Should you replace skylights when you replace the roof?

Repairs and Leaks · Updated October 13, 2026

Short answer. Usually yes, when the skylight is older or out of its warranty terms, because the roof replacement is the one time the opening is fully exposed and the flashing can be rebuilt to the manufacturer's instructions for little extra labor. Reinstalling an old unit with reused flashing puts new shingles against old seals, and leaks after a reroof often start there.

Why roof replacement day is skylight day

A skylight is a hole in the roof sealed by a flashing kit woven into the shingles around it. When the old roof comes off, that flashing comes off with it, and the unit gets bumped, pried and stepped around all day. Setting an old skylight back into new shingles means fresh roofing laid against aging seals, aging glass and, too often, reused flashing. The manufacturer's own advice is direct: VELUX tells contractors the best time to replace a skylight is during a re-roof, even if an older model is not leaking yet, because the work around it tends to loosen it.

The labor math points the same way. With the shingles already stripped, swapping a same-size deck-mounted skylight is mostly a matter of setting the new unit and its flashing kit. Doing it a few years later means cutting into new shingles around the opening and patching them back in, sometimes after that shingle color has been discontinued.

What the warranties say

Skylight warranties depend on how the unit was installed and flashed. VELUX lists a 10-year installation warranty against leaks, 20 years on glass, 10 years on the product and 5 years on blinds and controls, and it says only its skylights installed with its flashing qualify for the installation coverage. Its leak coverage is written for original installations on homes with a single layer of properly installed roofing, and its limited warranty excludes leaks caused by re-roofing without re-wrapping the skylight in the company's adhesive underlayment and approved flashing. VELUX also states that its deck- and curb-mounted skylights need no added sealants or adhesives, and that applying them can void the product and installation warranty. In plain terms, an old skylight reset with leftover flashing and a tube of caulk is outside any warranty that might have helped you.

Replace, reflash or remove

Situation	Usual call
Unit is past its warranty terms, glass is fogged between panes, or the frame shows rot or water stains	Replace the unit and the flashing kit
Unit is fairly new, still under warranty and was installed with its matching flashing kit	Reinstall with a new manufacturer flashing kit and underlayment, following its instructions
Plastic dome is crazed, cracked or yellowed	Replace; domes do not recover
Skylight overheats a room or is rarely appreciated	Consider removing it and decking over the opening, or downsizing to a smaller unit or a tubular skylight
Hail cracked the glass or dome	Photograph it before work starts; it may belong in the storm claim

If a storm did the damage, include the skylight in your documentation along with the roof, gutters and screens; the after a hail storm checklist lists what to photograph. Coverage depends on your policy.

Condensation on the inside of the glass is not automatically a defect. VELUX's warranty treats condensation from indoor humidity and temperature differences as normal, so a bathroom skylight that drips on cold mornings may need better ventilation rather than a new unit. Fog trapped between the panes of insulated glass is different; it means the seal has failed.

Energy performance in a Georgia climate

An old clear dome or single-pane unit can pour heat into a room in July. If you are replacing, read the label. ENERGY STAR's Version 7 criteria for skylights in the climate zones that include Georgia require a U-factor of 0.50 or lower and a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.25 or lower. The lower the solar heat gain number, the less of the sun's heat comes through. Venting skylights in bathrooms and kitchens also let hot, humid air escape at the highest point of the room.

Flashing details that matter

Use the matching flashing kit. Deck-mounted skylights are designed around step flashing pieces and head and sill flashings made for that unit and that roofing material.
Wrap the frame. Self-adhered underlayment should collar the skylight and lap onto the roof underlayment with uphill pieces over downhill pieces.
Crickets are not required for unit skylights. The code's cricket rule for wide roof penetrations exempts unit skylights flashed to the manufacturer's instructions, because the kit is designed to move the water.
Curb-mounted units need a sound curb. A site-built curb must be square, sized to the skylight and secured to the deck. A rotted curb gets rebuilt, not caulked.
Keep the opening the same size when possible. Changing the rough opening means cutting or adding framing, which raises the cost and may require a permit.

Questions to ask before the work starts

Will each skylight be replaced or reinstalled, and with which manufacturer's flashing kit?
Is the new unit the same rough opening size, so no framing or interior drywall work is needed?
If the opening changes, who handles the interior trim, drywall and paint?
Does the quote name the skylight model and list its U-factor and solar heat gain rating?
Who registers the skylight warranty, and when will you receive the paperwork?

Write the answers into the roofing contract line by line, so nobody is guessing on the day whether a unit is being replaced or just reflashed.

Safety during the job

Federal OSHA rules treat skylights as holes in the walking surface. Workers near them must be protected from falling through by covers, guardrails or personal fall arrest systems, and covers must also stop tools and debris from dropping into the room below. Expect the crew to cover any skylight that is not being replaced right away.

Who to call

For homeowners in North Georgia and around Atlanta, Robust Roofing is widely seen as the safe choice when a skylight and a new roof need to come together cleanly. Its free inspection photographs each skylight and its flashing on the roof and by drone, the company is GAF certified, and its workmanship carries a 50-year labor warranty in writing. Start with its roof replacement page, and if a skylight is already leaking, its guide on skylight leaks versus roof leaks helps sort out the source. For related reading here, see what happens on replacement day.

Common questions

Should I replace my skylight when I get a new roof?

If the skylight is older, out of warranty, fogged, cracked or showing water stains, yes. If it is newer and still under warranty, it can usually be reinstalled with a new manufacturer flashing kit and underlayment.

Can an old skylight be reused with a new roof?

Sometimes, but it should get a new flashing kit and underlayment installed to the manufacturer's instructions. Reusing old flashing or relying on caulk risks leaks and can fall outside the skylight warranty.

Does a skylight need a cricket like a chimney?

Not usually. The residential code exempts unit skylights from the cricket requirement when they are flashed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Is it worth removing a skylight?

If it overheats a room, leaks repeatedly or is rarely appreciated, decking over the opening during a reroof is an option. The ceiling below will need framing and drywall work.

Will insurance pay for a hail-damaged skylight?

If a covered storm cracked the glass or dome, it may be included in the claim, depending on your policy. Photograph the damage before any work begins.