The most common pricing confusion we run into is homeowners quoting replacement prices they found online against new installation estimates. Those are completely different scopes. Replacing an existing unit costs less than cutting a new opening. A dome costs less to replace than a glass unit. A shingle roof costs less to work on than tile. Here is the actual breakdown, with numbers from real jobs.

Skylight Replacement Costs

Replacement means an existing skylight comes out and a new one goes in the same opening. No new structural framing required, no new roof cut.

Scope	Composition Shingle	Clay or Concrete Tile	Second Story Add
Dome replacement (smallest unit)	$650+	$850+	+$200–$400
Standard dome (2×2 to 3×3)	$800–$1,400	$1,100–$1,800	+$200–$400
Glass replacement, smallest (2×2 Velux)	$750–$800	$1,000–$1,200	+$200–$400
Glass replacement, standard (2×4, 3030)	$900–$1,400	$1,200–$1,800	+$200–$400
Glass replacement, larger units	$1,300–$2,200	$1,600–$2,800	+$300–$500
Upgrade to operable (solar venting)	Add $400–$700	Add $400–$700	—

The operable unit upcharge is materials only, the labor to install a solar venting Velux is the same as a fixed unit. The unit itself costs more. Same installation difficulty, higher product cost.

New Cut Installation Costs

A new cut means we are creating an opening that does not exist. This is a different scope from replacement: new structural framing, new curb, new flashing, new unit, interior rough-in. It costs more and takes longer.

Scope	Composition Shingle	Clay or Concrete Tile
Single unit, between existing rafters	From $3,000	From $3,500
Single unit, structural header required	$3,500–$4,500	$4,500–$6,000
Two units, same visit	$5,000–$7,500	$6,500–$10,000
Second story add	+$300–$500	+$400–$600
Solar venting vs fixed	Add $400–$700	Add $400–$700

A structural header is required any time a rafter must be cut to create the opening. We always try to place units between existing rafters to avoid this. When the location requires cutting a rafter, which is sometimes the only option, the header adds both material and labor cost.

Skylight Repair Costs

Most skylight leaks are flashing failures, not unit failures. Repair is almost always less expensive than replacement when the unit is structurally sound.

Repair Type	Composition Shingle	Clay or Concrete Tile
Step flashing re-flash (one side)	$400–$650	$550–$900
Full perimeter re-flash	$800–$1,200	$1,000–$1,600
Head flashing repair	$300–$500	$400–$650
Glazing replacement (in existing frame)	$400–$800	$400–$800
Curb re-seal (flat roof)	$350–$550	N/A

Permit Costs

Permit fees are jurisdiction-specific and passed through at cost. New installations require permits in virtually all LA jurisdictions. Like-for-like replacements in the same opening are often permit-exempt, we confirm this for each project.

LADBS (City of Los Angeles): $150–$350
Pasadena: $175–$400
Glendale: $150–$350
Beverly Hills: $250–$500
Santa Monica: $200–$450
Burbank: $150–$300

What Drives Cost Up

Tile roofs add cost because of the physical work: removing tile without cracking it, custom-fabricating step flashing under each course, and resetting tile correctly afterward. On a steep pitch in Glendale or Pasadena, this can add two to four hours to the job.

Second story adds cost because of access, longer ladders, more setup time, more care on the roof. It is not dramatically more expensive, but it is more than a single-story job.

Structural headers add cost when a rafter must be cut. The header itself is straightforward framing, but it adds material and time. On jobs that require an engineer’s signature (Beverly Hills, some hillside properties), engineering adds $400–$800 on top.

Operable units cost more than fixed on materials alone. The installation is the same, same labor, same time. The Velux solar venting unit costs $400–$700 more than the equivalent fixed unit.

Why does the same unit cost more on a tile roof?

Every tile around the opening has to come off without cracking, custom step flashing has to be bent and installed under each course, and the tile has to go back on correctly with matching mortar. On a single-story tile roof that adds 2–3 hours. On a steep hillside tile roof it can add 4+ hours. That labor difference is what you are paying for.

Is the permit included in your quotes?

Permit fees appear as a separate line item on every quote and are passed through at cost, no markup. We pull the permit, manage plan check, and schedule inspections. You do not need to deal with the building department.

"Called on a Tuesday, they were at the house Thursday morning. The estimate was detailed, broken down line by line, and came in right in the middle of what I'd seen quoted elsewhere. Went with them because they actually explained what they were going to do and why. No surprises on the day."

, David R., Sherman Oaks