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COLUMBIA’S CONDENSATION
CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

Condensation is a common issue in Canadian homes – caused by the difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the house, and the build up of humidity inside. Warm humidity inside the home turns from a gas to water droplets when it makes contact with cool hard surfaces like glass. Humidity is created by normal daily interior activities such as heating the home, cooking, bathing, exercising, etc.
  • Columbia ’s Condensation Control Technology is designed to deal with condensation build up, incorporating a wide rigid gutter on all four sides of the skylight that wicks away moisture – ensuring that the skylight lightwell remains dry and stain free.
  • Condensation can cause significant damage, such as lightwell staining below your skylight, structural wood framing to rot, and mould.
  • Using decades of experience, engineering, and testing, Columbia Skylights has developed the best solution in the industry for managing condensation.

Condensation Control Technology

  • All Columbia skylights incorporate a base frame with an integrated 4 sided condensation gutter to collect moisture caused by Canada’s extreme weather conditions.
  • Columbia’s condensation gutter is made of rigid PVC or aluminum for larger models, and is an integral part of the internal frame. The gutters are wide to handle any amount of condensation build up.

We designed our Condensation Gutter for Canada’s climate

  • Most imported skylights utilize a black EPDM rubber base frame with a narrow flexible gutter, predominantly on just one of four sides. This technology is designed for a milder southern climate.
  • Condensation created by interior humidity can damage and cause unsightly staining of your skylight lightwell.
  1. A co-extruded flexible PVC gasket acts as a watertight seal between the underside of the glass unit and the PVC base frame.
  2. PVC gutter collects any condensation, allowing it to drain from the interior of the skylight frame to the exterior and onto the roof surface.
  3. The interior and exterior components of the frame are independent of each other. Divided by a thermal barrier, stopping the cold from travelling from the exterior to the interior.

Columbia VCM – PVC Frame

Vcm Pvc Frame Features

  1. Our PVC white base frame matches your drywalled lightwell. PVC is proven to have superior insulation properties, which is why it is the choice of most of the window industry.
  2. Columbia’s skylight utilizes a rigid PVC extrusion. Designed with tubular chambers to provide strength and rigidity.
  3. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Base Frame with effective 4 sided rigid condensation gutter. PVC is durable and lightweight.

Weep HolesCondensation Weep Hole Mobile

Weep holes ensure drainage from the interior condensation gutter
  • Our PVC Base Frame has been designed with special weeping holes to wick away moisture.
  • The moisture drains from the interior gutter to the exterior of the frame.
  • The weep holes allow the frame to repel even the most extreme condensation or moisture accumulation, eliminating any chance of lightwell staining.
  • Weep holes are utilized in most modern PVC windows.
The width & depth of the gutters are important
  • Both our PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) base frame and aluminum base Frame (for larger models) have been designed with an effective 4 sided rigid condensation gutter.
  • The aluminum frame’s gutter is sloped, providing positive drainage.
  • Columbia’s Condensation Control Technology is designed for the harsh Canadian climate.

Gutter Sizes

  1. A watertight rubber gasket seal acts as a flexible barrier between the glass and the aluminum base frame.
  2. The aluminum gutter collects any condensation, allowing it to drain from the interior of the skylight frame to the exterior and onto the roof.
  3. The interior and exterior components of the frame are independent of each other. The two components are divided by a thermal barrier, stopping the cold from travelling from the exterior to the interior.

Columbia AC AOF – Aluminum Frame

Used on skylights larger than 4 ft x 6 ft.

Ac Aof Aluminum Frame Features

 

  1. The gutter uses positive drainage; it is sloped allowing the condensation to weep to the outside of the frame.
  2. Aluminum Frame with effective 4 sided rigid condensation gutter.

 

Strength And Rigidity

Larger size acrylic skylights require the strength and rigidity of an aluminum frame
  • Columbia is able to produce larger acrylic or polycarbonate skylights than most other manufacturers.
  • Larger skylights require the strength and rigidity of an aluminum frame.
  • Columbia’s aluminum base frame is thermally broken, with a polyurethane thermal break preventing cold air transfer.
  • Sizes from inside curb, 46.5” x 94.5” to 94.5 x 94.5”.
  • The largest size available 6’ x 10’ or 8’ x 8’.