Impact Roofing installs VELUX and Adlux skylights, roof windows and tubular skylights across Auckland. Whether you're adding natural light to an existing home, replacing an ageing skylight or including one in a reroof or renovation, we assess the roof, the position and the flashing requirements before recommending the right option.
You have an area of the home that gets very little natural daylight.
Internal bathrooms, hallways and rooms where there's little or no exterior wall to work with.
An opening skylight can bring in daylight and fresh air in suitable rooms.
You're looking to replace an older skylight or rooflight rather than install one from scratch.
You're already having roofing or building work done and want the skylight included at the same time.
Larger roof windows, or a run of skylights, can bring considerably more daylight into living spaces.
For natural light where ventilation isn't needed.
Manual, electric or solar-powered units where you want daylight and ventilation.
Larger glazed openings for spaces where daylight, ventilation and an outlook are part of the design.
A practical option for bringing daylight into smaller or internal spaces where a conventional skylight doesn't suit.
Replacing ageing, damaged or poorly performing skylights and integrating the new unit with the surrounding roof.
We install both brands, and they each have their benefits. The right skylight depends on the roof as much as what you intend to use it for. Tell us more about what you're trying to achieve and we'll recommend an option that works for you.
| Skylight installation | Price (excl. GST) | What you get (skylight model and scaffolding, if required, are priced separately) |
|---|---|---|
| Skylight on roof only | From $2,275 | We install the skylight and flashing kit to the roof only. More often than not a new skylight doesn't fit the old skylight's framing, so the opening needs reframing by a builder. This is because the new style skylights are different sizes from the old ones. You will need to contract your own builder to frame out the roof below so the skylight can be positioned. |
| Skylight and framing | From $6,500 | We carry out the building work to frame and support the new skylight, install the skylight on the roof, and gib the internal framing. You will need to contract your own plasterer and painter to carry out the cosmetic detail of the installation. |
| Skylight complete installation | From $8,500 | We carry out the building work to frame and support the new skylight, install the skylight on the roof, gib the internal framing, then plaster and paint. |
Prices for individual skylight units can be found on the VELUX and Adlux websites. The step between each option is the amount of work and materials involved, not a change in rate. What each stage involves is set out below.
People are often surprised by what a skylight costs, because often it isn't only a roofing job. Depending on the skylight and where it goes, it can involve scaffolding, a builder, a roofer, a plasterer, a painter and sometimes an electrician. Not every job needs all of it. One thing to be aware of with a replacement: a new skylight rarely matches the size of the old one, so the opening has to be reframed to suit the new unit. That's where the building work comes in, and it's why a replacement isn't simply a matter of lifting the old one out and dropping the new one in. Here's what's involved and where the cost comes from.
Depending on where the skylight goes, internal or external scaffolding may be needed so installers can reach the height safely.
A qualified builder cuts into the ceiling and frames the internal roof cavity to create the light tunnel, building a timber frame or strengthening the substrate to support the skylight. On a replacement, the existing opening usually has to be reframed to suit the new unit's size, since a new skylight rarely matches the old one. Without a building consent, the skylight has to fit within the existing rafter spacing, which sets the size you can have.
Every style of skylight is waterproofed differently, so a licensed roofer should install the unit and work through the surrounding roof area. The flashings go on, then the skylight, then the remaining flashings.
Once the builder and roofer have the skylight in position, the interior gib goes in and the skylight is ready for its cosmetic finish.
A plasterer usually needs two or three visits to apply and sand the plaster, leaving a smooth surface ready for painting.
A painter finishes the skylight. They'll feather into the existing ceiling as well as they can, but there can still be a difference between new and old. Painting the wider ceiling for an even finish costs more, so talk to the painter on the job, as ceiling sizes vary.
An electrician may be needed to relocate existing light fittings. That's added to the final invoice and is usually inexpensive for light fittings alone, generally under $800 plus GST.
The position is governed by where the rafters sit. If electrical cables, water pipes or a home ventilation system are in the way and need shifting by a specialist, that's an additional cost.
Not every job needs every step, and some clients already have trades they want to use. The three options above let you decide how much of the work we take on and pay for only that part.
A large part of the cost is simply getting each trade to site. The builder, plasterer, painter and scaffolder all have a minimum charge for turning up, and that cost is spread across however many skylights they do while they're there. A second skylight usually adds much less than the first one cost, and a third less again. If you're thinking about more than one, tell us at the assessment and we'll price them together.
