VELUX Skylight Cost, From the VELUX Certified Installer + Skylight Specialist
A VELUX skylight installed by JDH Remodeling in Maryland or Virginia costs $1,200 to $1,800 per skylight when installed during a roof replacement, or $2,600 to $3,500 per skylight when installed on an existing roof. The reason for the spread is the flashing work. During a replacement, JDH ties new four-sided VELUX step flashing into a fresh deck and underlayment in a single workflow. On an existing roof, installing a skylight requires opening the roof around the new rough opening, pulling back surrounding shingles, replacing the underlayment around the opening, installing the four-sided flashing kit, and matching shingles back in. That is a small roof repair on top of the skylight install, and it is priced honestly as such. JDH installs Fixed VELUX skylights most often, evenly split between deck-mount and curb-mount. VELUX now defaults to solar-powered blinds on any skylight, which qualifies the blind portion for the federal 30% Section 25D Solar Tax Credit. JDH is a VELUX Certified Installer and Skylight Specialist, MHIC #137491, VA Class A #2705192986.
How much does a VELUX skylight cost in Maryland?
A VELUX skylight install in Maryland or Virginia from JDH Remodeling costs $1,200 to $1,800 per skylight when installed during a roof replacement, or $2,600 to $3,500 per skylight when installed on an existing roof. The spread is the flashing work. During a roof replacement the deck is already open and the four-sided VELUX step flashing kit ties in cleanly during the new install. On an existing roof, JDH has to open the roof around the new rough opening, replace the underlayment, install the four-sided flashing kit, and shingle-match back in: a small roof repair on top of the skylight install, priced honestly as such. JDH installs Fixed VELUX skylights most often (evenly split deck-mount and curb-mount). VELUX now defaults to solar-powered blinds on any skylight, which qualifies the blind portion for the federal 30% Section 25D Solar Tax Credit. JDH is a VELUX Certified Installer and Skylight Specialist. The free PCC forensic inspection is included.
Jim Dodson
A HAAG Master-level inspector since 2021, leading a third-generation roofing contractor founded in 1986. The 35% Rule on this page is the same written rule applied to every JDH estimate, viewed from the other direction. We recommend replacement when the repair would burn 35 percent or more of what a full Owens Corning Platinum system costs on this specific roof. The math is documented with the PCC Method and delivered as a Digital Analysis video so homeowners see the actual numbers before signing anything. We also write what we’ll not do, and why, on every quote.
What every JDH VELUX skylight install actually includes
A skylight is not just glass dropped into a roof. These six components are non-negotiable on every JDH VELUX install, whether the install runs $1,200 during a roof replacement or $3,500 on an existing roof. Skipping any one is how budget installers create the next leak.
Free PCC inspection & placement planning
JDH walks the roof, identifies the rafter layout, evaluates attic clearance for the light shaft, and confirms there are no electrical or plumbing runs above the proposed opening. We tell you whether the install should ride alongside a planned roof replacement (the $1,200 to $1,800 lane) or stand alone (the $2,600 to $3,500 lane), and why.
PCC Method
VELUX four-sided step flashing kit
The single biggest reason skylights leak is the flashing. JDH installs the VELUX engineered four-sided step flashing kit (head, sill, and two sides) sized to the skylight model and the shingle profile. Every interface is layered into the underlayment, not laid on top of the shingles. This is the layer the budget installer skips.
Why flashing matters
Ice-and-water shield apron at the rough opening
JDH wraps the four sides of the rough opening with self-adhered ice-and-water shield before any flashing or shingle work, so any incidental moisture has nowhere to go except down and out of the system. On an existing-roof install, this is part of the “invasive repair” that pushes the cost into the $2,600 to $3,500 range, and it is what makes a 25-year VELUX warranty actually mean something.
Ice-and-water reference
VELUX skylight + solar-powered blind
VELUX is the only skylight brand JDH installs. Fixed deck-mount and curb-mount are the most common (evenly split). VELUX now defaults to a solar-powered blind on any skylight, which qualifies the blind portion of your install for the federal 30% Section 25D Solar Tax Credit. The credit is claimed on your taxes; ask your accountant whether it applies in your situation.
