Will a skylight survive a major storm?

The skylights we install are rated for high-wind conditions with impact-resistant laminated glass. They meet Virginia building code requirements for wind-borne debris protection.

Skylight Installation

Professional skylight installation that brings natural light into your Northern Virginia home while maintaining a watertight, storm-ready roof.

Skylights transform dark interior spaces with natural light, and in Northern Virginia's sunny climate, they can dramatically improve your home's ambiance and energy efficiency. However, skylights are also one of the most common sources of roof leaks when improperly installed.

Our skylight installation process ensures a watertight, code-compliant result. We use only hurricane-rated skylight products with impact-resistant glazing, and our flashing details are designed to handle Northern Virginia's heavy rainfall without leaking.

What to Expect

Skylights transform dark interior spaces with natural light, and they're increasingly popular in Northern Virginia homes where the abundant sunshine can brighten kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and living areas. A professional skylight installation typically costs $1,500-$4,000 per skylight including the unit, flashing kit, and labor.

The installation process involves cutting an opening in the roof deck (and ceiling below, if not a cathedral ceiling), framing the opening with proper headers, installing the skylight unit with a manufacturer-specific flashing kit, and ensuring watertight integration with the surrounding roofing material. For homes with attic space between the roof and ceiling, we build a light shaft (also called a light well) to direct light from the roof opening to the ceiling opening.

We install VELUX skylights exclusively — they're the industry leader in quality, energy efficiency, and leak-free performance. Options include fixed skylights, venting skylights (manual or solar-powered), and tubular skylights for smaller spaces.

Seasonal Considerations for Virginia

In Northern Virginia's climate, skylight selection matters. We recommend Low-E glass with a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) to prevent excessive solar heat gain during our long, hot summers. Venting skylights are particularly valuable in Northern Virginia because they allow hot air to escape from upper floors — a natural ventilation strategy that reduces air conditioning costs. During severe storm season, impact-rated skylight glass is available and worth considering on exposed elevations. Rain sensors on venting skylights automatically close them when rain is detected — a practical feature during our frequent summer thunderstorms.