Houston skylight specialist for Houston. New installation, full replacement, leak repair, and flashing upgrade. Skylights done right last 20-30 years; done wrong, they leak constantly. The difference is installation craft and material selection.
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Skylights are roof penetrations — and like all penetrations, they live or die at the flashing detail. Done right, modern skylights last 20-30 years without issue. Done wrong, they leak constantly and damage interiors.
Three categories of work. New installation on homes that don’t currently have skylights — requires roof structural assessment, interior framing for the light well, proper flashing detail. Replacement of aging units (typical 15-25 year life on older skylights). Leak repair on existing skylights — usually flashing-related, sometimes seal-related.
The single most important decision is timing skylight work with re-roof projects. Combining the work integrates new shingle laps perfectly with the skylight flashing, ensures the skylight lasts the life of the new roof, and reduces total cost via single mobilization.
Standard non-opening skylights. Most common type. Lowest cost, fewest moving parts, longest typical life. Good for daylighting kitchens, hallways, bathrooms, and any room where natural light alone is the goal.
Skylights that open for ventilation. Manual or motorized operation. Excellent for natural cooling and humidity control. Higher cost but adds significant utility for kitchens and high-humidity rooms.
Smaller, lower-cost alternative. A small dome on the roof feeds light through a reflective tube to a diffuser in the ceiling below. Great for closets, hallways, bathrooms — any small space needing daylight.
Heat performance. Standard skylight glass admits significant solar heat in Houston summers — can raise interior temperatures noticeably under direct skylights. Low-E glazing dramatically reduces this. Tinted or laminated options reduce further. Worth specifying upgraded glazing for Houston, even if it adds cost.
Hail performance. Tempered glass handles most Houston hail without breaking. Severe hail (2″+ stones) can crack tempered glass, though it doesn’t shatter dangerously. Acrylic dome skylights are more hail-vulnerable; some homeowners switch from acrylic to glass during replacement.
Hurricane wind. Skylights are sealed roof units — they don’t typically blow off in hurricanes the way shingles do. Damage from hurricanes is more often from windborne debris (tree branches, etc.) striking the glass. Class 4 impact-rated options handle this better.
Humidity and seal aging. Houston humidity stresses skylight seals over time. Seals between glass and frame deteriorate; seals between frame and roof flashing deteriorate. Annual inspection of skylights catches seal failures before they become leaks.
Insurance discount potential. Some Texas insurers offer modest discounts for Class 4 impact-rated skylights, especially when the rest of the roof is also Class 4. Worth asking your insurer.
Properly installed skylights last 20-30 years without leaking. Most skylight leaks happen from aged flashing (rubber/asphalt seal failure after 15+ years) or installation shortcuts (improper underlayment, missing cricket, wrong flashing kit). New quality installs almost never leak.
Sometimes. If the glass is cracked but the frame and flashing are sound, glass replacement is possible. More often, by the time the glass is damaged, the frame has aged enough that full unit replacement makes more sense. We assess and quote both options.
Almost always yes. Combining skylight work with a re-roof reduces total cost (one mobilization), ensures perfect flashing integration with the new shingles, and gives the new skylight the same lifespan as the new roof. Timing skylight work with re-roof is the best decision for most homeowners.
Modern skylights with low-E glazing are reasonably efficient. They lose more heat in winter than a wall but gain less heat in summer than older units. Operable (vented) skylights add natural ventilation that can offset some cooling cost. Energy STAR ratings worth checking.
Tempered glass (standard) is highly hail-resistant; severe hail can crack it but it doesn’t shatter dangerously. Acrylic dome skylights (cheaper option) are more hail-vulnerable. Class 4 impact-rated skylight options exist for Houston conditions.
Yes, in most cases. Requires roof structural assessment (we cut a hole through framing), interior framing for the well, and proper flashing detail. Usually 1-2 day project. Cost varies by skylight model and complexity but typically $1,800-$4,500 installed.
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