VELUX product reference
JDH-employed inspector. VELUX-certified install crew.
The inspector who walks your roof is a JDH employee (Brian McClees, Joey Walzel, Tom Raley, Sam Carts, or Matt Brown). The install is run by Production Manager Steve Dean using a VELUX-certified install crew. Same standard on a one-skylight install as on a five-skylight kitchen-addition project.
Meet the team
VELUX 10-Year No Leak + JDH 5-year workmanship
Every VELUX skylight install carries the VELUX 10-Year No Leak Skylight installation warranty plus the JDH 5-year transferable workmanship warranty on top. If the install leaks because of how JDH installed it, JDH is back on the roof within 2 business days. The VELUX side covers the engineered flashing system itself.
Skylight warrantyIf your roof has 3 to 5 years left, roll the skylight into the roof replacement.
JDH has a written rule for this too. On a skylight cost page, it shows up as the “roll into the replacement” call. If the existing roof has less than 5 years of serviceable life left, JDH recommends pricing the skylight install as part of a full replacement instead of as a standalone job: the install drops from the $2,600 to $3,500 lane to the $1,200 to $1,800 lane, and you avoid a second roof event when the existing system needs to come off anyway. The deeper 35% Rule (repair vs replace on the whole roof) is summarized below.
What it looks like in practice: a 10-year-old roof comes in with one bad valley and a flashing rebuild at $7,200. Full replacement on that roof is around $22,000. The repair lands at 33% · under the threshold, repair makes sense and carries our 5-year workmanship warranty.
Same roof a year later, after another storm, comes back with the original scope plus a chimney rebuild and 60 square feet of decking. Repair quote is $9,200. Replacement still around $22,000. That’s 42% · over the threshold. We tell the homeowner replacement is the responsible call, walk through the system shown on this page, and apply the diagnostic fee as deposit if they move forward. See replacement cost for the deeper price breakdown.
Where the “25% Rule” you’ve heard of actually comes from.
Most cost-guide content on “when to replace a roof” quotes the 25% Rule. Worth knowing where 25 comes from: the Florida Building Code. After Hurricane Andrew, Florida code officials wrote a re-roofing rule (in the Florida Building Code Existing Building chapter, often called the “25% Rule” on contractor forums) that says if more than 25 percent of a roof is repaired or replaced inside any 12-month period, the entire roof has to be brought up to current Florida wind-uplift code.
It’s a hurricane-country regulatory trigger, not a homeowner replacement-decision framework. Maryland and Virginia building codes don’t carry that provision. Contractors elsewhere have repurposed the 25 percent number nationally as a loose heuristic, but the Florida rule and a roofer’s replacement recommendation aren’t measuring the same thing:
- 25% (Florida code): Are you legally required to re-roof? “Yes” once you’ve touched a quarter of the area inside 12 months.
- 35% (JDH ethics): Is replacement the responsible call on this specific roof? “Yes” once a fair repair quote crosses a third of what a full replacement costs.
Two different questions, two different thresholds, neither one substitutable for the other. The 35 percent number is where JDH inspectors kept landing after looking at thousands of MD and VA roofs. It’s the point where the homeowner stops getting their money’s worth from a repair, regardless of what any building code requires.
Why our existing-roof floor is $2,600. And what a $500 “skylight install” actually buys.
If you have gotten skylight install quotes between $500 and $1,500 on your existing roof, you have probably wondered how a real JDH install could be twice that or more. Here is what gets skipped to hit that price.
- No four-sided step flashing kit. The budget install caulks the skylight perimeter and shingles around it. The leak shows up at the next freeze-thaw cycle. JDH installs the VELUX engineered four-sided step flashing kit sized to the specific skylight model.
- No underlayment tie-in at the rough opening. The budget install cuts the hole and lays new shingles on top of the existing underlayment. JDH wraps the four sides of the opening with ice-and-water shield before any flashing or shingle work goes back on.
- No deck repair around the new opening. Soft sheathing near a window or skylight rough opening is common on roofs over 12 years old. The budget install ignores it. JDH calls it out before the quote and includes the deck repair as a line item.
