The Problem With 1980s Acrylic Domes
Walk any street in Erin Mills, Meadowvale, Bramalea or Agincourt and you will see them: yellowed plastic bubbles on wooden curbs, installed by the builder 35 or 40 years ago. They were cheap, quick and sealed with caulk. Today they are brittle, loud in rain, hot in summer and usually leaking somewhere.
Removing them properly means more than lifting off the dome. Underneath, the curb is often soft and the deck around it stained. We assess what is under there, fix it, and either convert to a modern glass skylight or close the hole for good.
The 6 Problems We Find Under Old Skylights
- Rotted wooden curbs from decades of small leaks.
- Soft roof deck around the opening.
- Caulk instead of flashing on the original install.
- Uninsulated shafts dripping condensation in winter.
- Short curbs too low for current snow loads.
- Mould on shaft drywall from long-term moisture.
Residential Removal and Replacement
Upstairs Hallways
The classic builder location. Clear glass makes the upstairs feel new.
Bathrooms
Domes over showers trap moisture. New glass plus an insulated shaft solves it.
Kitchens
Some 1980s kitchens had two or three domes. Replacing them together saves setup.
Family Rooms
Domes over cathedral ceilings get clear Low-E glass and often a venting unit.
Stairwells
Hard-to-reach domes are perfect for a solar Velux VSS upgrade.
Bedrooms Where You Don’t Want It Anymore
Permanent close-up with matching shingles and a patched ceiling.
Commercial and Multi-Unit Removal
Strip Plazas
Old polycarbonate domes replaced with glass or closed off.
Townhouse Complexes
Dozens of identical domes replaced in a single program.
Small Offices
Leaking domes over reception areas converted or removed.
Warehouses
Brittle bays replaced with screened modern units. See commercial replacement.
Specialty Removal Options
Curb Adapter Conversion
Extruded aluminum adapter over a sound curb, new glass unit on top.
Full Tear-Off
Old curb removed to the deck and rebuilt to current height.
Permanent Close-Up
Framing, sheathing, underlayment and roofing to match.
Enlargement
Bigger opening, bigger glass.
Materials
| Situation | What we install |
|---|---|
| Sound curb | Extruded aluminum curb adapter + Velux FCM or similar |
| Rotted curb | New insulated wood curb + deck-mount Velux FS or Fakro FTT |
| Close-up | Framing, new sheathing, ice and water shield, matching shingles |
| Glass | Low-E 272 with argon fill, laminated interior |
Our Removal Expertise
We remove a lot of domes, and we photograph what we find under each one. That lets us show you exactly why a curb needs rebuilding instead of asking you to take our word for it.
What Actually Stops Homeowners From Replacing Old Domes
“It’s ugly, but it doesn’t leak.”
In our opinion, check the ceiling around it after the next heavy rain. Most old domes are leaking a little long before it shows.
“I’d rather just get rid of it.”
That is a valid choice and we close openings properly.
“The roof will need to be redone.”
No. We patch locally and match shingles.
“It’ll cost a fortune.”
Adapter conversions start at $2,200.
Removal and Replacement Timeline
Assessment
Free visit and quote.
Ordering
One to three weeks for units.
Removal Day
Tear-off, repair and install in one day.
Finish
Ceiling and trim touch-ups.
Old Skylight Removal Cost in Toronto: What You Are Paying For
Tear-Off and Disposal
Always included.
Curb Work
Adapter or rebuild.
Deck Repair
Only if rot is found.
New Unit
Glass Velux or Fakro.
Flashing and Underlayment
New kit and ice and water shield.
Interior Repair
Shaft drywall and paint prep.
Old Skylight Removal vs Replacement vs Repair: Which Service You Need
Old dome you want gone or upgraded: this page. Newer glass unit with a drip: leak repair. Sound frame with fogged glass: glass replacement.
Fixed, Venting or Solar: Choosing Your Skylight Type
Most dome conversions go to fixed glass. Bathrooms often move to venting. Hard-to-reach stairwells suit solar.
Old Skylight Removal Timeline in Toronto: What to Expect Week-by-Week
Week one assessment, units arrive in two to three weeks, one day on site, finishing that week.
Why Homeowners Trust Us With Old Skylights
We show you the rot before we fix it, and we never reuse old flashing. Simple as that, everytime.
