Skylight Installation in Clarksville, TN

Skylights bring natural light into dark rooms. They make a home feel bigger. They can even help with ventilation. But they are holes in your roof. If not installed correctly, they leak. And in Clarksville, where spring thunderstorms dump inches of rain in an hour, a leaking skylight can ruin your ceiling and floors.

We have been installing and repairing skylights in Clarksville since 2003. We are Velux certified installers. That means we have been trained by the company that makes most of the skylights in America. We know their products. We know their flashing systems. We know how to make them leak-proof.

Here is the thing. A lot of general contractors and handymen will install a skylight. They cut a hole in your roof. They set the skylight in place. They caulk around it. And it works for a year.

Then the caulk cracks. The skylight leaks. The homeowner calls us. We have to pull the whole thing out and re-install it with proper flashing. That costs more than doing it right the first time.

Do not trust your skylight to a handyman. Hire a roofer who knows flashing.

This article covers skylight installation in Clarksville. The benefits. The costs. The process. The brands we recommend. And how to avoid leaks. Call (931) 666-1469 for a free estimate.

Why Install a Skylight in a Clarksville Home?

Let us start with the benefits. Natural light is the biggest reason. A skylight can brighten a dark hallway, bathroom, or kitchen. It reduces the need for electric lights during the day. In Clarksville's overcast winter months, that extra light makes a difference.

Ventilation is another benefit. Some skylights open (venting skylights). They let hot air escape.

In summer, that helps cool your home. Your AC does not have to work as hard. We have installed venting skylights in homes o Exit 4 where the upstairs bedrooms used to be 10 Energy savings go both ways. In winter, a skylight can bring in passive solar heat. On a sunny January day, that heat reduces your heating bill. In summer, a venting skylight releases hot air.

Modern skylights have low-E coatings that block UV rays while letting in visible light. They also have insulated frames. A good skylight is as energy-efficient as a double-pane window.

Aesthetics matter too. A skylight adds architectural interest. It makes a room feel more connected to the outdoors. In a historic home near downtown Clarksville, a skylight in a dark hallway can transform the space.

The downsides: cost (a good skylight with proper flashing is available upon request to varies depending on materials and labor installed), potential for leaks (if installed poorly), and heat gain in summer if you do not get low-E glass. We recommend Velux skylights. They are the best.

Fort Campbell families, skylights are allowed in o -base homes. On base, check with the housing office. Some base housing does not allow roof penetrations.

How We Install a Skylight in Clarksville (Step by Step)

We do not cut holes and hope. Here is our process.

nd a location between rafters. We consider the roof pitch (minimum 2/12 for skylights, but 4/12 or steeper is better). We also consider the room layout. The skylight should be centered over the area you want to light.

1. Select the skylight. Velux offers fixed (does not open) and venting (opens). Venting can be

manual (a rod) or solar-powered (remote control). We recommend solar-powered venting for tall ceilings. Size options from 14x14 inches to 48x48 inches. Glazing options include low-E, impact-resistant (for hail), and tinted.

1. Cut the opening. We cut through the roof deck from above. We also cut the ceiling

drywall from inside. We install a curb (a wooden frame) to raise the skylight above the roof surface. The curb is critical for proper flashing.

1. Install ice shield around the curb. We apply ice and water shield membrane around the

entire curb. This prevents water from backing up under the flashing. In Clarksville, ice shield is required by code for any roof penetration.

1. Install the skylight flashing kit. Velux skylights come with a step-by-step flashing kit. We

follow it exactly. The kit includes step flashing, counter- flashing, and a saddle. We install the step flashing under the shingles. We install the counter- flashing over the step flashing. We seal every overlap with urethane cement.

1. Set the skylight. We place the skylight on the curb. We nail it down through the pre-drilled

holes. We do not overdrive the nails.

to the ceiling opening. We insulate the shaft with rigid foam. We drywall and paint the shaft. We do not do the final drywall nishing (tape and mud), but we can refer you to a drywall contractor.

degrees hotter than downstairs. After installation, the temperature difference dropped to 3 degrees.

1. Test for leaks. We run a garden hose over the skylight for 5 minutes while someone

watches the attic. No water? Good. We do this on every installation.

manufacturer warranty (10 years on product, 5 years on labor). We register the skylight with Velux.

Why Hire a Local Clarksville Roofer for Skylight Installation?

We are Velux certified. That means we have passed their training. It also means we can offer the full Velux warranty. A non-certified installer voids that warranty.

We also know Clarksville's building codes. Skylights require proper flashing and ice shield.

They also need to be impact-resistant if you are in a hail-prone area. We follow the code.

Storm chasers do not do skylight installations. They are too detailed. They want quick shingle jobs. We do the detailed work because we care about your home.

For Fort Campbell families, we offer skylight installation as an upgrade to any roof replacement.

If you are getting a new roof, adding a skylight costs less because we are already tearing o the old shingles.

Frequently Asked Questions