Skylight Installation & Repair, by a VELUX 5-Star Specialist
JDH is a VELUX 5-Star Skylight Specialist serving Maryland and Northern Virginia, performing VELUX-certified skylight installation, replacement, and forensic leak repair. Every install integrates VELUX flashing kit, extended Ice & Water Shield, and primary roof underlayment as one assembly. Typical VELUX install runs $1,800 to $5,500 per skylight; Sun Tunnels start around $1,200. Every leak diagnosis goes through HAAG Master forensic inspection. MHIC #137491, VA Class A #2705192986, $8M insured.
How much does a VELUX skylight cost in Maryland?
A VELUX skylight installation in Maryland runs $1,800 to $5,500 per skylight installed, including the unit, VELUX flashing kit, and labor. Sun Tunnels (tubular skylights) for closets and small interior bathrooms start around $1,200. Solar-powered venting (VSS) and impact-glazed units run higher. The lowest-cost path is to coordinate skylight install with a full roof replacement because the VELUX flashing kit integrates as part of the primary roof underlayment. Replacement of an existing skylight becomes the responsible call when the unit is past 20 years, the perimeter seal has failed, or the surrounding roof is being replaced.
Jim Dodson
A HAAG Master-level inspector since 2021 and a VELUX 5-Star Skylight Specialist, 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.
Six skylight services we do every week
From new-construction VELUX installs to forensic leak diagnosis on 20-year-old units, JDH covers the full skylight service surface in Maryland and Virginia. Skipping any one is how budget contractors hit a $3,999 price, and how you end up replacing the roof again in 12 years.
VELUX deck-mounted install (FS / VS / VSS)
Fixed (FS), manual venting (VS), and solar-powered venting (VSS) skylights with full VELUX flashing kit and Ice & Water Shield extended 24 inches around the perimeter. Standard residential install timed with a roof replacement when possible because the flashing kit integrates with the primary underlayment as one assembly.
VELUX official
VELUX curb-mounted install (VCS / FCM)
For flat-roof and low-slope applications. Cant strips, curb flashing, and TPO/EPDM membrane compatibility verified before install. Most curb-mounted installs are for additions, sunrooms, and porches where the roof pitch is below 14 degrees.
Coordinate with roof
Sun Tunnel® install
10-inch or 14-inch VELUX tubular skylight for closets, interior bathrooms, hallways, and stairwells. Reflective tube routes daylight from a small ceiling diffuser. Lower leak-risk profile because the flashing kit footprint is smaller; install in under a day.
More on Sun Tunnel
Forensic leak diagnosis
HAAG Master forensic inspection identifies whether the leak is the skylight, the flashing, the surrounding roof field, or condensation from poor attic ventilation. We do NOT recommend skylight replacement when the root cause is actually attic ventilation; that fix is much cheaper.
PCC inspection method
Targeted seal & flashing repair
For sub-15-year skylights with intact glass and good underlying flashing. Gasket replacement, fastener reseat, perimeter seal restoration. Cost of repair typically $300-$1,200 vs $1,800-$5,500 for a full replacement. JDH only recommends repair when it preserves a meaningful share of the unit’s remaining service life.
Repair vs replace
Full skylight replacement
For units past 20 years, delaminated glass, condensation between panes, or where the original flashing kit was never installed. Coordinate with a roof replacement when possible because the flashing kit integrates as part of the primary underlayment. VELUX no-leak warranty registered on JDH’s account so we retain liability.
JDH credentialsEvery skylight is a hole in your roof. Done right, the value is enormous. Done wrong, it is a 30-year leak waiting to happen.
Most roofing contractors will not say this out loud. We do, because the three risk-reduction levers documented below are what separate a 25-year skylight from a 5-year leak source. Daylighting benefits are real (5 to 15 percent lighting electricity reduction in skylit rooms, mood and circadian gains, resale appeal); the trade-off is the structural roof penetration. Both must be weighed before the install.
