Light shaft
The shaft is framed, insulated and drywalled to the ceiling ready for paint.
Exterior Services
Skylight Installation Paramus, NJ
A roofing contractor in Paramus can add fixed or venting skylights to most pitched roofs, with a proper flashing kit so the opening stays dry, with the roof opening framed to carry the load around it. Dial (551) 383-2304 to talk with a local roofer about adding a skylight.
Done right, a skylight is one of the most effective ways to brighten a dark room, and done right mostly means flashing. The roofer cuts an opening in the roof deck, frames it with headers between the rafters, sets the unit and then weaves a flashing kit into the shingles so water sheds around it. Under the roof, a shaft carries the light through the attic to the room, and how it is built affects both the light and the energy use.
Choosing the right type matters as much as installing it well. A fixed unit simply lets light in, while a venting unit can be opened to let hot or humid air out, often with a rain sensor that closes it automatically. Where the attic is cramped or the room is small, a tubular skylight delivers daylight through a narrow reflective tube.
A few details help plan the project. Think about where in the room you want the light, which direction that roof slope faces and whether the space needs airflow. Mention the age of the roof too, since installing a skylight just before a reroof means flashing it twice.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Paramus roofer may also recommend skylight repair or roof installation.
Need skylight installation in Paramus? Call (551) 383-2304 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The skylight installation process
The work happens in a set order, from layout to the finished ceiling.
Lay out the opening
The roofer checks the rafter spacing, the attic space, wiring and ductwork, then picks a size and spot that lines up with the room below. Sizing to the rafter bay keeps the framing simple.
Cut the opening
The roofer cuts the deck, frames the opening with doubled headers and keeps the rafters supported. The opening is framed square so the unit seats evenly.
Seat the frame
The skylight is set level, fastened and checked for square, whether it mounts to the deck or to a curb. Self-adhered membrane is wrapped up the sides of the frame before flashing.
Install the flashing kit
The sill flashing goes on first, then step flashing is woven in with each course of shingles up the sides, and the head flashing goes on last. The order of the flashing is what keeps the skylight from leaking.
Build the light shaft
Inside, the shaft between the roof and the ceiling is framed, insulated on the attic side and finished with drywall. An angled shaft throws light wider than a straight one.
What is included
What skylight installation covers
Tubular skylights
Tubular daylight devices are installed in closets, halls and small baths with a ceiling diffuser below.
Roof framing
Rafters are headed off and doubled around the new opening before the skylight is set.
Fixed skylights
Non-opening skylights bring daylight into any room with full flashing kits.
Opening skylights
Venting units with rain sensors close on their own when it rains to clear humid air.
Related service
Skylight Replacement Paramus, NJ
Skylight replacement swaps an old or leaking unit for a new one in the same opening, along with a new flashing kit. A new unit is usually chosen to match the existing rough opening so the ceiling and shaft do not need rework. Fresh membrane and flashing go in with the new skylight, never the old flashing.
Many Paramus homeowners replace skylights along with the roof, since the flashing has to come apart anyway. A skylight that is as old as the roof is likely to need attention again before the new roof is worn out. Ask about upgrades such as venting operation and laminated glass when choosing the new unit.
Related service
Solar Tube Installation Paramus, NJ
Solar tube installation brings daylight into small rooms through a narrow, mirrored tube instead of a full skylight shaft. The small roof cutout means no rafters are cut and the install is usually far simpler than a full skylight. Elbows in the tube let it reach a ceiling spot that is not directly under the dome.
For Paramus homes with dark interior spaces, a solar tube is often the easiest way to add daylight. The dome on the roof is flashed into the shingles the same way any roof penetration is, with the flashing base lapped under the course above. A sleeve of insulation in the attic keeps the tube from sweating in cold weather.
Local help
Skylight Installation Near Me
Skylight installation calls in Paramus come from owners of older homes with dark interior rooms and newer homes with vaulted ceilings alike. From Paramus out to neighboring towns such as Oradell, River Edge, Fair Lawn and New Milford, older homes often suit solar tubes in tight hallways while newer homes with vaulted ceilings suit deck-mounted skylights, which is why the attic check comes before any cutting.
Searching for skylight installation near me from Paramus or Oradell, River Edge, Fair Lawn and New Milford? Call (551) 383-2304 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Paramus is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Paramus
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Paramus and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about skylight installation
Will I need a permit for a skylight?
Whether a permit is required depends on the local building department. Many places require one when rafters are cut or the roof structure is changed, while a small solar tube between rafters may not need one. A roofer in Paramus can check with the building department.
Should I install a skylight when I replace my roof?
Adding a skylight during a reroof is the most efficient timing. With the old roofing off, the opening and flashing can be done cleanly. Installing on an aging roof means flashing the skylight twice.
Will a new skylight leak?
A properly flashed skylight should stay dry for as long as the roof around it. The key is a flashing kit lapped into the shingles from the bottom up, with membrane underneath, instead of a bead of caulk. It is worth asking how the flashing will go on.
What is the difference between a skylight and a solar tube?
A skylight is a full window in the roof with a framed shaft, while a solar tube uses a small dome and a reflective tube to carry light down. Larger rooms and vaulted ceilings are a good match for a skylight. Solar tubes suit closets, halls and small bathrooms.
Which way should a skylight face?
Placement affects light, heat and glare. North-facing skylights give steady, even light with little heat, while south and west-facing units bring more light and more summer heat. The roofer can help balance light, heat and the layout of the room below.
More questions? Call (551) 383-2304
Other services that may help
Skylight Repair
Repairs for skylight leaks, failed glass seals and worn flashing kits, after sorting out whether the water is a leak or condensation.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreFlashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, with new metal instead of another layer of caulk.
Learn moreRoof Replacement
Full tear-off and replacement for roofs that are worn out, storm beaten or leaking in several places, with the old layers removed and the deck checked.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Paramus roofer about skylight installation
Call (551) 383-2304 for a local roofer in Paramus and nearby towns.