Monumental Failed Fiberglass Skylight | Portland OR

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This 80’s era skylight has far exceeded its useful service life. The fiberglass glazing has lost its original coating and will continue to allow water penetration. Fiber blooming, discoloration and evidence of water presence confirm the skylight has failed.

Additionally, strong evidence of mold is present at the peak of this system. Holes were also found in materials used for repair in the past. The type of material used also renders this system unrepairable, replacement is the only option.

The skylight runs down the center of this feature on the roof.
The skylight runs down the center.
One section of the atrium skylight showing the yellow discoloration.
A shorter section sitting 90 degrees from the main section.
A close up of the extreme surface degradation of the fiberglass skylight.
Extreme surface degradation.
An image showing the atrium skylight from the interior.
Yellowing is obvious to say the least.
A closeup of yellowed a moldy skylight panels.
The dark sections are moldy!
A closeup of degradation of several layers of what needs to be removed.
Several layers of what needs to be removed.

This is a large project. There is a great deal of new components that need to be craned onto the roof. In turn, a great deal of trash and materials must be removed from the roof and disposed of properly.

Weather was another factor. In December, Portland saw 2.96 more inches of precipitation than normal, ending the month with 8.73 total inches. An atmospheric river from Dec. 4-6 brought a total of 3.16 inches of steady rain over 40 hours.

Portland saw three days of freezing rain in January with 9.43 total inches of rain.

Areas in the lobby are roped off for protection.
Areas in the lobby are roped off for protection.
An image of the crew removing degraded skylight panels
Removing degraded skylight panels
The crew is attaching new panels.
The crew is attaching new panels.
An image of new panels, missing panels and old panels to be removed.
Ready for more new sections to be installed.
A crew member is prepping the framework for new panel installation.
Prepping the framework for new panel installation.
An image of plastic sheeting weatherproofing the skylight for the night.
The skylights are weatherproofed overnight.
Crew members are setting a new panel into position.
A new panel is being set in place.
An image of two crew members from the interior.
Hardly a common workplace.
The crew is setting a final panel in a section as the sun is setting.
Setting the last panel of a section.
An image of ice on the roof after a storm.
Adverse weather often affected the project.
Piles of dozens of the removed panels.
The old panels add up!

A large truckload of material arrived and was unloaded on November 13th, 2023. The next day was spent getting the materials up to the roof. Most of the next day was spent setting up safety zones in the lobby and staging and prepping the materials up on the roof.

The first panels were removed on November 16th. The work progressed from there with working sections covered each evening and left covered on the many days of inclement weather. Work progressed somewhat slowly with a break for the Christmas and New Years holidays. Weather became a factor again, slowing progress until the last week of January.

Progress improved significantly with the last panels installed February 9th, 2024. The next day or so was spent taking care of some of the details and generally double checking the entire installation. Then cleanup and disposing of the piles of the old skylight components finally ended on the morning of the sixteenth.

An image of one end of the completed skylight.
One end of the completed skylight.
A view of the completed skylight from the lobby.
A view of the completed skylight from the lobby.
A second view of the completed skylight from the lobby.
A second view of the completed skylight from the lobby.

Product used:

  • Segmented Barrel Vault without ends: GridSpan™.
  • 1 – Width: 130′-0″ Length: 24′-6″.
  • Rise: Unknown .
  • Bays: 18 Across the Arch, 6 lengthwise.
  • 1 – Width: 47′-0″ Length: 24′-6″.
  • Rise: Unknown
  • Bays: 6 Across the Arch, 6 lengthwise.
  • Non-Thermally Broken Perimeter Frame.
  • Non-Thermally Broken Grid Core.
  • Light Transmission: 25%
  • Grid: 12″x24″ per design standard
  • Center of Panel U-Factor: .20
  • Glazing: .070″ Ultimate Series “Silver Edition” Crystal Non-Fire Rated Exterior
    .045″ Standard White Fire Rated Interior, 2 3/4″
  • Finish: 215-R1 Class I Clear Anodize

GridSpan™ translucent panel skylights feature a lightweight sandwich panel design with fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP) face sheets that provide light and solar heat gain control. Their high thermal performance and unique aesthetic make them a versatile design tool.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

GridSpan™
FRP Skylights

GridSpan™
Data Sheet

Dowsil 795
Data Sheet

Dowisil 795 Silicone Building Sealant pdf

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