Skylight installation, replacement and leak repair in Los Angeles
Many skylight leaks are flashing problems, not glass problems. We rebuild the curb and flashing when we replace a unit, fix leaks at the source, and install solar tubes where a full skylight won't fit.
- Answered 24/7
- Curb and flashing rebuilt
- Solar tubes
Skylight installation and repair in Los Angeles comes down to the curb and flashing around the opening, which is where skylight leaks usually start. We repair failed flashing, replace old or fogged units with new flashing kits, and install solar tubes in rooms that need light but lack space for a skylight.
Updated September 2026
Glass rarely leaks; the edges do
A skylight is a hole in the roof with a window in it. The unit's seals age, but the more common failure is the curb, the step flashing around it, or sealant someone used in place of flashing. Condensation dripping off cold glass in winter is often mistaken for a leak, so we check that first.
Old acrylic domes yellow and crack in LA sun, and many sit on site-built curbs sealed with tar. Replacing the unit is the moment to rebuild the curb and flash it properly. If the leak is in the roof rather than the skylight, tracing the leak to its source comes first.
Signs your skylight needs attention
Stains around the shaft
Drywall stains near the opening point to curb or flashing leaks.
Drips only in cold weather
Condensation on the glass often causes winter drips.
Fogged or cloudy glass
A failed seal between panes means replacement.
Yellowed or cracked dome
Old acrylic breaks down in sun and lets water in.
Tar around the curb
Sealant on the roofing hides flashing that failed.
Rot on the curb or trim
Soft wood means water has been getting in.
Drafts at the ceiling
Old single-pane units leak air as well as water.
What changes the cost of skylight work
Skylight jobs are priced on the unit and on what it takes to seal the opening. Five things move it:
- Repair or replace
Reflashing a sound unit costs less than a new skylight.
- Unit type
Venting and larger units cost more than fixed or tube models.
- Curb and framing
A rotten curb or a new opening adds carpentry.
- Roof covering
Tile around a skylight takes more cutting than shingle.
- Interior finish
A new shaft needs drywall and paint inside.
Skylight or solar tube: which fits the room
Both bring daylight in; they suit different rooms.
| Option | Light it brings | Best room | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed skylight | Wide, direct daylight | Living areas, kitchens | Framing cut and a curb |
| Venting skylight | Daylight and fresh air | Bathrooms, stairwells | Motor or crank to maintain |
| Solar tube | Focused, diffused light | Halls, closets, baths | No view, no airflow |
Replace it, fix the leak, or add a solar tube
Skylight replacement
When the glass has fogged, the dome has yellowed or the frame has cracked, the unit is done. We remove it with the old flashing, check the framing, build or repair the curb, and install the new unit with the manufacturer's flashing kit. A venting model, such as a Velux unit, can add airflow to a stuffy bathroom or stairwell. Where an old dome sits on a short curb, we raise the curb to the manufacturer's height so water and debris clear the glass instead of collecting against its edge.
Skylight leak repair
If the unit is sound, the fix is around it: step flashing never woven into the shingles, a head flashing that dams water, or tile cut too tight to the curb. We lift the roofing around the skylight, correct the flashing, and reseal the unit's gaskets only where they have failed. We also check the shaft inside for stains and soft drywall, since slow leaks often show up there first and the drywall may need repair once the source is fixed.
Solar tube installation
A solar tube is a reflective tube that brings daylight from a small roof dome to a ceiling diffuser, with no rafters cut. It suits hallways, closets and bathrooms where a skylight won't fit. We flash the dome like any other roof penetration so it stays dry. Tubes also fit where attic space is tight or trusses block a larger opening, and a light kit can be added so the same fixture lights the hallway at night as well.
Brands we install and service
Steep roofs in Silver Lake and the Hollywood Hills make skylight work slower than the same job on a low-slope ranch house, because every tool and pane goes up a pitch. A new opening also changes the roof deck, and in the City of Los Angeles jobs with new sheathing go through LADBS with more than one inspection. We plan both into the schedule before the roof is cut.
How a skylight job runs
Leak or condensation?
Humidity, stain patterns and flashing tell us the real cause.
Scope the opening
Framing, curb and roofing around the unit are checked.
Remove and prepare
The old unit and flashing come out and the curb is rebuilt.
Install and flash
The new unit goes in with its flashing woven into the roofing.
Finish and test
The shaft is closed up inside and the flashing is water-tested.
Skylight questions
Straight answers to what people ask us most about this job.
Other ways to reach usOften it's condensation on cold glass. Better bath ventilation or a double-pane unit usually fixes it.
Yes, if the unit is sound. Most leaks are in the flashing around it, which we rebuild.
Most same-size replacements take a day. New openings take longer because of framing and the inside finish.
Less bright, but plenty for a hall, closet or bathroom, and no rafters are cut.
Yes. Tile is cut and set around a flashed curb, so the waterproofing sits under the tile.
Usually, since the flashing is being redone anyway. See planning a full roof replacement.
A new opening changes the roof framing and usually needs one. We check the scope and pull it when required.
Other exterior & roofline jobs we handle
Fascia board replacement
Fascia and Soffit Repair.
Downspout repair and rerouting
Gutter Installation and Repair.
Rafter tail repair
Roof Decking and Dry Rot Repair.
Aluminum and wood cover repair
Patio Cover and Carport Roofing.
Wildfire Roof Hardening in Los Angeles
Wildfire Roof Hardening.