- Generic non-VELUX skylight or a builder-grade unit. The budget install uses whatever the lumberyard had this morning. JDH installs VELUX exclusively because VELUX’s 10-Year No Leak Skylight installation warranty only applies to genuine VELUX units installed to spec by a VELUX-certified installer.
- No solar-powered blind, no Section 25D documentation. The budget install skips the solar blind to hit the price. The homeowner loses the federal 30% Solar Tax Credit on the blind portion and ends up adding a manual blind retail later (which voids the no-leak warranty if the install drilled through anything).
- No workmanship warranty. JDH’s 5-year transferable workmanship warranty is non-negotiable on every install. The budget tier offers 30 to 90 days, which is industry-standard at that price.
None of this is a knock on the homeowner who picks the $500 budget option. The price is real, someone shows up, a skylight gets put in. But an asphalt shingle roof has 20 or 30 years to leak; a skylight installed without a four-sided flashing kit has 18 months. JDH’s existing-roof floor is $2,600 because that is what an honest install costs when the roof is opened up around the new opening, the underlayment is replaced, the four-sided flashing kit goes in, and the VELUX 10-Year No Leak warranty actually registers. If your roof has 3 to 5 years left, ask JDH whether rolling the skylight into a planned replacement (the $1,200 to $1,800 lane) is the better call.
From your call to a finished VELUX install, step by step
Five steps, same process every time, whether the install is a single Fixed deck-mount during a roof replacement or a paired Solar Powered Fresh Air pair on an existing roof. For the deeper crew-day-by-crew-day version on a full roof replacement, see the 10-step replacement process.
1
You call · we answer live
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A real JDH team member takes the call, not an answering service. We confirm your address is inside our 90-mile service radius, ask about the roof’s age and what prompted the call, and schedule the free inspection. If you’re not sure replacement is even necessary yet, that’s exactly what the inspection settles.
2
HAAG-certified inspection · PCC Method
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A Design Specialist (the JDH name for our field inspectors: Joey Walzel, Tom Raley, Sam Carts, or Matt Brown, with Inspector Manager Brian McClees leading the team) walks the roof with FLIR thermal, drone, GoPro, snake camera, moisture meter, and HAAG shingle gauges. Decking condition, ventilation balance, and flashing age all get measured, not eyeballed. Every finding is documented as Problem, Cause, Consequence: the PCC Method.
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35% Rule applied · the honest recommendation
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The inspection data runs through the 35% Rule. If a fair repair would cost less than 35 percent of replacement and the roof has serviceable life left, we tell you to repair it, not replace it. If repair crosses the threshold, or the roof is simply past its serviceable life, replacement is the recommendation and you get the written reasoning, not a sales pitch.
4
Digital Analysis video · written quote
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You receive a written photo and video report with PCC commentary on every finding, plus an itemized replacement quote: shingle line and color, underlayment, ice-and-water coverage, ventilation corrections, and deck repair allowance all named on the contract. If storm damage is involved, the documentation is structured the way insurance carriers expect, though JDH does not act as a public adjuster. See the claims walkthrough.
5
Replacement installed · 50-year + 5-year warranty
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Most single-skylight installs on an existing roof are a same-day job: VELUX-certified crew arrives, the rough opening is cut, the underlayment is wrapped with ice-and-water shield, the four-sided step flashing kit is installed, the skylight is set and weather-tested, the surrounding shingles are color-matched in, and the install is photo-documented for the VELUX 10-Year No Leak warranty registration. Interior trim and drywall repair around the light shaft are quoted as a line item. If the install is part of a planned roof replacement, the skylight install happens during the new roof install in the same workflow, which is why the price drops to the $1,200 to $1,800 lane.
VELUX exclusive. Every certification independently verifiable.
JDH installs VELUX skylights, period. We do not install generic builder-grade or lumberyard skylights because the VELUX 10-Year No Leak Skylight installation warranty only applies to genuine VELUX units installed to spec by a VELUX-certified installer.