Working With the Roof
A skylight is an opening in your roof, so the roofing side of the job matters as much as the unit itself. Before we install one, we work through four things.
The skylight and the flashing method have to suit the roofing profile and the pitch of the roof.
Where the skylight will sit, the condition of the roofing around it, and how water needs to move around the opening.
The position needs to work with the existing roof framing, or the framing needs to be altered to suit.
The skylight is integrated into the roofing system so water is directed around the opening and away from the building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Skylights can usually go into an existing roof, provided the roof layout, framing, pitch and the position you want are suitable. We assess the roof first to work out how the skylight can be integrated with the existing roofing and what flashing or structural work is needed. On long-run metal roofing, the flashing detail and the position matter most, because the new opening has to work with the surrounding roofing and the way water runs off it. Position is also governed by the rafters, and without a building consent the skylight has to fit within the existing rafter spacing. We can do the roofing side only, or the building work and interior lining as well, which is the difference between the three options on this page.
It depends on what you want to achieve, the room below and the design of the roof. A fixed skylight suits a room that mainly needs daylight, while an opening skylight gives you daylight and ventilation. Roof windows suit a larger opening, and tubular skylights work well for smaller internal spaces such as hallways and bathrooms. The roof pitch and profile narrow the choice too, because each unit has its own flashing method and pitch range. We install VELUX and Adlux, and we'll recommend an option that suits the property rather than choosing on size alone.
It depends on the type and size of the skylight, the roof construction, access and what's needed to integrate it into the existing roof. Our three installation options are in the pricing table on this page: from $2,275 plus GST for the skylight and flashing kit to the roof, from $6,500 plus GST with the framing and gib, and from $8,500 plus GST for a complete installation finished with plaster and paint. The skylight unit itself and scaffolding, where it's required, are priced separately. Additional costs can apply where the job needs structural alterations, difficult access, electrical work or more complex roofing and flashing. If you're installing more than one skylight, the cost per skylight usually drops, because each trade's minimum charge for turning up is spread across them.
Yes. We assess the existing skylight or roof window and work out whether the problem is the unit itself, the flashing, the surrounding roofing or another part of the installation. Depending on its age and condition, the answer might be a repair, new flashings or a full replacement. Where the unit is being replaced, we look at the roof around it as well, so the new skylight is properly integrated with the existing roofing.
Usually not, because a new skylight rarely matches the size of the old one. Sizes and framing requirements have changed over the years, so once the old unit comes out, the opening generally has to be reframed to suit the new one before it can go on. That's the building work in the pricing above, and it's the main reason a replacement costs more than the skylight itself. There are options to have a custom-sized skylight made to suit the existing framing, though they can be trickier, and any rotten timber in the opening still has to be replaced. Ask us and we'll talk through what suits your roof.
A correctly selected and installed skylight should stay weathertight, but no skylight is immune from problems later on. Leaks develop through failed or incorrect flashing, deteriorated seals, an ageing unit, problems in the surrounding roof, blocked drainage or poor installation. That's why we focus not only on fitting the skylight itself but on how it's flashed and integrated with the roofing around it, so water is directed around the opening.
Often not. Schedule 1 of the Building Act exempts work in connection with a window, including a roof window, in an existing dwelling or outbuilding of no more than two storeys, and that exemption can cover the structural and weathertightness work involved in installing it. Conditions apply. Consent is needed where the work modifies a specified system, such as repositioning a sprinkler head, and replacing a unit that failed before it met its 15-year durability requirement is not exempt. All building work still has to comply with the Building Code. We'll flag anything obvious at the assessment, and your council can confirm what applies to your property.
A skylight can increase the solar heat coming into a room, but how noticeable that is depends on the size, position, orientation, glazing and the type of unit. The right product and placement give you useful daylight without unnecessarily overheating the room, and depending on the system, glazing options, blinds or other shading can help manage heat and glare. It's worth thinking about when you choose the skylight rather than simply going for the largest option.
Yes, and a reroof is often the ideal time. The existing roofing is coming off anyway, so the position, the opening and the flashings can be planned as part of the new roof rather than cut into a roof that has just been completed. If you're considering a skylight as part of a roof replacement, tell us at the quoting stage so it can be assessed and included in the scope of work.
