Skylights change the mood of a home. Sunlight pools into rooms that used to feel shut in, winter days feel less gray, and a hallway that never justified a lamp suddenly glows. In Burlington’s climate, with its freeze-thaw cycles and lake-driven winds, the thrill of natural light has to be balanced with careful detailing so you don’t trade brightness for buckets. I have installed, repaired, Check out this site and replaced skylights on every roof type you see across Halton, from 1950s bungalows with asphalt shingle roofing to newer builds with low-slope TPO roofing on modern additions. The projects that turn out best follow a few simple truths: plan the opening around the roof structure and the sun, choose the right skylight and flashing package for the roof, and treat waterproofing layers like your reputation depends on them.
When a Skylight Makes Sense in Burlington
Natural light is only part of the story. The right skylight can also help with roof ventilation and indoor air quality, especially in bathrooms and kitchens that trap moisture. On spring days, a venting skylight can purge stale air in minutes. In a well-insulated, tight home, that quick air change is a practical cooling strategy.
Orientation matters. South-facing skylights deliver consistent light but can add heat gain in July unless you pair them with glazing tuned for solar control or an interior shade. North-facing units deliver softer, more even light that photographers love, with minimal heat gain. East gives you bright mornings, west gives you long golden evenings. Burlington’s sun angle through the seasons rewards north and east installs in bedrooms and home offices. For living rooms and kitchens, I’ll often skew toward east or a high south-facing placement with a low solar heat gain coefficient if you have a vaulted ceiling.
Roof structure sets the stage. Many Burlington homes use common trusses spaced at 24 inches on center. With trusses, you do not cut chords or webs without an engineer. Stick-framed roofs with rafters at 16 or 24 inches are more forgiving. If you want a large opening, you can head off rafters properly and support the load with doubled headers. The best results come from fitting the skylight width between members rather than fighting the structure. Pipe-style tubular daylighting devices are another option when framing or ducts block a standard skylight.
Leak-Free Starts on Paper: Design and Detailing
The most expensive skylight is the one you pay for twice, first at install then again after water intrusion. Avoid that best roofer Burlington cycle by choosing a complete system. I rarely spec a bare skylight with generic flashing. On asphalt shingle roofing, I prefer a curb-mounted unit with a manufacturer’s step-flashing kit, pre-formed sill pan, and back pan with end dams. The sill pan should have integral kickouts that throw water into the shingle field, not into the curb. On metal roofing in Burlington, especially standing seam, you want a raised curb tall enough for snow and drifting slush, with a welded metal apron and ribs carefully cut and hemmed so water can’t chase sideways. For flat roofing Burlington projects, an EPDM or TPO-compatible skylight curb with fully adhered membrane flashing is essential, and the curb height should be 8 inches above the finished roof surface to account for snow. Low curbs look sleek in catalogs and leak in February.
Slope is non-negotiable. Skylights need to sit on a roof plane with a minimum slope specified by the manufacturer, often as low as 3:12 for deck-mounted and lower for curb-mounted if the curb is tall. On dead-flat roofs, add slope to the curb so water sheds. Ponding water is the enemy in our freeze-thaw season. I have seen hairline cracks around the glass perimeter become significant leaks after a winter of ice refreezing in a shallow pond.
A word on size and spacing. A rule of thumb is 5 to 10 percent of the floor area for skylight glazing, but that’s a range, not a law. Bedrooms might feel right at 5 percent to preserve darkness when you want it, while a windowless stairwell can take more light without glare. On commercial roofing Burlington jobs like showrooms or studios, multiple smaller skylights often yield more even illumination than one large opening, and they distribute load better across the structure. With residential roofing Burlington homes, balance skylight placement with ceiling joists, duct chases, and mechanical runs. A quick attic inspection with measurements saves a lot of drywall patching later.
Choosing the Right Unit: Glass, Vents, and Shades
Not all skylights are equal. If you live near the lake and windy storms are common, look for a skylight with a robust water management profile on the frame and a tested design pressure rating. Burlington roofing contractors who work through winter know that ice dams creep up to curb edges and test every seam.
Glass choice matters more than most people expect. Double-glazed, Low-E, argon-filled glass is the baseline. Laminated inner panes provide safety and better sound control, and they don’t shower your floor with shards if something hits the skylight. Tempered over laminated is a great combination in hail-prone areas. Hail damage roof Burlington calls spike after a fast-moving June storm. While no glass is hail-proof, impact-rated units fare better and, paired with proper insurance documentation, keep roof insurance claims Burlington straightforward.
