A skylight job is really three jobs: roofing, carpentry and interior finishing. The roofer cuts the opening and fits the flashing, someone frames the opening and lines the light well, and the ceiling has to be made good and painted. How much of each your house needs decides the price far more than the brand you choose.
This guide breaks down those costs, compares skylights with solar tubes, explains the consent rules and covers leaks and summer heat, the two things owners worry about most.
How much does it cost to add a skylight?
Expect the unit and flashing to be a minority of the total, with labour and interior work making up the rest. We could not find an independent NZ survey of installed skylight prices, so the table shows published retail prices for the parts and published labour rates, and leaves the variable lines as variables.
The retail prices are from Mitre 10 listings checked in October 2026. Labour and access figures are from the September 2026 Made 4 Tradies roofer rates guide.
| Cost line | Published reference point | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed skylight, 780 x 1180 mm | $908 (Mitre 10, VELUX FS M06) | Size, glazing, blinds |
| Electric opening skylight, same size | $2,585 (Mitre 10, VELUX VSE M06) | Manual, solar or electric |
| Flashing kit, corrugate or tile | $272 (Mitre 10, VELUX EDW) | Roof profile; some trapezoidal roofs need another detail |
| Roofer labour, Auckland | $85 to $120 per hour (Made 4 Tradies) | Pitch, roof type, access |
| Scaffolding or edge protection | $1,500 to $3,500+ per project (Made 4 Tradies) | Height, single or two storey |
| Framing, light well, ceiling finish | Quoted per job | Ceiling depth, trusses, finish level |
Skylight vs solar tube: which is better?
A skylight is better where the ceiling sits close to the roof and you want a view of the sky or ventilation. A solar tube, sometimes called a sun tunnel, is better for small spaces under a deep roof cavity, such as hallways, ensuites and walk-in wardrobes.
Tubes are usually cheaper to fit because there is no framed light well, just a reflective tube between a small roof dome and a ceiling diffuser. They bring in daylight but no view and no fresh air. Skylights let you see out, and opening models clear steam from bathrooms and heat from kitchens.
Many villas and bungalows in Mt Albert and Epsom have long, dark central hallways, and a sun tunnel is often the neat fix there, while a full skylight suits a kitchen extension at the back. Our skylights in Mt Albert page has more on those houses.
Do skylights need building consent in NZ?
Often not. MBIE's guidance on the Schedule 1 exemption for windows in existing homes says it covers building work connected with a window, including a roof window, in a dwelling of up to two storeys, as long as it does not affect a specified system such as sprinklers or alarms.
There are limits. MBIE says a window or roof window installed within the last 15 years that has failed early will need consent to replace, because a like-for-like replacement could fail the same way. Cutting through trusses or changing load-bearing framing to make a large opening can also take the job outside the exemption. Cheeky's Roofers checks this before we quote, and if consent is needed we tell you up front rather than part way through.
Thinking about a skylight?
Cheeky's Roofers will check your roof profile and framing, recommend a skylight or sun tunnel and give you an itemised quote.
Why is my skylight leaking?
Most skylight leaks come from the flashing, perished seals or debris damming water on the high side, not from the glass. The fix is usually a reflash or a proper upstand, not a new unit.
Flashing kits are made for particular profiles. Mitre 10's listing for the VELUX EDW kit notes it suits tile and corrugated roofs but not profiles such as Klip-lok or Trimdeck. A kit forced onto the wrong profile is a common cause of repeat leaks, and so is a new skylight fitted onto an old, tired flashing. Our roof leak repairs team traces the actual entry point before anything is replaced, because water often travels along the underlay before it shows on the ceiling.
Can you add a skylight to an existing roof?
Yes. Most skylights are retrofitted into existing roofs, and the work is routine on corrugate and tile. The roofer sets out the opening between rafters or trusses, cuts the roofing, fits the unit and flashing, and turns the underlay and roofing into the flashing so water runs over, not under.
The cheapest time to add one is during a reroof. The scaffold is already up, the old roofing is already off and the new sheets can be cut around the flashing from the start, so you avoid a separate setup and a second round of access costs. If your roof is due for replacement in the next few years, it is worth planning the skylight into the re-roofing job.
On exposed coastal sites such as Takapuna, where wind drives rain sideways, the flashing detail and an opening unit with a rain sensor matter more than the glazing choice.
Do skylights make rooms hot in summer?
They can, especially on north and west-facing roof slopes, but the right glazing, a blind and an opening unit largely solve it. A fixed, clear skylight over a bedroom is the version most likely to cause problems.
Ways to keep the heat down:
- Choose low-emissivity or heat-reflective glazing where it is offered.
- Fit an external awning blind or an internal block-out blind, preferably solar or electric so it is actually used.
- Pick an opening model for rooms that trap heat, so hot air can escape at the highest point.
- Place the skylight on a south or east-facing slope where the layout allows.
What warranty should a skylight have?
Ask for two warranties: the manufacturer's on the unit and flashing, and the installer's on workmanship. VELUX New Zealand, for example, states a 10-year guarantee on skylights and flashings, 7 years on sun tunnels and 3 years on blinds and electronic components.
Keep the paperwork with your house records. If you sell, a buyer's building inspector will look closely at any skylight with staining around it, and a documented installation with a current guarantee answers most of those questions before they become a negotiation point.
The workmanship guarantee is the one that covers leaks from poor installation, so get it in writing with the quote. When you are ready, you can book a free measure and we will confirm the right unit and flashing for your roof.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a skylight installation take?
A straightforward skylight or sun tunnel is often fitted on the roof in a day. Lining the light well and finishing the ceiling can take longer, especially if the plasterboard needs to dry between coats before painting.
Can a skylight go in a flat or membrane roof?
Yes, but it needs a flat-roof skylight on a raised upstand with the membrane turned up and sealed to it. Pitched-roof units and standard flashing kits are not designed for flat roofs.
Will a skylight make my house cold in winter?
A modern double-glazed skylight loses far less heat than old single-glazed domes, but it still loses more than an insulated ceiling. A blind helps at night, and a well-placed skylight can add useful winter sun.
Should I replace old plastic skylight domes?
If they are yellowed, brittle or leaking, yes. Old domes on flat and low-pitch roofs are common in 1980s and 1990s homes and often fail at the seal. Replacing them during a reroof costs less than doing it separately later.
Can I install a skylight myself?
Cutting a hole in a roof and making it weathertight is skilled work, and a poor flashing detail will leak into the ceiling. Most owners are better off leaving the roof work to a roofer, even if they do the interior finishing themselves.
Our Services
SkylightsRoof windows and skylights installed or replaced with proper flashing kits, so the light comes in and the water does not.
Roof Leak RepairsWe track a leak to its source, which is often nowhere near the stain on your ceiling, and fix the cause.
Re-RoofingA full re-roof replaces your old roofing, underlay and flashings with a new COLORSTEEL roof built to today's Building Code.Read Next
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