Some of my favorite childhood memories center around our family vacations. Growing up on a family farm meant taking those trips once the harvest was completed, on rainy days, or on weekends when my dad didn’t have to milk cows! We would load up in the pick-up truck and head to the North Carolina Mountains twice a year visiting various parks, looking for rocks, and wading in the creeks. From fresh trout cooked at a roadside cafe, to the smell of the hot coffee and pancake syrup from all you can eat hotel breakfasts, we enjoyed every twist and turn of the scenic highway.
As we grew up and moved away from home, my parents continued to enjoy weeklong trips to Gatlinburg. Seeking a more adventuresome landscape, they embarked on the world of cruising. Not being comfortable with flying, they drove from Virginia to Florida, setting afloat for weeks at a time to see the world outside of their own landscape! Those crystal blue waters from the Caribbean and haggling for goods in Mexico were surely enjoyed, but the presentation of the Baked Alaska in the cruise ship dining room seemed to be the one thing etched in their minds as representing a purely delightful vacation.
Perplexed with the idea that ice cream could be sandwiched between layers of sponge cake covered in meringue and toasted without melting is utterly mesmerizing! But this tasty treat holds a very important secret. The bubbles in the meringue act as an insulator protecting the ice cream from heat, much like the VELUX engineered dual flashing systems protect skylights from leaking.
Regardless of the type of roofing product installed, VELUX skylights are backed by the 10 Year “No Leak” warranties when installed correctly. While the Deck Mounted units include a seal that is nailed to the roof deck and the curb Mounted Skylights have a gasket that forms a tight seal, both types of products rely on an all-weather underlayment wrapped around the units and adhered to the roof deck. The underlayment product adds a secure layer of protection against water penetration, bugs, birds, etc.
Here is an example of a skylight incorrectly installed without the corresponding flashing and underlayment versus a unit installed exceeding the VELUX installation guidelines allowing the unit to qualify for the VELUX No Leak Warranties.
The old term “there’s a method to madness” is no further than the truth when it comes to skylight installation and baking. The success of both processes requires the installers to follow the instructions meticulously. One would not try replacing toasted whipped cream with meringue. So why would installers skip the step of placing underlayment around the skylights?
Raise your spoon to those triumphant baking successes and correct skylight Installations on National Baked Alaska Day, February 1st . Let’s celebrate great memories, tasty treats, and No Leak Skylights!