The three risk-reduction levers JDH applies on every install:
- Placement. North-facing or shaded slope reduces solar gain and glass thermal stress. South and west are higher risk for cooling load and seal fatigue. JDH walks the roof at the inspection to identify the right slope for your skylight goal.
- System install. VELUX flashing kit plus extended Ice & Water Shield extended 24 inches around the perimeter. Step + saddle flashing integrated at the underlayment stage, not after. This is the difference between a 25-year skylight and a 5-year leak source.
- Pre-build attic-ventilation audit. Prevents condensation from being misdiagnosed as a skylight leak later. Most "leaky" skylights are actually attics that cannot manage moisture; the skylight just happens to be where the dripping shows.
Why VELUX-specific (not generic skylight)
VELUX's 10-year no-leak warranty is contingent on two things: a VELUX-certified installer (Specialist or 5-Star) AND a VELUX flashing kit. Substitute either and the warranty voids. JDH is a 5-Star Skylight Specialist registered in VELUX's official installer directory; every install gets the warranty registered on JDH's account so we retain liability if anything fails.
Generic install (uncertified installer, after-market flashing) might save 15 percent up front but turns a 25-year skylight into a 5-year liability with zero manufacturer recourse. The math doesn't work for the homeowner.
What gets stripped out of a budget skylight install. And what JDH does instead.
A skylight install priced 30-40 percent below the JDH range is almost always one of these corners being cut. Each one quietly voids either the VELUX warranty, the surrounding roof warranty, or both.
- Generic flashing instead of VELUX flashing kit. The single fastest way to void the VELUX no-leak warranty. Generic step flashing is 8 to 15 dollars cheaper per install but eliminates manufacturer recourse and is the primary source of perimeter leaks at year 5 to 7.
- No Ice and Water Shield extension at the skylight perimeter. Code only requires Ice and Water Shield at eaves. JDH extends it 24 inches around every skylight as a secondary moisture barrier. Without it, a single shingle lift in a winter storm dumps water straight onto the deck around the skylight.
- Uncertified installer. VELUX maintains a public registry of certified Specialists and 5-Star Specialists. An install by an installer not on the registry voids the no-leak warranty automatically, regardless of how the install actually went.
- Skylight cut into an existing roof at end-of-life. Adding a skylight to a roof in the last 5 years of its life is a poor investment because the surrounding shingles will be torn off before the skylight reaches its warranty endpoint. JDH inspects the roof field before recommending placement.
- No attic ventilation audit. A skylight on an under-ventilated attic creates a condensation point. Months later the homeowner thinks the skylight is leaking when it's actually moisture from inside the home condensing on the cold glass. JDH audits balanced intake/exhaust at every skylight inspection.
- Interior trim by the homeowner. Some installers skip the interior light tunnel or splayed shaft for kitchens and bathrooms requesting one, leaving the homeowner to drywall and trim themselves. JDH includes pre-stained or pre-painted interior trim, factory match, on every install.
None of this is a knock on the homeowner who picks the cheaper install – the price is real, the work happens, the roof gets shingled. But a skylight installed today is meant to outlast 80 percent of the surrounding roof. Our floor is higher because we’re pricing a 30-year system, not a 12-year cosmetic. See financing if budget is the actual concern; a typical 3-skylight install at $5,400 to $16,500 runs roughly $60 to $175 per month over 120 months.
From your call to a finished VELUX install, step by step
Five steps, same process every time. For the deeper crew-day-by-crew-day version, 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.
3
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-family asphalt replacements are a one-day install: tear-off, deck repair, full system, magnet sweep, and walkthrough before sunset. JDH installs Owens Corning Duration shingles exclusively. The roof carries the 50-year non-prorated Platinum Protection warranty plus the JDH 5-year workmanship warranty, registered on your behalf within two business days. Dump trailer stays on the street, not the lawn.
