Skylight Installation in Rockaway, NJ

Name: Rockaway Roofing Pros
Telephone: 9736364945
Price range: $$

Rockaway Roofing Pros installs skylights that cut daytime lighting costs and end the ceiling stains that failed flashing leaves behind. Ice dams and freeze-thaw cycles push meltwater under an old curb, so we rebuild the whole opening instead of caulking over the problem. Call 9736364945 for a free roof estimate.

Call 9736364945

Roofing crew setting a new skylight on a shingle roof in Rockaway, New Jersey

A skylight installation starts at the roof deck, not at the ceiling. We tear off the shingles and felt around the opening, check the sheathing for rot, and cut back until we hit solid wood. Then we frame a curb, lay ice-and-water shield over it, and run self-adhered underlayment up the sides.

Step flashing and counter-flashing do the real waterproofing work, and they have to be woven into the shingle courses rather than nailed on top. We set a VELUX fixed skylight or a vented skylight, then seal the unit to the curb with a compatible sealant. Solar-powered blinds and Solatube sun tunnels go in during the same visit when you want light without cutting a full shaft.

Cost depends on unit size, curb height, whether the ceiling has to be opened, and how much flashing we replace. Insulation and vapor barrier work around the shaft usually adds to the ticket. Mid-century ranches and split-levels often need new blocking up top. Colonial revival homes from the 1950s and 1970s usually have the framing already. Newer townhouses and single-family builds are the simplest because the trusses are still straight.

What's Included

We tear off the shingles and underlayment around the opening, then inspect the sheathing for rot before anything new goes down.

A framed curb, ice-and-water shield, and synthetic underlayment wrap the opening so meltwater cannot wick into the roof deck.

Step flashing and counter-flashing are woven into the field course and hand-sealed, so the joint never depends on caulk alone.

Your VELUX or Solatube unit is set level, squared to the ridge, and fastened with the hardware the maker specifies.

We restore the surrounding shingles, replacing any cracked or bruised course and matching the color as closely as the dye lot allows.

Interior finish covers insulation, vapor barrier, and drywall framing around the light shaft so the well does not leak air.

We pull the permit and meet the local building code for flashing height, head clearance, and fastener spacing.

A final roof inspection includes hose testing the curb and a written roof estimate for anything else we find up there.

Our Skylight Installation Process

Skylight Installation: What Happens, Step by Step

We measure rafter and joist spacing in your attic, then pick a unit size that fits between framing so the roofline stays true.
Drop cloths go down inside, a ladder or scaffold gets set on stable ground, and everyone on the roof wears a safety harness.
A pry bar and roofing shovel lift the surrounding shingles and felt; we cut the opening with a saw and square the corners.
We reframe the curb, replace any rotted plywood or OSB sheathing, and fasten new blocking with ring-shank nails.
Ice-and-water shield goes over the curb, then synthetic underlayment, then step flashing, counter-flashing, and apron flashing at the head.
The unit is set, leveled, and sealed with mastic and roof cement at the base; a nail gun and air compressor drive the finish courses back in.
Debris and old shingles go into a dumpster, then we magnet-sweep the lawn for nails and hose test the curb before we leave.

Design Consultation

On-site evaluation of placement, structural considerations, and integration with existing roof system. Manufacturer specifications reviewed.

Material Specification

Product selection matched to your building and Rockaway climate. Manufacturer-certified installer crews assigned.

Certified Install

Flashing, sealing, and termination details installed per manufacturer requirements for warranty validity.

Warranty Registration

Manufacturer warranty registered in your name. Our workmanship backed by 25 warranty. Final documentation delivered.

Signs You Need Skylight Installation

Signs Your Skylight Is Failing and Needs Replacement

Brown rings or bubbling paint on the ceiling below, which means water is wicking through the curb flashing.
Daylight or a draft along the frame, a sign the sealant has peeled and the unit has settled out of square.
Ice dams building at the skylight head, where freeze-thaw cycles push meltwater backward under the shingles.
Granule loss and bare spots on the neighboring shingles, often from hail that dented the flashing and opened a seam.
Condensation trapped between the panes, which means the sealed glass unit failed and no longer insulates.
Cracked or flaking curbs on an older unit, where the wood has rotted under the mastic and roof cement.
Gaps where counter-flashing lifts away from a chimney or parapet wall close by.
Stains that come back after every heavy snow, even after a previous patch job.

Skylight Installation — Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a skylight installation cost in Rockaway?

Skylight installation usually falls between $1,500 and $4,500 per unit, depending on size, curb height, and whether the ceiling has to be opened. Interior finish work, insulation, and vapor barrier around the shaft add to the total. We give a line-item estimate so you can see each cost before you commit.

How long does skylight installation take?

Skylight installation takes about one day on a standard pitched roof when the framing is sound. Add a second day if the shaft needs drywall, paint, or new insulation. Rain or heavy snow pushes the schedule, which is why we watch the forecast before we tear anything off.

Will my insurance cover skylight damage from hail?

Skylight installation claims after hail or wind often qualify for coverage because the flashing and glass unit are part of the roof system. We document the damage, meet the adjuster inspection, and file the supplemental claim if the first scope misses something. Your deductible still applies, and we tell you honestly when a repair costs less than a claim.

Does a new skylight leak in a Rockaway winter?

Skylight installation done correctly handles freeze-thaw cycles because the ice-and-water shield and counter-flashing shed water instead of trapping it. Ice dams form when attic heat melts snow that refreezes at the eave, so we check ventilation and insulation while the roof is open.

Can you replace just the skylight without a full roof?

Skylight installation can be done as a standalone project when the surrounding shingles have life left in them. If the field course shows granule loss, curl, or end-of-life wear, we will tell you that replacing the unit alone buys you only a few seasons.

When is the best time of year to schedule the work?

Skylight installation is easiest in late spring and early fall, when temperatures let sealant cure properly and shingles stay flexible. Summer works too, though attic heat makes the rough-in slower. Winter jobs are possible on clear days, but snow cover on the roof may delay the start.

Don't just take our word for it — hear from our satisfied customers.

We put a VELUX vented skylight over the kitchen in our White Meadow Lake split-level. The crew flashed the curb properly and we have not seen a drop since the January thaw. Dana R.

Our Hibernia colonial had an old skylight that leaked at every snow melt. They replaced the unit, rebuilt the curb, and matched the shingles well enough that I cannot tell where the work happened. Michael T.

Rockaway Roofing Pros added a Solatube sun tunnel in the hallway of our Lake Telemark house. One day of work, no mess left behind, and the room feels completely different. Priya S.