Hear From Our Clients
Your ceiling stays dry during nor’easters. That’s the first thing you’ll notice—no more water stains creeping across your ceiling, no more buckets positioned under drips, no more wondering if the next storm will finally cause serious damage.
Your energy bills drop. Modern skylight window replacement means double-pane glass with proper sealing, not the single-pane units from the 80s that leak heat all winter. Homeowners typically see 10-15% reductions in heating and cooling costs once old skylights get replaced with ENERGY STAR certified units designed for Long Island’s climate.
The light comes back. Foggy glass between panes means your skylight stopped doing its job years ago. New skylights flood your rooms with actual natural light—up to five times more than standard windows of the same size. You’ll notice the difference immediately, especially in spaces that felt dim for years.
Your home value increases. Buyers notice skylights during inspections. Old, leaking units raise red flags. Professional residential skylight replacement with proper installation removes that concern and adds measurable value to East Islip properties where home improvements directly impact resale potential.
We handle roof skylight replacement across Suffolk County, and we’ve seen what happens when installation gets rushed or done incorrectly. Most skylight leaks don’t come from the skylight itself—they happen because flashing wasn’t installed properly or sealants degraded from Long Island’s freeze-thaw cycles.
We’re local contractors who understand East Islip’s specific challenges. The coastal climate combined with 27-30 inches of annual snowfall creates conditions that stress seals, flashing, and frames. We’ve replaced skylights on homes from every decade since the 1940s, and we know exactly how to handle the installation details that prevent problems five years down the road.
You’re hiring people who live and work in your neighborhood. No runaround, no surprises—just honest work from contractors who understand that your skylight needs to survive actual Long Island weather, not just look good on installation day.
We start with an inspection of your current skylight and the surrounding roof structure. This tells us whether you’re dealing with a simple skylight failure or if water damage already affected the framing. Most East Islip homes have solid framing, but we check before we start removing anything.
The old skylight comes out carefully. We’re looking at the condition of your roof deck and checking for any rot or damage that needs addressing before the new unit goes in. This step matters because installing a new skylight over compromised decking just moves the problem down the road.
New flashing goes in first. This is where most contractors cut corners, and it’s why most skylight leaks happen. We install step flashing that integrates with your existing roofing material, then add ice and water shield around the opening. The skylight itself sits on top of this waterproof barrier.
The new skylight gets mounted, sealed, and tested. We’re using Velux units for most installations because they’re engineered specifically for climates with real weather challenges. Double-pane glass, proper ventilation options, and frames designed to handle Long Island’s temperature swings. Everything gets sealed with commercial-grade sealants that stay flexible through freeze-thaw cycles.
Interior finishing happens last. We replace any damaged drywall around the opening, repaint if needed, and make sure the interior trim matches your existing finishes. You shouldn’t be able to tell we were there except for the fact that your skylight actually works now.
Ready to get started?
Complete removal of your existing skylight and proper disposal of old materials. We’re not leaving debris in your yard or expecting you to handle cleanup.
Professional flashing installation using step flashing and ice and water shield designed for Long Island’s coastal climate. This is the most important part of preventing future leaks, and it’s where we spend the most time during installation.
ENERGY STAR certified Velux skylights with double-pane glass and low-E coatings. These units reduce heat loss in winter and keep your home cooler in summer—you’ll see the difference in your energy bills within the first few months.
Interior finishing work including drywall repair, painting, and trim replacement if needed. We’re not just roof contractors—we handle the complete installation so you’re not coordinating between multiple trades.
Warranty coverage on both materials and labor. Velux skylights come with manufacturer warranties, and our installation work is guaranteed. You’re covered if anything goes wrong, which it won’t if the installation is done correctly from the start.
East Islip homes built between 1940 and 1980 make up most of our skylight replacement projects. These properties typically have original or first-generation replacement skylights that are now 20-40 years old. The technology has improved dramatically since then—modern units are simply better at handling Long Island weather while providing more light and better energy efficiency.
Full skylight replacement typically runs between $2,000 and $5,300 for most East Islip homes. That range covers removal of your old skylight, proper flashing installation, a new ENERGY STAR certified unit, and interior finishing work.
The price depends mainly on skylight size and roof access. A standard 2×4 foot skylight on an accessible roof costs less than a larger 4×4 unit on a steep pitch or third-story installation. Roof pitch matters because steeper roofs require more safety equipment and take longer to work on safely.