The only skylight brand JDH installs. Fixed deck-mount and curb-mount, Fresh Air manual, Solar Powered Fresh Air. Every VELUX skylight now ships with a solar-powered blind by default, qualifying the blind portion for the federal 30% Section 25D Solar Tax Credit. 10-Year No Leak Skylight installation warranty applies.
Verify VELUX certificationTop 1% of OC contractors nationally. JDH stocks Oakridge and TruDefinition Duration shingles for color-matched shingle replacement around the new skylight rough opening, plus full-system Platinum-tier roof replacements when the skylight install rides alongside a planned replacement.
Verify certificationWhen a roof replacement includes skylights, certified VELUX installation keeps the manufacturer warranty intact. JDH does step-flashed perimeter rebuilds and dome replacements as part of the new-roof scope.
Skylight repairStorm-impact siding repairs alongside roof work. HardiePlank fiber cement, color-matched and nailed to spec to maintain the 30-year warranty.
JDH sidingStorm-impact doors and windows replaced alongside the roof when the same event damaged multiple components. ProVia Endure + Signet, factory-certified install.
Windows & doorsGutter failures alongside a roof replacement (overflow staining, fascia damage) get the aluminum micro-mesh upgrade with lifetime no-clog warranty backed by OC.
Gutter guards5 Maryland counties, 3 Virginia counties, 90-mile radius from St. Leonard
JDH dispatches VELUX-certified install crews from 4821 St Leonard Rd. Same-day forensic inspection across the core counties below, next-business-day for the expansion footprint. Skylight pricing is consistent across the service area; whether the install runs alongside a planned roof replacement is the main driver of within-range cost, not city.
JDH Remodeling headquarters at 4821 St Leonard Rd, St Leonard MD 20685. View on Google Maps for reviews and hours.
VELUX Skylight Cost FAQ
How much does a VELUX skylight cost installed in Maryland or Virginia? +
JDH installs a VELUX skylight for $1,200 to $1,800 per skylight when the install happens during a roof replacement, or $2,600 to $3,500 per skylight when the install happens on an existing roof. The reason for the spread is the flashing work. During a replacement, the deck is already open and the four-sided step flashing kit ties in cleanly. On an existing roof, JDH has to open the roof around the new rough opening, replace the underlayment, install the flashing kit, and shingle-match back in: a small roof repair on top of the skylight install, priced honestly as such.
Why does a skylight on an existing roof cost almost double a skylight during a roof replacement? +
The skylight itself is the same price. What changes is the surrounding roof work. On a replacement, the deck is already exposed and the four-sided flashing kit ties into a fresh underlayment in a single workflow. On an existing roof, JDH has to open up the area around the new rough opening, pull back the surrounding shingles, replace the underlayment around the opening with ice-and-water shield, install the four-sided flashing kit, and match new shingles back in. That is a small roof repair stacked on top of the skylight install, and it is the reason the existing-roof install lands in the $2,600 to $3,500 range instead of the $1,200 to $1,800 range.
What VELUX skylight does JDH install most often? +
Fixed deck-mount and Fixed curb-mount, evenly split. Fresh Air manual and Solar Powered Fresh Air are available and frequently installed in kitchens, primary baths, and stairwell wells. VELUX now defaults to a solar-powered blind on any skylight, which qualifies the blind portion for the federal 30% Section 25D Solar Tax Credit. JDH walks you through the size and model options during the free inspection so you can match the skylight to the room and the budget.
Does a VELUX skylight qualify for the federal Solar Tax Credit? +
The solar-powered blind portion of a VELUX skylight install qualifies for the federal 30% Section 25D Solar Investment Tax Credit. The blind ships with a small solar panel and battery to drive the motor, which is what makes the blind portion qualifying solar property under 25D. VELUX Solar Powered Fresh Air skylights (the full motorized opening unit, not just the blind) also qualify for the credit on the full installed cost of the skylight. The credit is claimed on your taxes; JDH provides the receipts and product documentation. Confirm with your accountant whether the credit applies in your situation.
Should I add a skylight during a planned roof replacement? +
If you have been thinking about it, yes. The install drops from the $2,600 to $3,500 lane (existing roof) to the $1,200 to $1,800 lane (during replacement) per skylight. JDH includes the skylight on the replacement contract as a separate line item so the price difference is transparent. If your roof has 3 to 5 years of serviceable life left and you want a skylight now, ask JDH whether moving the replacement forward to include the skylight makes more sense than two separate roof events.