Venting options are worth the small premium in bathrooms, kitchens, and attics. A manually vented model on a low ceiling is fine, but once the ceiling height passes 10 feet, consider electric or solar operation with a rain sensor. I have had good performance from solar units in our area, even through winter, but in deep shade the battery can lag. In those cases, hard-wired electric operation is safer. Pairing venting skylights with attic insulation upgrades and balanced roof ventilation gives you a triple win: less moisture, lower cooling loads, and a quieter attic.
Shades matter for comfort. Light-filtering blinds soften glare, blackout shades create a true sleep cave. On west-facing units, a simple shade can knock down 20 to 40 percent of unwanted afternoon heat gain. Spend the money on the factory shade system rather than an aftermarket hack. It fits right and lasts.
Roof Types Around Burlington and What They Mean for Skylights
Asphalt shingle roofing Burlington is the most common substrate. The good news is that asphalt shingles accept step flashing beautifully. The detail is familiar to any local roofing contractors Burlington homeowners would consider reputable. The key is meticulous layering: shingles, step flashing, underlayment laps, and the head flashing that tucks under the course above. If you hear someone say they plan to run continuous roll flashing up the sides of the skylight on a shingle roof, keep shopping for the best roofer Burlington can offer. Step flashing beats continuous in this application because it sheds water at each shingle course.
Metal roofing Burlington introduces both opportunities and pitfalls. A standing seam panel system can work very well with a factory-built curb and a custom apron that locks into the seams. Fastener placement is critical, and seams need closing strips and butyl tape on the upslope. Through-fastened metal panels are trickier. Expansion and contraction can work screws loose near a skylight unless the profile and fastener zones are respected. When we manage a roof replacement Burlington that includes adding skylights to old metal, we often re-panel the affected area rather than try to weave into brittle, oil-canned sheets.
Flat roofing Burlington installations break into two main membrane families: EPDM roofing Burlington and TPO roofing Burlington. EPDM likes primer and pressure-sensitive flashing tapes over a clean curb; TPO needs hot-air welded accessories from the same membrane manufacturer. Mixing chemistries is a classic path to leaks and warranty denials. On low-slope commercial roofing Burlington, daylighting units paired with factory curbs and pre-flashed boots tend to survive the long haul, while field-fabricated ad-hoc curbs crack at corners unless they’re reinforced correctly.
Anatomy of a Burlington-Ready Installation
A typical residential skylight installation takes half a day to a full day per unit, longer if interior finishing is complex. Weather windows matter. Same-day roofing Burlington service can be a lifesaver after storm damage, but for new installs, schedule on a dry day above freezing if possible. Here is the rhythm I teach apprentices:
- Pre-inspection and layout: Measure the room, plan the shaft, and mark the roof from the attic side. Confirm you’re between rafters or plan the headering. Pull a free roofing estimate Burlington that accounts for interior finishing, not just the roof cut. Open the roof and set the curb: Snap lines, cut the opening, and immediately wrap the edges with peel-and-stick membrane up the curb and onto the deck. Think of this as your primary water stop. Install the skylight or curb per manufacturer specs. Flash in layers: Start with the sill pan, then side step flashing at each shingle course, and finish with the back pan tucked under the underlayment. On metal and single-ply, use the system-specific sequence, including primer for EPDM or hot-air welds for TPO. Check that the upslope flashing has end dams to block lateral water. Water test and interior: Before closing the interior, we run a gentle hose test, working from the bottom up, never blasting directly into the flashing laps. Inside, frame the light shaft with straight lines to the skylight for maximum spread, insulate the shaft walls, and use a smart vapor retarder or sealed drywall to prevent condensation.
That shaft insulation point gets overlooked. A cold shaft wall will sweat on a humid January day. Use batt or rigid foam to meet or exceed surrounding attic insulation levels. Air seal the junctions carefully. Good attic insulation pairs with a proper roof ventilation Burlington plan so the roof deck stays dry.
Preventing Condensation and Ice Dams
Leaks and condensation can look similar to a homeowner. A drip on the drywall might be water from outdoors, or it might be humid indoor air that hit a cold surface and condensed. I have chased “leaks” that were actually shower steam collecting on a poorly insulated skylight shaft, then dripping back hours later. Burlington winters magnify this effect. Control indoor humidity, insulate the shaft, and run the bath fan. If you have venting skylights, crack them for five minutes after a shower to purge steam quickly.