Interior damage adds to the cost if water leaks already affected your ceiling or framing. We won’t know the full extent until we remove the old skylight, but most East Islip homes have minimal damage if you’re catching the problem before years of leaking. The investment pays back through lower energy bills—homeowners typically save $10-15 monthly on electricity with modern, properly sealed skylights compared to older units.
Most residential skylight replacement projects take one full day from start to finish. We’re typically on-site for 6-8 hours depending on roof access and whether we’re dealing with any unexpected damage once the old skylight comes out.
Weather affects the timeline because we need dry conditions for proper installation. Long Island’s coastal climate means we’re watching forecasts carefully and won’t start a project if rain is coming within 24 hours. Your roof is open during installation, and while we can cover the opening temporarily, it’s better to complete everything in one dry day.
Interior finishing might extend into a second day if we’re repairing significant water damage or if you want custom trim work. But the actual skylight installation and waterproofing happens in one day. Your home is weathertight before we leave, even if cosmetic interior work continues the next day.
Yes, if the installation is done correctly. Most skylight leaks happen because of improper flashing installation, not because the skylight itself fails. The flashing is what keeps water from getting between your skylight and your roof—it’s the waterproof barrier that matters most during nor’easters and heavy rain.
We install step flashing that integrates with your existing roofing material, then add ice and water shield around the entire opening. This creates multiple layers of protection before the skylight even goes in. The skylight itself sits on top of this waterproof barrier and gets sealed with commercial-grade sealants designed for Long Island’s freeze-thaw cycles.
Ice dams cause most post-storm leaks in East Islip. When snow melts and refreezes at your roof edge, water backs up under shingles and finds any gap in your flashing. Proper installation with ice and water shield prevents this. We’ve installed skylights that have survived multiple nor’easters without any leaking because the flashing was done right from the start.
Replace it if your skylight is more than 15 years old or if you’re seeing condensation between glass panes. Foggy glass means the seal failed, and you can’t repair that—the entire unit needs replacement. Same goes for visible cracks in the glass or frame, or if you’re dealing with recurring leaks that keep coming back after repairs.
Repair might work if you have a newer skylight with minor flashing issues or if just the seal around the frame needs attention. But most East Islip homes have skylights from the 80s and 90s that are past their useful life. The technology has improved enough that replacement makes more sense than trying to extend an old unit’s life by a few more years.
Energy efficiency is the other factor. Old single-pane skylights cost you money every month through heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. New ENERGY STAR certified units can be 35% more energy efficient, which translates to $10-15 monthly savings on electricity. Over the skylight’s 20-30 year lifespan, that energy savings pays for a significant portion of the replacement cost.
Velux skylights with double-pane, low-E glass handle Long Island’s climate better than any other option we’ve installed. They’re engineered specifically for regions with real weather challenges—cold winters, humid summers, and the freeze-thaw cycles that stress seals and frames.
Fixed skylights work well if you just want natural light without ventilation. They have fewer moving parts, which means fewer potential leak points. Ventilated skylights make sense for bathrooms or kitchens where you want fresh air circulation and humidity control. The ventilation helps during Long Island’s humid summers when indoor air quality becomes an issue.
Avoid plastic or acrylic skylights. They yellow over time, they’re less energy efficient than glass, and they don’t hold up as well to UV exposure from direct sunlight. Glass units cost more upfront but last 20-30 years without degrading. We install mostly Velux because they show up in professional installations across Suffolk County—contractors use them because they work, not because of marketing.
Yes, skylight replacement requires a building permit in East Islip because you’re making structural changes to your roof. The permit process ensures the installation meets Suffolk County building codes and that the work gets inspected for proper flashing and weatherproofing.
We handle the permit application as part of our service. You don’t need to visit Town Hall or deal with paperwork—we submit everything, coordinate the inspection, and make sure the work passes. The permit cost is typically $150-300 depending on project scope, and it’s worth having because it protects you if you ever sell your home.
Inspections happen after installation is complete. The building inspector checks that flashing was installed correctly, that the skylight meets energy code requirements, and that interior work was finished properly. This is actually helpful because it’s an independent verification that the installation was done right. Most inspections take 15-20 minutes, and we’re there to walk the inspector through what we did.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in East Islip
