a proper little window rather than just a vent.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas or has made their own? The other option I had in mind was a ship porthole, but they seem like silly money on Fleabay.

Cheers Andy
 

Ste

Hi Andy
My tranny came with a couple of spinners already fitted. All I've done is fit a speaker grill over them, so I can block them off if I need to.

Size of mine is around the 200mm dia, that your looking for.
 

Firefox

If you are talking about the little ribs in the metal 20mm deep to stiffen the panel, they are not really structural. Or put it this way when you cut through them, you trim round the panel by inserting the roolight frame or making a wooden H frame under the hole to stiffen everything up.

So it's OK to cut through some panel stiffening ribs to put a rooflight, in you just have to avoid the deeper structural spars.
 

kangooroo

I fitted a 280mm Fiamma roof vent in my Kangoo van and it made a huge difference to the rear ventilation.
 

andcarson

Thanks for all the replies. As for the struts along the roof being non-structural, as far as I can remember (pre-lining the van) they all seemed to be the same depth so I wouldn't feel too confident about chopping through them.

I was planning on a little timber frame with an internal square of 200mm, giving me an external square of 270mm ish which would just fit between the struts on the roof. I did have a look at the 280mm Fiamma ones but again they would require me to cut through what I think are structural bits.

I love the idea of a washing machine door porthole: I think it would match my sink made out of a dog bowl nicely!

Andy
 

andcarson

Actually, looking at it again, 280mm might just squeeze in between structural members but it is tight - I would certainly prefer another 10mm or so clearance before I chop a big hole anywhere...
Andy
 
n brown

n brown

Forum Member
andcarson said:
Hi all

I am looking for a tiny rooflight or skylight for my Nissan Vanette conversion. The smallest I have seen here in the UK are 400mmx400mm, but the Vanette doesn't have that much free space between the structural bits of the roof. Ideally I am looking for something tiny, such as 200mm square. I could go for a little dome vent but if I am going to the trouble of cutting through the roof, i would rather have a proper little window rather than just a vent.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas or has made their own? The other option I had in mind was a ship porthole, but they seem like silly money on Fleabay.

Cheers Andy
Click to expand...

unless the vanette is built like a tank i have never seen structural ribs as close together as you suggest and suspect firefox may be right. a structural rib is a 'U' shaped metal section welded or glued to the inside of the roof.even in a van like mine they're at least 60 cms apart, are you sure you're right ?
 

ellisboy

Andy! A picture tells a thousand words! Show us where you want to fit the roof light ,like Mr Brown says :yeahthat:
 

andcarson

n brown: I am sure you are right about the structural bits not being that close together! I am just a bit scared about chopping through the struts that are there and would rather limit my jigsawing to the thin metal skin of the roof proper. I would love to be able to show you guys a picture but the roof is all lined and carpeted now, so there isn't a great deal to see and I didn't keep any pictures of the roof before I lined it.

Basically there are three thicker struts which cross the roof width-ways. The biggest one is in the middle and houses the light: the other two are equidistant between the rear door and the cab respectively. in between these thicker bits is ~280mm of uninterrupted roof. Each rectangle of roof is about 280x1400mm. It is in this space that I would like to stick a vent/window.

I have come across a 9"x9" mini roof vent which looks like a possibility: Mini Roof Vents | Gold RV
I could certainly fit this one between the struts and I am (foolishly?) thinking I wouldn't have to completely un-line and un-carpet the roof in order to fit it: rather I could just cut out the necessary square from above.

any advice most appreciated
Andy
 
oldish hippy

oldish hippy

Forum Member
just be carefull when cutting it that it dont get to warm ,dont see you should have to uncarpet it well dril all four corner the join up underneath remove square of carpet well cut across corner to center so you you have four triangles then cut out carpet carefully then cut once measure twiice cut once and double check dont forget that you will probaly have surround under neath so allow for that .so dont fit one edge tight to ribs running across
 

andcarson

oldish hippy said:
just be carefull when cutting it that it dont get to warm ,dont see you should have to uncarpet it well dril all four corner the join up underneath remove square of carpet well cut across corner to center so you you have four triangles then cut out carpet carefully then cut once measure twiice cut once and double check dont forget that you will probaly have surround under neath so allow for that .so dont fit one edge tight to ribs running across
Click to expand...

Thanks oldish hippy - sound advice. I was also wondering about a wooden frame for the vent to sandwich onto: do you screw this frame to the roof first or does is just sit there with a friction fit once the whole thing is assembled?
Andy
 
n brown

n brown

Forum Member
andcarson said:
Thanks oldish hippy - sound advice. I was also wondering about a wooden frame for the vent to sandwich onto: do you screw this frame to the roof first or does is just sit there with a friction fit once the whole thing is assembled?
Andy
Click to expand...
this frame which won't be seen,can be made of any timber nailed together then justglued in place with gripfill or similar.if you want,you can cut the ceiling,glue the frame in then when its set next day, cut the roof hole,thats the way i do it.
 

jamesmarshall

andcarson said:
Thanks oldish hippy - sound advice. I was also wondering about a wooden frame for the vent to sandwich onto: do you screw this frame to the roof first or does is just sit there with a friction fit once the whole thing is assembled?
Andy
Click to expand...

The roof vent I fitted came in two parts, upper (external) and lower (internal) which are screwed together from below. I made a wooden frame and placed it between the van roof and the carpeted ceiling. The whole thing was kept in place by the screws which clamped top to bottom. Hope this makes sense.
 

andcarson

thanks guys for the advice. I will probably buy the mini vent i linked to earlier and I will let you know how badly it goes!

Andy
 
n brown

n brown

Forum Member
some advice,always have a bit of plastic sheet and some electricians tape handy in case it rains before you're done,handy tip#27
 
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