Ice dams can sneak water under shingles around the upslope side of a skylight. That’s why we use peel-and-stick ice and water shield membrane that runs well beyond the opening, and why we build curbs high enough on low-slope roofs. After heavy snowfall followed by a freeze, check valleys and the skylight perimeter. Gentle roof raking can help if done safely from the ground. If ice forms repeatedly, look at attic insulation and air leaks. Heat escaping through the roof melts snow that refreezes at cold edges, building a dam. A roof inspection Burlington service in late fall can catch these risk factors before the first storm.
Repair or Replace: Knowing When to Start Fresh
If your skylight is 20 to 25 years old and fogging between panes, the seal has likely failed. You can replace the glass on some models, but if you are doing a roof replacement Burlington anyway, upgrading the entire unit saves labor and reduces the chance of future leaks. On older acrylic domes that whistle in the wind and sweat in winter, the energy savings and comfort gains from a modern low-E glass unit are significant. In my field notes, the payback on reduced heating and cooling loads is hard to quantify precisely because usage varies. Still, clients consistently report cooler summers under south-facing units and fewer drafts overall.
Roof leak repair Burlington calls sometimes trace back to the skylight flashing after a high wind event. Step flashing that lifted, a missing shingle cap beside the unit, or a cracked metal apron are all fixable on the spot if the skylight itself is sound. Emergency roof repair Burlington might involve a temporary tarp over the skylight in a downpour. A local roofing company Burlington based can usually respond faster than an out-of-area outfit when a storm rips through. For storm damage roof repair Burlington work, document the skylight, surrounding shingles, and interior staining for roof insurance claims Burlington. Insurers appreciate clear photos of flashing details and serial numbers on the skylight frame if replacement is necessary.
Integrating Skylights with Gutters, Soffits, and Ventilation
Light is the headline, but water management is the story. If your roof lacks proper gutter installation Burlington, rain can sheet off the eaves, soak the siding, and increase indoor humidity. Soffit and fascia Burlington upgrades often include vented soffit panels to feed attic airflow. Pair this with a ridge vent sized correctly and you reduce the temperature swings that cause ice dams, which in turn reduces leaked water finding its way to skylight openings.
A balanced system matters. If we add a skylight and also discover weak attic insulation, we recommend attic insulation Burlington improvements during the same project. While we are on the roof, we can review flashing at chimneys and walls, check valley metal, and replace brittle boots at plumbing stacks. It is a cost-effective bundle compared to making several small trips, and it sets the skylight up for a quiet, leak-free life.
Costs, Timelines, and Realistic Expectations
New roof cost Burlington figures vary, but a single skylight install on an existing sound roof generally ranges from a modest sum for a deck-mounted fixed unit to several times that for a large, electrically vented model with interior finishing, drywall, and paint. If framing modifications, rewiring, or duct adjustments are required, the price steps up. On a roof replacement, adding or replacing skylights is more economical because the flashing steps integrate naturally with the new roofing. Ask for a detailed, free roofing estimate Burlington that breaks out the skylight materials, flashing kit, interior finishing, and any electrical work for powered units.
Plan for dust. Cutting the ceiling is messy. A reputable contractor will hang poly sheeting, use drop cloths, and vacuum as they go. Most single skylight projects complete in one day, paint included. Larger shafts or plaster repairs can stretch to two or three days. Weather delays happen. Burlington’s lake-effect systems can change the forecast in hours. Licensed and insured roofers Burlington homeowners trust will not cut your roof open if they cannot dry it in by end of day. If a surprise squall hits, an experienced crew knows how to stage tarps and temporary curbs fast.
Roof warranty Burlington details matter. A full system warranty often requires pairing the skylight with the manufacturer’s flashing and installing underlayment according to spec. Mixing brands sometimes voids coverage. With metal and low-slope membranes, follow the membrane maker’s accessory list. If a contractor waves off the fine print, you could lose years of protection.
Choosing a Contractor Without Guesswork
Shiny brochures won’t keep water out. Look for experience with your roof type and with the specific skylight brand and model. Ask to see a recent skylight installation Burlington job, not just generic photos. A best roofer Burlington contender will walk you through glass options, curb heights, shaft finishes, and ventilation strategy. They will explain how the skylight integrates with asphalt shingles, metal panels, or single-ply membranes, and they will put it into a written scope that matches manufacturer instructions.
I like to see local roots. A local roofing company Burlington based is easier to reach if you need a tweak three winters from now. Same goes for seasonal maintenance. Roof maintenance Burlington should include a quick check of skylight seals, debris around the curb, and shade operation. A five-minute inspection can prevent a five-hour repair.
