Can a Sky Lift Roof Riser Be Shortened or Cut Down?

One of the most common questions that we get about our Sky Lift roof risers is whether or not they can be shortened or cut down if needed. The short answer is “yes,” but before we talk about how, here’s why we recommend against it.

Our Sky Lift patio roof risers are set to a minimum of 18” tall. The design allows plenty of clearance between the roof and the patio or pergola roof so that you can achieve things like ventilation. If you’re grilling or having an outdoor fire in your patio area, you’ll want to make sure that you have a place for that smoke and heat to go. A sizable gap between your pergola cover and roof will give plenty of space for warm air to escape.

Additionally, the gap allows cooler air to flow in.

But if you’re intent on cutting down your roof riser, here’s how you’d go about it.

First, you need to make sure that you do any trimming down before installation. Cutting down your roof riser will be difficult if it's installed on your roof. You’ll run the risk of not being able to make a clean cut as well as damaging your saddle.

When you’re ready to cut down your riser, you need to make sure that you use something that will give you a clean cut. We recommend the following tools:

• Chop saw
• Abrasive blade or metal cut-off saw
• Metal band saw
• Hacksaw

Do not try to use a Sawzall as it will not provide a clean cut. Once you’ve made your cut, you can then redrill your bolt holes. Simply add the bracket attachment to the top and mark your holes on each side, then drill each individually. Don’t try and drill through.

After that, you can apply some red oxide primer to make sure it won’t corrode against the elements.

That’s it!

Before any customizations, consult with your local building jurisdiction regarding any local codes specific to your location. The description above is just a general overview. Always consult with local officials, architects, engineers in your site planning. Do your due diligence.