What this covers
A skylight is a window in the roof, and its success depends on the flashing. The installer locates the opening between rafters or headers off a cut rafter where the design allows, cuts the roof and ceiling, frames the opening, sets a curb-mounted or deck-mounted unit, and installs the manufacturer's step and apron flashing kit woven into the shingles. Inside, a light shaft is framed, insulated and drywalled or paneled down to the ceiling. Replacement of a failed or fogged unit follows the same path with the roofing around it lifted and relaid. Careful work shows in flashing that is woven, not caulked, a shaft that is insulated against condensation, and glass chosen for the orientation.
When to call
- A dark kitchen, bath or hall where a window is not an option.
- An existing skylight that leaks, fogs between the panes or has cracked acrylic.
- A roof replacement, which is the best time to replace older skylights.
- A vaulted room where daylight would change how it feels.
What to expect
- LocatePosition, size and type are chosen around the rafters and the room below.
- Cut and frameThe roof and ceiling are opened and the opening framed.
- Set and flashThe unit is set and its flashing kit woven into the roofing.
- Finish insideThe shaft is insulated and finished and the trim completed.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Do skylights leak?
Properly flashed modern units rarely do. Most leaks come from old units, failed seals or flashing that was caulked instead of installed to the kit.
Fixed or venting?
Fixed units are simpler, with fewer parts. Venting units open to release heat and moisture and are popular in kitchens and baths.
Should skylights be replaced with the roof?
If they are more than fifteen or twenty years old, yes. Reflashing an old unit into a new roof invites the next leak.
Related: Roof repair · Asphalt shingle roofing · Roof ventilation · All roofing and gutters
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.