Professional skylight and dormer installation, replacement, and leak repair for residential properties across Greater Montreal. Bring natural light in without letting water in.
Skylights and dormers add natural light, ventilation, and visual appeal to homes, but they also represent significant penetrations in the roof surface that must be properly detailed to remain watertight. In Quebec, where ice, snow, and freeze-thaw cycling stress every roof detail relentlessly, skylight installation and flashing are critical to preventing leaks. A poorly installed or aging skylight is one of the most common sources of roof leaks in Montreal homes.
We install new skylights from leading manufacturers including Velux, Fakro, and Sun-Tek. Fixed skylights provide light without opening, while venting models open to allow fresh air circulation. Tubular skylights (sun tunnels) are an option for bringing daylight into spaces where a traditional skylight is not practical, such as interior bathrooms and hallways. For every installation, we cut the roof opening precisely, frame it properly, install the skylight unit with manufacturer-specified flashing kits, and integrate the flashing seamlessly with the surrounding roofing material.
Flashing is where skylight installations succeed or fail. We use step flashing along the sides, a head flashing (also called a diverter or cricket) above the skylight to channel water around it, and a sill flashing below. On flat roofs, the curb-mounted skylight sits on a raised frame that keeps the glazing above the membrane surface, and the membrane is carried up and over the curb to create a watertight seal. All flashing details are integrated with the roofing system, not just caulked onto the surface.
For existing skylights that are leaking, foggy between panes, or cracked, we provide repair and replacement services. Skylight leaks are often caused by deteriorated flashing rather than a failure of the skylight unit itself, and reflashing can solve the problem at lower cost than full replacement. When the skylight unit has failed (fogged double glazing, cracked dome, broken hinge mechanism), we replace it with a modern unit that offers better energy performance and weather sealing. Dormer construction and re-roofing is also within our scope, including the framing, roofing, flashing, and siding work required for these complex roof features.
Why this service
New skylight installation with leak-proof flashing
Fixed, venting, and tubular skylight options
Skylight leak repair and reflashing
Foggy or cracked skylight replacement
Dormer construction and re-roofing
Energy-efficient glazing options
FAQ for this service
No. A properly installed skylight with correct flashing can perform leak-free for its entire service life, which is typically 20 to 30 years for modern units. Leaks usually result from installation errors, deteriorated flashing, or physical damage rather than an inherent flaw in skylight technology.
In most cases, yes. We cut the roof opening, frame it with proper headers and trimmers, install the skylight with a full flashing kit, and finish the interior with a light shaft if the skylight passes through an attic space. The key requirement is that the roof structure can accommodate the opening without compromising structural integrity.
Foggy double glazing indicates a failed seal between the panes, and the unit needs replacement. The moisture between the panes cannot be removed by repair. Modern replacement skylights offer improved energy performance with low-E coatings and argon gas fill between panes.
Skylights can be vulnerable to ice dam leaks if flashing is not properly integrated with ice and water barrier. We install ice and water barrier membrane around every skylight opening and extend it well beyond the skylight perimeter. A properly sized cricket (diverter) above the skylight helps shed water and prevent ice accumulation.
Tubular skylights (sun tunnels) are surprisingly effective at delivering natural light to interior rooms. They capture light through a small rooftop dome and channel it through a reflective tube to a ceiling diffuser. They are less expensive and less invasive to install than traditional skylights, and they work well in bathrooms, closets, and hallways.