The price range you find when you search skylight costs online is nearly useless because it mixes three different scopes: dome replacement, glass replacement, and brand-new cut installation. These are not the same job. Here is how the actual pricing breaks down in Los Angeles, with real numbers from jobs we have completed.
Dome Replacement
The most common skylight on older LA homes is an acrylic or polycarbonate dome that has yellowed, cracked, or started leaking. Replacing a dome is the least expensive scope because the curb and structural opening already exist. The new dome drops into the existing curb or gets a new curb built to the same dimensions.
Smallest dome replacements start at $650 on a composition shingle roof. Standard dome sizes run $800–$1,400. Tile roofs add $200–$500 depending on pitch and tile condition. Second story adds $200–$400.
Glass Replacement
Glass replacement means putting a Velux or CrystaLite glass unit into an existing opening, typically replacing a failed dome or an older glass unit in the same location. The structural work is minimal because the opening exists. The cost is driven by the unit size and roof type.
The smallest glass replacement (a Velux 2×2 or equivalent) starts at $750–$800 on a shingle roof. A standard residential unit (2×4 or 3030) runs $900–$1,400. Larger units run $1,300–$2,200. Tile adds $300–$600. Second story adds $200–$400. Upgrading to a solar venting unit instead of fixed adds $400–$700 for the unit itself, the installation labor is the same.
New Cut Installation
A new cut is a completely different scope. We are creating an opening that does not exist: cutting through the roof, framing the opening, building the curb, installing the unit, completing all flashing, and roughing in the interior. This is the most expensive scope because it is the most work.
New cut on a composition shingle roof starts at approximately $3,000 for a standard residential unit installed between existing rafters. If a structural header is required, because a rafter must be cut to create the opening, add $500–$1,500 for the framing and, in some jurisdictions, engineering. On a clay or concrete tile roof, new cuts start at $3,500 and go up from there. Second story installations add $300–$600.
How Long Does It Take
A replacement is typically done in a half day to one day depending on roof type. A new cut averages one to two days for a single residential unit. We do not do the final drywall finish, that is your painter or drywaller’s scope once we have completed the rough-in.
Permit Costs
New installations require permits in virtually all LA jurisdictions. Like-for-like replacements are often exempt. Permit fees range from $150–$500 depending on jurisdiction and scope, and appear as a separate line item on our invoices. We pull the permit and handle the inspection process.
What to Watch For in Contractor Quotes
Quotes that do not distinguish between shingle and tile pricing are missing a real cost variable. Quotes that exclude permit fees, or that do not specify whether a structural header is included, are incomplete. A complete quote shows the unit cost, labor, flashing materials, permit, and any structural work as separate line items. Ask for it that way.
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"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."