If you are coordinating broader exterior work, there is efficiency in hiring one firm that can manage roofing, eavestrough, soffit and fascia, and even siding. Custom Contracting Roofing & Eavestrough Repair has become a familiar name around town for exactly that reason. Their crews handle roofing Custom Contracting Roofing & Eavestrough Repair, and the eavestrough Custom Contracting Roofing & Eavestrough Repair side aligns downspouts and leaf protection with the roof plan. When you visit custom-contracting.ca roofing or custom-contracting.ca eavestrough you can see how they bundle scopes and schedule around weather, which helps when you add skylights to a broader renovation. If your project touches beyond the roof line, they also coordinate siding Custom Contracting Roofing & Eavestrough Repair and doors Custom Contracting Roofing & Eavestrough Repair, and they can point you toward partners for windows if you are correcting old widnows Custom Contracting Roofing & Eavestrough Repair issues that bleed heat. Having one accountable team reduces finger pointing if something needs adjustment later.
When Things Go Sideways: Field Notes from Repairs
A few real cases show where projects can veer off:
A low-slope addition with EPDM roofing Burlington had two deck-mounted skylights with only metal L-flashing and no membrane integration. The homeowner noticed stains after every March thaw. We removed shingles around the units to find the membrane lapped under the skylight curb. Water tracked on the membrane and under the skylight frame. The fix was to raise curbs to 8 inches, fully wrap them in EPDM flashing tape, then set new curb-mounted units with proper step and head flashing. The day after, a rain test showed no movement.
A standing seam metal roof had a poorly cut apron where someone notched around the seams instead of removing and refolding them. In a wind-driven storm off the lake, water rode the seams into the opening. We fabricated a new apron that tied into the standing seams with clips and sealant per the panel manufacturer, then installed closure strips and butyl at the upslope. That roof went through two hail events with no further leaks. The hail did dent a nearby through-fastened shed, a reminder that material and profile choices matter for storm resilience.
On a 1970s rafter-framed bungalow, a previous owner cut a rafter to widen the opening for a larger skylight without doubling the headers. The drywall hairline crack at the corner of the shaft told the story before we opened the roof. We rebuilt the opening with proper headering, then installed a laminated glass, venting unit over a bathroom. Condensation complaints vanished after we insulated the shaft and set the rain sensor to auto. Small structural shortcuts become big water stories in winter. Fix the bones first.
Maintenance That Actually Prevents Problems
Skylights do not need much pampering, but a little attention pays off. Clean the glass gently once or twice a year. Check that leaves and needles are not building a dam around the upslope flashing. Operate venting units at season changes, and if they have a battery, verify it charges. Inspect interior drywall corners around the shaft in winter for hairline stains that could suggest condensation. Pair this with seasonal roof maintenance Burlington like clearing gutters and confirming downspouts discharge away from the foundation. Gutter installation Burlington that keeps water moving reduces splashback that can find its way into soffit and fascia Burlington, then into attic spaces, compounding moisture around skylight shafts.
If a storm pelts you with hail, take quick photos of the skylight glass, roof surface, and any dents in soft metals like attic vents. Hail damage roof Burlington claims move faster with that documentation. Many skylights have tiny etched marks on the glass or frame that show model and glazing type. Capture those in your photos. If a pane cracks, temporary clear film can buy time until the replacement arrives.
Bringing It All Together: A Burlington-Ready Skylight Plan
A leak-free skylight is the product of good placement, the right unit, disciplined flashing, and a roof system that supports it. That system includes attic insulation Burlington tuned to your home, roof ventilation Burlington balanced from soffit to ridge, and sound gutters. It also includes a contractor who understands local weather and has skin in the game if something needs attention later.
If you are already planning roof repair Burlington or a full roof replacement Burlington, it is the perfect time to add or upgrade skylights. The labor overlaps, underlayment is fresh, and flashing ties in seamlessly. If you are dealing with a surprise drip and need emergency roof repair Burlington, a temporary dry-in can hold while you decide whether to repair or replace the unit. Either way, work with licensed and insured roofers Burlington residents recommend, ask for a written scope, discuss roof warranty Burlington coverage, and request a free roofing estimate Burlington that spells out the flashing package and interior finishing.
Natural light is worth the effort. Done right, a skylight becomes the room’s most loved feature. And if you treat waterproofing details like your home depends on them, you will enjoy that light without a second thought, even on the coldest February morning.
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