VELUX 5-Star Specialist + Owens Corning Platinum. Every cert independently verifiable.
JDH installs five manufacturer-certified exterior brands. We don't carry every shingle on the market because we don't believe in installing what we wouldn't put on our own house.
Top 1% of OC contractors nationally. Duration architectural shingles, 50-year non-prorated Platinum Protection warranty. The shingle system on every JDH 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
JDH dispatches repair crews from St. Leonard, MD. Same-day diagnostic inspection across our core counties; next-business-day for the expansion footprint.
JDH Remodeling headquarters at 4821 St Leonard Rd, St Leonard MD 20685. View on Google Maps for reviews and hours.
Maryland Skylight FAQ
The questions homeowners ask before, during, and after a skylight project. More general roofing questions on the roofing FAQ.
Are skylights worth it in Maryland? +
Yes for the right rooms and the right roof. North-facing slopes and rooms that lack a window or get all-day shade (kitchens, hallways, bathrooms) benefit most. South or west-facing slopes increase summer cooling load and glass thermal stress. Maryland's hurricane-zone classification (per FEMA Region 3) means impact-resistant glazing is recommended for any new skylight install south of Annapolis.
How long does a skylight last? +
A VELUX-installed skylight with factory flashing typically lasts 20-25 years before the perimeter seal begins to fail. Glass alone can last 30+ years. The seal is the failure point. JDH inspects skylight seals as part of every forensic roof inspection.
What is the VELUX no-leak warranty? +
VELUX guarantees its skylights leak-free for 10 years when installed by a VELUX-certified installer (Specialist or 5-Star) using a VELUX flashing kit. The warranty is voided if non-VELUX flashing is used or if the installer is uncertified. JDH installs every skylight to maintain the warranty.
How much does a VELUX skylight cost in Maryland? +
Most residential VELUX skylight installs in Maryland fall in the $1,800-$5,500 range per skylight including unit + flashing kit + install. Solar-powered venting (VSS) and impact-glazed units run higher. Sun Tunnels (tubular skylights) for closets and small bathrooms start around $1,200. See our roofing cost page for full pricing context.
Can a leaking skylight be repaired or does it need replacing? +
It depends on the failure point. Gasket and seal failures on a sub-15-year-old skylight are usually repairable. Glass delamination, perimeter seal failure, or corroded flashing on a 20+ year unit usually warrants replacement. JDH's forensic inspection identifies the root cause before any repair-vs-replace recommendation.
Will adding a skylight void my roof warranty? +
Not if installed by a manufacturer-certified contractor with manufacturer-spec flashing. Both VELUX and Owens Corning (asphalt shingle) maintain their warranties when their certified installers integrate the skylight at the correct stage of the install. Uncertified retrofits typically void both warranties.
What is a Sun Tunnel and when does it make sense? +
A Sun Tunnel is VELUX's tubular skylight system: a 10-inch or 14-inch reflective tube routes daylight from the roof to a small ceiling diffuser. Use cases: closets, interior bathrooms, hallways, stairwells. They are less expensive than a full skylight, install in under a day, and have a lower leak-risk profile because the flashing kit is smaller.
Does JDH install skylights for new construction or only retrofits? +
Both. Skylight installation is best timed with a roof replacement or new roof install because the flashing kit integrates with the primary roof underlayment as one assembly. For retrofits on an existing roof, JDH will inspect the surrounding roof field before recommending. A skylight added to a roof in the last 5 years of its life is a poor investment.
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 → -
2
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 → -
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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 a Free VELUX Skylight InspectionHAAG Master Forensic. No Pressure.
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
Same-day or next-business-day response. We'll confirm by phone within the hour.
Request Received
A real person from JDH Remodeling will follow up shortly.
- 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
From the JDH Team When you're ready to take the next step, work with our main shop serving MD and Virginia. JDH backs every job with our full JDH MD & VA roofing replacement and flexible flexible roof replacement financing for every homeowner.