Skylight Installation in Paterson, NJ
Paterson Roofing Pros installs skylights that bring daylight into dark upstairs rooms without letting water follow it in. Older Paterson rowhomes and cape cods often have thin attic insulation and a roofline that sheds snow slowly, so an ice dam can push meltwater sideways until it finds any gap in the flashing. Call 973-786-9795 for a free roof estimate before that happens.
Call 9737869795
Most skylight work starts with the same complaint we hear in Paterson: a second-floor bedroom stays dark all day, and the ceiling below the roofline shows a brown ring.
A new unit fixes the light problem. The framing and flashing fix the water problem, and here the water problem is the expensive one.
Hot humid summers bring thunderstorms, and snowy winters drive freeze-thaw cycling through every seam on the rooftop. Nor'easters push rain sideways into details that looked fine in July.
On a typical job we cut the opening between rafters, frame it out, and inspect the roof deck and sheathing for rot before anything goes back down.
We run ice-and-water shield up the slope, then step flashing on the sides and counter-flashing across the top, because a skylight leaks where a chimney leaks.
Curb-mounted units get set in roofing cement and a sealant rated for freeze-thaw, not a bead of caulk from a tube. We treat the curb as the waterproofing detail and the shingle field as weatherproofing that sheds everything else.
Under the curb we use a synthetic underlayment rather than old tar paper or roofing felt, both of which break down faster. We also check the roof pitch before we quote, since curb height changes with it.
Fixed skylights are the simplest option, vented skylights open for airflow, and solar-powered blinds cut summer heat gain without new wiring.
Sun tunnels, including Solatube tubes, suit hallways where a full shaft will not fit. VELUX and similar curb-mount units are what we install most, and every one has to meet New Jersey building code.
Where the unit sits over a flat rear addition, the curb ties into modified bitumen, TPO, EPDM, or a PVC membrane instead of shingles. Older built-up roof sections get a coating recoat first.
Paterson's housing stock runs to early 20th-century brick and frame rowhomes, Victorian-era single-family houses, and post-war ranches and cape cods, so most units land on a gable or hip roof.
What's Included
Our Skylight Installation Process
What a Skylight Installation Actually Involves
- We start with a roof inspection from the ground and then from the rooftop, checking the shingle field, the chimney flashing, and whether the ridge or roofline has sagged.
- Inside, we open the ceiling and confirm the rafter bay is clear of wiring, ductwork, and the existing vapor barrier.
- We cut the deck with a roofing shovel and pry bar, then check the plywood or OSB sheathing, purlins, and trusses beneath for rot and decay.
- We build a curb sized to the roof pitch and anchor it to the rafters, bedding the unit in adhesive and backing it with ice-and-water shield and synthetic underlayment.
- We fasten with ring-shank nails or the manufacturer's screws, using a nail gun and air compressor for the field course and hand-sealing every corner with mastic and roof cement.
- We refit the surrounding shingles so the field course laps the step flashing, then reset the drip edge and ridge cap.
- Crews work off ladders or scaffold in a safety harness, and we run a roofing square over the cut to confirm it is true before the curb lands.
- We water-test the unit, clear debris into a dumpster, and photograph the finished flashing for your records.
Design Consultation
On-site evaluation of placement, structural considerations, and integration with existing roof system. Manufacturer specifications reviewed.
Material Specification
Product selection matched to your building and Paterson climate. Manufacturer-certified installer crews assigned.
Certified Install
Flashing, sealing, and termination details installed per manufacturer requirements for warranty validity.
Warranty Registration
Manufacturer warranty registered in your name. Our workmanship backed by 25 warranty. Final documentation delivered.
Signs You Need Skylight Installation
Signs You Need Skylight Installation or Replacement in Paterson
- Water stains spread across the ceiling after a nor'easter, which usually means the counter-flashing failed rather than the glass.
- Daylight shows a gap at the curb, or you can see the rooftop through a crack in the sealant bead.
- Granule loss and bare spots appear on the shingles downhill from the unit, because water is wicking under the field course.
- Ice dams form along the upslope edge in February and push meltwater back under the ice-and-water shield.
- The interior trim, fascia, or soffit around the shaft feels soft, which points to rot in the sheathing behind it.
- Condensation beads on the glass in winter, a sign the thermal pane has failed or attic ventilation is blocked.
- The apron flashing at a dormer, the pipe boot, or the vent boot nearby has cracked, and the sealant around it has peeled.
- You see stains at the valley, the hip, or the gable verge, and the ridge vent or soffit vent is clogged so the attic fan never shuts off.
- The gutter or downspout dumps onto a lower canopy, awning, or overhang never sized to take that much water.
- A parapet, scupper, or coping on a flat section has spalled or settled, letting water pond against the curb.
Skylight Installation — Frequently Asked Questions
How long does skylight installation take in Paterson?
A single skylight usually takes one day, weather permitting. If we find rotted sheathing or a deck repair underneath, we add a second day so the sealant cure time is not rushed.
What drives the cost of skylight installation?
Cost depends on whether you pick a fixed skylight or a vented unit, the curb height your roof pitch requires, and how much decking we have to replace. We give you a line-item estimate showing labor, materials, and disposal separately.
Will my insurance cover a leaking skylight?
Insurance claims usually cover sudden storm damage, such as hail or wind lifting the flashing. Age-related wear is typically excluded, and we tell you honestly which one you have before you file anything.
Can you install a skylight on an architectural shingle roof?
Yes. Asphalt shingle, architectural shingle, three-tab shingle, standing-seam panel, and corrugated panel roofs all accept a curb-mounted unit. The flashing detail changes, not the process.
Does skylight work change on a slate or cedar shake roof?
It does. Slate and cedar shake sit on a different substrate, often laid over battens or counterbattens rather than a flat deck, so we build the curb to match that assembly.
How do I know if I need a sun tunnel instead?
Sun tunnels suit hallways, closets, and baths where a full shaft will not fit between rafters. We measure the bay during the design consultation and tell you which option actually delivers light.
Don't just take our word for it — hear from our satisfied customers.
"Our upstairs bathroom was dark all day and the ceiling had a ring we kept painting over. They found the counter-flashing had rusted through and the sheathing under it was soft. They replaced the deck, reset the skylight, and the leak stopped." Denise M., Hillcrest
"After the nor'easter, water ran down the inside of our rowhome wall near the roofline. They traced it to the skylight curb and not the shingles, which saved us a full roof replacement. Straight answer and a clean job." Ray T., Riverside
"We wanted a sun tunnel in a hallway with no room for a full shaft. They walked us through the options, gave us a written estimate, and finished in a day. The ice dam problem along our eave is gone too." Angela P., Lakeview
Ready to get started? Call us today at 9737869795 for a free estimate.
Free estimates · Licensed & Insured certified · up to 50-year warranty
Call 9737869795
