Skylights that bring in light, not water
A skylight is a hole in the roof with glass in it. Whether it's a joy or a headache depends almost entirely on the flashing around it.
Skylights in Charlotte usually come up for one of three reasons. A new skylight to brighten a kitchen, a stairwell or a dark interior bathroom. A replacement for an old unit with fogged glass, cracked domes or seals that have given up. Or a leak around an existing skylight, which is almost always the flashing rather than the glass.
For a new skylight, we open the roof and the ceiling, frame the opening between rafters (or header across them when the opening is wider), and build the light shaft down to the room. On the roof, the skylight sits on a curb or deck mount with a step-flashing kit made for that unit, woven in with the shingles course by course, with ice-and-water membrane around the frame underneath. Cutting a rafter or adding framing is structural work and needs a permit in Mecklenburg County.
Timing matters. The best moment to add, replace or re-flash a skylight is during a roof replacement, when the shingles around it are coming off anyway and the flashing kit can go in cleanly. Replacing a skylight under a roof that's only a few years from replacement means disturbing new flashing twice.
If your skylight leaks only in wind-driven rain, or the drywall around the shaft is stained, the fix is usually re-flashing, not a new unit. We'll check the glass, the seals and the frame and tell you which it is.
What the job includes
New skylights
Framed between or across rafters, with the light shaft finished to the ceiling.
Proper flashing kit
Manufacturer step-flashing woven in with the shingles, membrane underneath.
Replacements
Old domes and fogged units swapped for current models.
Leak repair
Re-flashing existing skylights that leak at the frame.
Metal roof skylights
Curb-mounted units flashed into standing-seam panels.
Permits
Structural framing changes permitted in Mecklenburg County.
What skylights costs in Charlotte
| Work | Typical range | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| New skylight, framed and flashed | $1,800 – $4,500 | Size, shaft depth, interior finish |
| Replace skylight in existing opening | $1,100 – $2,800 | Unit type, flashing kit |
| Re-flash a leaking skylight | $450 – $1,100 | Roof material and pitch |
| Skylight during a roof replacement | Lower labor | Flashing goes in with the new roof |
| Interior drywall repair | $250 – $700 | Stain and damage area |
| Remove skylight and close opening | $900 – $2,000 | Framing and roof patch |
Ranges are planning numbers for the Charlotte area in 2026, not quotes. Your price comes in writing after the inspection, with materials named and the permit listed when one is required.
On the job
Skylights: common questions
Do skylights always leak eventually?
No. Most leaks come from flashing that wasn't installed with the maker's kit, or from old seals. A properly flashed skylight is as tight as the roof around it.
Can a skylight go in any room?
Most rooms under an attic, yes. The light shaft goes up through the attic to the roof. Rooms under another floor need a different approach.
Should I replace my skylight with my roof?
If it's more than about fifteen years old or shows fogging, usually yes. The flashing goes in cleanly and you avoid opening the new roof later.
Will a skylight make the room hot?
Modern glazing cuts a lot of the heat. Placement and size matter too; we'll talk through it.
Do I need a permit for a skylight?
A new opening that changes rafters is structural and needs a permit in Mecklenburg County. A like-for-like swap often doesn't.
Can you fix a leak without replacing the skylight?
Often yes, with new flashing and sealant around the frame.