Shaft finishing
The shaft is framed, insulated and drywalled to the ceiling ready for paint.
Exterior Services
Skylight Installation South Orange, NJ
A South Orange roofer can install skylights and tubular daylight devices sized for the room below, after checking the rafters, the attic space and where the light will fall. Dial (973) 858-1859 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. Below the roof, a light shaft runs through the attic to the ceiling, and that shaft is framed, insulated and drywalled.
There are a few kinds of skylights, and each suits a different room. Venting skylights help in bathrooms and kitchens, and fixed units work anywhere you just want light. For tight spaces, a solar tube runs a mirrored tube from a small roof dome down to a ceiling diffuser.
Before the visit, think about what you want the skylight to do. Think about where in the room you want the light, which direction that roof slope faces and whether the space needs airflow. It also helps to know how old the roof is, because a skylight and a new roof are best installed together.
Skylight Installation is often paired with skylight repair and roof installation, depending on the cause.
Need skylight installation in South Orange? Call (973) 858-1859 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The skylight installation process
A good skylight installation is planned from the attic up.
Plan the location
From the attic, the location is checked for rafters, wires, ducts and anything else in the way of the shaft. Sizing to the rafter bay keeps the framing simple.
Open the deck
Shingles are removed around the area, the roof deck is cut and headers are installed between the rafters to carry the load around the opening. The framing has to be right before anything else goes in.
Mount the unit
The skylight is set level, fastened and checked for square, whether it mounts to the deck or to a curb. A membrane collar goes on first as a second line of defense.
Weave in the flashing
Flashing pieces are lapped with the shingles so water always runs over a joint, never into it. Done this way, the skylight sheds water like the rest of the roof.
Frame the shaft
The ceiling is cut, the shaft framed straight or flared, then insulated and drywalled. Insulating the shaft keeps the glass warmer and cuts condensation.
What is included
Common skylight installations
Opening framing
Rafters are headed off and doubled around the new opening before the skylight is set.
Solar tubes
Tubular daylight devices are installed in closets, halls and small baths with minimal framing.
Fixed units
A fixed unit adds light without moving parts with full flashing kits.
Venting skylights
Venting units with rain sensors close on their own when it rains for light and airflow.
Related service
Skylight Replacement South Orange, NJ
When a skylight has fogged glass, a cracked dome, a rotted frame or keeps leaking, replacement is usually the lasting fix. If the old size is no longer made, the opening can be adjusted slightly to fit a current model. The shingles around the unit are removed and replaced, and new membrane goes down before the new flashing.
For South Orange homes, the best time to replace a skylight is during a reroof. A skylight that is as old as the roof is likely to need attention again before the new roof is worn out. A new unit can bring better glass, an opening sash or a light-blocking shade.
Related service
Solar Tube Installation South Orange, NJ
A solar tube, or tubular skylight, uses a small dome on the roof and a highly reflective tube to carry light down to a ceiling diffuser. The roof opening is small, usually between rafters, so no structural framing needs to be cut. Angled adapters let the tube route around ducts and framing.
For South Orange homes with dark interior spaces, a solar tube is often the easiest way to add daylight. The roof side needs the same care as a skylight, with the flashing lapped into the shingles above it. Insulating the tube in the attic keeps condensation from forming inside it.
Local help
Skylight Installation Near Me
Around South Orange, many skylight projects are timed with a reroof so the new unit and new shingles go on together. From South Orange out to neighboring towns such as Vauxhall, East Orange, Union and Short Hills, 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.
Need skylight installation around South Orange? Call (973) 858-1859 for a South Orange roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around South Orange
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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. Most homeowners in South Orange, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in South Orange know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Skylight Installation FAQ
Should I install a skylight when I replace my roof?
A reroof is the best time to add or replace skylights. With the old roofing off, the opening and flashing can be done cleanly. If a reroof is near, it usually pays to wait and do both at once.
Should I get a skylight or a solar tube?
Skylights give a view of the sky and more light, while solar tubes are smaller and fit where a shaft will not. Choose a skylight when you want a big pool of light or ventilation. Solar tubes suit closets, halls and small bathrooms.
Does a skylight need a permit?
Local rules decide that, and they vary. 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 South Orange can check with the building department.
Will a new skylight leak?
Skylight leaks almost always come from installation shortcuts, not from the units themselves. 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.
Does skylight placement matter?
The direction the slope faces changes how the skylight performs. A north slope gives softer light, and south or west slopes bring stronger sun and more heat gain. Choosing the slope with the room in mind gives the best result.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1859
Related services
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
Repairing step, counter, kickout, valley and drip edge flashing where roofs meet walls and edges, before hidden rot spreads into walls and decking.
Learn moreRoof Replacement
A complete new roof from the deck up when repairs no longer make sense, with the old layers removed and the deck checked.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet skylight installation help in South Orange
Call (973) 858-1859 for a local roofer in South Orange and nearby towns.