Does JDH handle the interior drywall and trim around the skylight? +
Yes, as a line item on the quote. The interior light shaft drywall work, trim, and paint are priced separately from the exterior install because they depend on ceiling height, light shaft angle, and finish complexity. A typical straight-shaft skylight in an 8-foot ceiling adds roughly $400 to $900 for the interior work. A splayed shaft in a vaulted ceiling can run more. JDH walks the interior with you during the inspection so the interior scope is on the contract before any work starts.
What warranty comes with a JDH VELUX install? +
Two warranties stack. The VELUX 10-Year No Leak Skylight installation warranty covers the engineered flashing system when the skylight is installed to spec by a VELUX-certified installer (JDH is one). The JDH 5-year transferable workmanship warranty covers the surrounding install work and interior trim. If the install leaks because of how JDH installed it, JDH is back on the roof within 2 business days. Glass breakage and product defects are covered separately under VELUX’s product warranty.
How long does a skylight install take? +
A single skylight install on an existing roof is typically a same-day job: crew arrives, rough opening is cut, underlayment and ice-and-water shield are wrapped, the four-sided flashing kit goes in, the skylight is set and weather-tested, and the surrounding shingles are color-matched back in. The interior drywall and trim work is scheduled separately once the exterior is sealed. A pair of skylights or a Solar Powered Fresh Air install with the integrated controller may need a second day. A skylight install during a roof replacement happens during the new roof install and does not add a separate visit.
Can JDH replace an old leaking skylight without replacing the roof? +
Yes. A skylight replacement install on an existing roof runs in the same $2,600 to $3,500 lane as a new skylight install on an existing roof, because the same underlying flashing rebuild is required. JDH removes the old skylight, inspects the surrounding decking for water damage (often present on a leaking skylight), replaces decking and underlayment where needed, installs a new VELUX skylight with the four-sided flashing kit, and shingle-matches back in. If the existing roof is also approaching end of life, ask JDH whether rolling the skylight replacement into a full roof replacement is the better call.
Does insurance cover a leaking skylight? +
For damage from a covered peril (wind, hail, fallen tree, fire, lightning, vandalism) most Maryland and Virginia policies cover the repair or replacement after the deductible. A leak caused by the original installer skipping the four-sided flashing kit is generally considered a workmanship issue and is not covered. JDH documents skylight claims the same way as a roof replacement claim with HAAG Master Level forensic findings. JDH does not act as a public adjuster; the coverage decision belongs to the carrier.
Verify everything on this page
Every credential and standard referenced above is publicly verifiable. Don't take JDH's word for it.
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1
HAAG Education Inc.HAAG Certified Inspector Directory
The forensic inspection credential held by the majority of insurance adjuster field staff. Verify Jim Dodson's HCI Master Level credential (#992109047) directly with HAAG.
haageducation.com → -
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Maryland Department of LaborMHIC Contractor License Search
Look up MHIC #137491 to confirm active status, trading name, and any disciplinary history.
dllr.state.md.us → -
3
Virginia DPORVirginia Contractor License Lookup
Confirm Class A #2705192986 on the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation database.
dpor.virginia.gov → -
4
Owens CorningPlatinum Preferred Contractor Locator
OC's official directory of Platinum Preferred contractors. JDH appears in the Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia listings.
owenscorning.com →
Get Your VELUX Skylight QuoteFixed Quote. No Pressure. No Pitch.
A HAAG Master Certified inspector will walk your roof, photograph every area of concern, and email you a written report before we leave. About 1 in 4 inspections result in no recommended work because we are not paid on commission.
- 60-90 minutes on-site · written report before we leave
- PCC Method applied to every finding
- The 35% Rule decides repair vs replace honestly
- Documentation usable by insurance adjusters and lenders
Schedule Your Free Inspection
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- Within minutes: confirmation email and text
- Same day: a call to confirm a time that works
- On site: 60-to-90 minute forensic inspection with full photo report