Skylight installation and flashing repair, sealed to last.

Skylights add natural light and character to any room, but they're also one of the most common entry points for water when they're not installed or flashed correctly. At All The Way Up Construction, we handle the full job: new skylight installs, flashing replacement, and leak repairs around existing units. Whether you're upgrading an older skylight or adding a brand-new one, we do it so water stays outside where it belongs.

What is a self-flashing skylight?

A self-flashing skylight has an integrated flange built directly into its frame, and that flange sits beneath the surrounding shingles to create a weathertight seal without a separate curb. The shingles lap over the edges of the flange on the sides and top, and step flashing ties the two systems together. This low-profile design works well on standard-pitch roofs and is the most common skylight type you'll see on residential homes. Curb-mounted skylights, by contrast, sit on a raised wooden frame, or curb, that projects above the roof deck, and they use a separate flashing kit to seal around that curb. Curb mounts are a better fit for low-slope roofs where pooling water is a concern, and they can also accommodate larger opening sizes. The right choice depends on your roof pitch, the look you want, and where the unit is going. We'll walk you through both options before any work starts.

Self-flashing vs. curb-mounted skylights: which is better?

The honest answer is that neither type is universally better because each one is designed for a different situation. Self-flashing skylights sit closer to the roof plane, which gives them a cleaner visual profile and keeps them out of the wind more effectively. They're also generally simpler to flash properly on a steep or moderate pitch. Curb-mounted units give you more flexibility on size and are a smarter choice on low-slope applications where water can sit. Both systems work well when they're installed correctly, and both will leak eventually if the flashing fails. That's why the installation quality matters as much as the product itself.

The VELUX skylight system

VELUX is one of the most widely recognized skylight manufacturers in the residential market, and their products come with purpose-built flashing kits designed for specific roof pitches and deck dimensions. VELUX flashing kits for skylights are engineered to pair with their specific curb and deck-mounted units, so every component fits together the way it was designed to. The VELUX deck-mounted QPF self-flashing fixed skylight is a popular choice for homeowners who want a fixed-glass unit with a low profile, and it comes in several sizes to fit standard rafter spacing. Using the manufacturer's own flashing kits, rather than generic alternatives, reduces the chance of a mismatch that creates a leak point years down the road. We work with manufacturer flashing systems to keep the installation tight and the warranty coverage intact.

Skylight sizes and what fits your roof

Skylight sizing is tied to rafter spacing and the size of the rough opening you can cut without compromising your roof structure. Standard rafter spacing of 16 or 24 inches on center determines which unit sizes drop in cleanly. Going larger typically means cutting and re-framing a rafter, which is additional structural work. Smaller fixed skylights are easier to fit between existing framing and still deliver a meaningful amount of daylight. Vented units, which open for air circulation, are available in similar size ranges but add mechanical components that need to be accounted for in the flashing design. We measure your roof, check your framing, and tell you which sizes are realistic before you decide on a product.

Fixed vs. vented self-flashing skylights

A fixed self-flashing skylight is a sealed unit: it lets in light and does nothing else, which also means there are no moving parts to wear out or seals to fail from repeated operation. A vented self-flashing skylight, sometimes called a Kennedy vented self-flashing skylight, opens either manually or with a motor to let fresh air in and heat out. The vented option is especially useful in kitchens and bathrooms where you want natural ventilation without running a fan constantly. Both types use the same integrated flange approach to weatherproofing, so the flashing method is similar. The choice comes down to whether you need airflow in that space. We carry both fixed and vented configurations and can help you figure out which one makes sense for the room below.

Curb height: 2-inch vs. 4-inch profiles

Curb-mounted skylights come in different curb heights, with 2-inch and 4-inch high curb being the two most common options in the residential market. A 2-inch curb keeps the unit closer to the roof plane and works well on steeper pitches where water sheds quickly. A 4-inch curb raises the unit higher off the deck and is often preferred on lower slopes or in regions with heavy snow load because it keeps the frame above any standing water or ice that might otherwise work under the flashing. In central Oklahoma, snow accumulation is a real factor during winter months, so curb height is worth discussing when you're choosing a product. We'll look at your specific roof and recommend the height that gives you the best long-term seal.

How we handle flashing around skylights

Flashing around skylights is where most installations eventually fail, and it's usually not the skylight itself that causes the problem. Step flashing along the sides, counter flashing at the head, and kick-out flashing at the base all have to work together as a system. When one piece is missing or improperly lapped, water finds the gap. Our process starts with removing the old flashing completely rather than layering new material over compromised metal. We then install fresh step flashing course by course alongside the shingles, set the counter flashing at the top, and seal every overlap point. If the roof deck shows rot or soft spots from a previous leak, we address that before the new flashing goes on.

Why houses don't always have skylights, and why that's changing

Skylights fell out of favor for a stretch because older installations had a reputation for leaking. Early designs used less sophisticated flashing systems, and the sealants used around curbs would degrade within a few years in climates with big temperature swings. Oklahoma's weather puts stress on roofing systems through summer heat, hail, and freeze-thaw cycles in winter, so homeowners were right to be cautious. Modern skylight systems are meaningfully better: tempered or laminated glass, tighter tolerances on the frames, and flashing kits designed specifically for the unit take away most of the variables that made older skylights problematic. When the right product is installed by someone who understands the flashing system, skylights are a durable addition. The key is doing it correctly from the start.

How to install a self-flashed skylight: what the process looks like

The basic sequence for a self-flashing skylight install starts with cutting the rough opening in the deck and ceiling, sizing it to the unit's specifications. If any rafters need to be cut, headers are installed to transfer the load before the opening is finished. The skylight frame is then set into the opening and fastened to the deck, and the integrated flange gets shingled over: base flashing goes on first, then the side courses of step flashing go up alongside the shingles, and saddle or counter flashing closes the uphill edge. The interior opening gets framed out with a light shaft to direct daylight into the room. Sealant is applied at specific overlap points according to the manufacturer's instructions, not everywhere, because over-sealing can actually trap water rather than shed it.

Warranty

Every skylight and flashing job we complete comes with a written workmanship warranty. If something isn't right after we leave, call us and we'll come back and fix it. Materials also carry the manufacturer's own warranty, so you're covered on both sides of the install.