Why Skylight Replacement Is More Than Swapping a Unit
Most skylights do not fail all at once. The seal goes and the glass fogs. The acrylic yellows and cracks at the corners. The flashing rusts or the caulk dries out and a drip shows up every March. At some point, repairing it stops making sense.
A real replacement fixes the whole assembly, not just the glass. We pull the old unit, check the curb and deck for rot, lay new Grace Ice & Water Shield, fit a new factory flashing kit matched to your roof and set the new unit. Putting a new skylight into old flashing is the most common replacement mistake we see, and it is why some “new” skylights leak in their first winter.
The 3 Ways We Replace Skylights in the GTA
- Residential skylight replacement for leaking, fogged and outdated home skylights, same-size from $2,200.
- Commercial skylight replacement for offices, libraries, retail and industrial roofs, $6,000 to $30,000.
- Old skylight removal and replacement for 1980s acrylic domes, rotted curbs and units you want gone for good.
Residential Skylight Replacement
Kitchen Skylights
Kitchens see steam and grease, which speed up seal failure. Replacement is a chance to switch to a venting unit.
Bathroom Skylights
Fogged glass and mould on the shaft are common. New Low-E glass plus an insulated shaft fixes the condensation, too.
Hallway and Stair Skylights
The light here is often blocked by yellowed acrylic. Clear glass changes the whole floor.
Bedrooms
Replacement plus a blackout blind is a popular combination.
Attics and Lofts
Older loft conversions often have undersized units. Enlarging during replacement is worth considering.
Sunrooms
Failed glass roofs get new laminated Low-E panels or a full custom rebuild.
Heritage Homes
Rosedale and Cabbagetown homes get low-profile replacements with copper flashing where the roof calls for it.
Commercial Skylight Replacement
Libraries and Public Buildings
Our City of Toronto Public Library branch skylight replacement on the Danforth (2024) was phased around public hours.
Office Towers
Our $65,000 Vaughan Metropolitan Centre office tower replacement ran one week around tenants.
Retail and Restaurants
Replacing tired domes and atria without closing the store.
Warehouses
Old polycarbonate and wired glass bays swapped for modern units with screens.
Condo and Multi-Residential
Amenity rooms, corridors and penthouse units, with board paperwork handled.
Specialty Replacement Projects
Acrylic Dome to Glass Conversions
See old skylight removal and replacement.
Brand-Switch Curb Retrofits
Non-Velux units replaced with a Velux FCM curb-mount. See Velux skylight replacement.
Fixed to Solar Upgrades
Replace a fixed unit with a Velux VSS that opens by remote and closes in rain.
Permanent Removal
If you no longer want a skylight, we close the opening with framing, sheathing and roofing.
Materials for Replacement Work
| Item | Standard on every replacement |
|---|---|
| New unit | Velux FS, FCM, VS, VSS or Fakro FTT sized to the opening |
| Flashing | New factory kit (EDL, EDM, EDW) or hand-formed step flashing |
| Underlayment | Grace Ice & Water Shield around the full curb |
| Glass | Low-E 272, laminated interior pane |
| Curb | Repaired or rebuilt if rot is found |
All units meet CSA A440 and many carry Energy Star Canada certification for the Toronto climate zone.
Our Replacement Expertise
We remove a lot of skylights, which means we see exactly how they failed. Nine times out of ten it is not the unit itself, it is a flashing detail that was skipped or caulk that took the place of real flashing. That is why we never reuse old flashing.
What Actually Stops Homeowners From Replacing a Skylight
“It only leaks a little.”
In our opinion, a small leak is the best time to act, before the drywall, insulation and framing get wet. Small leaks rarely stay small.
“Replacement must mean a big construction job.”
Same-size replacement is usually one day with no permit.
“Maybe I can just recaulk it.”
Caulk buys a season. It does not fix failed flashing or a dead seal.
“I don’t know if it needs replacing or repair.”
That is what the free assessment is for. We tell people to repair rather than replace all the time.
Skylight Replacement Timeline
Assessment
Free visit, honest repair-or-replace call, quote in two business days.
Ordering
Units arrive in one to three weeks; permits only for enlargements.
Replacement Day
Old unit out, new flashing and unit in, usually one day.
Finish
Trim touch-ups, warranty registration, old unit disposed.
Skylight Replacement Cost in Toronto: What You Are Paying For
New Unit
The largest single cost, varying by model.
Removal and Disposal
Included in every replacement quote.
New Flashing Kit
Never skipped. Upgrades run $185 to $385.
Curb and Deck Repair
Only if rot is found, quoted before we continue.
Enlargement Framing
Headers, sheathing and a permit when the opening grows.
Interior Touch-Ups
Trim and minor drywall around the shaft.
Skylight Replacement vs Installation vs Repair: Which Service You Need
Replacement swaps a unit in an existing opening. Installation creates a new opening. Repair keeps your current unit going when the frame and glass are still sound. Over 20 years old and leaking again? Replace.
Fixed, Venting or Solar: Choosing Your Skylight Type
Replacement is the cheapest moment to upgrade. Fixed Velux FS for light only, venting Velux VS for bathrooms and kitchens, solar Velux VSS for high ceilings and automatic rain closing.
Skylight Replacement Timeline in Toronto: What to Expect Week-by-Week
Assessment in week one, units arrive in weeks two to three, replacement takes a day, finishing wraps that week. Enlargements add permit time.
Why GTA Homeowners Trust Us With Replacements
New flashing every time, honest repair-or-replace advice and a fresh lifetime warranty. You will recieve a straight answer, not a sales pitch.
