Professional Skylight & Sun Tunnel Installation in Connecticut
Natural light possesses a unique ability to fundamentally transform a home’s interior. It can make small rooms feel open and spacious, enhance the true colors of your decor, and create a warm, inviting atmosphere that artificial lighting simply cannot replicate. Especially during the shorter days of a long Connecticut winter, maximizing daylight can have a profound impact on your mood and well-being. The challenge, however, is integrating a source of natural light without compromising the most critical protective element of your home: your roof.
At American Quality Roofing and Siding, we are uniquely qualified to bring the beauty of natural light into your home. As factory-certified roofing contractors with over 25 years of experience, we are experts in the complex science of keeping Connecticut roofs leak-free. This expertise is non-negotiable when it comes to properly installing skylights and sun tunnels. A poorly installed unit is one of the most common causes of serious roof leaks and water damage.
Whether you dream of a large skylight offering a view of the sky in your living room or need a sun tunnel to brighten a windowless hallway, our team has the technical skill to ensure a flawless, weathertight installation. We don’t just cut a hole in your roof; we integrate these features seamlessly into your existing roofing system, using advanced flashing techniques and adhering to the highest industry standards.
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Where Can You Add Natural Light?
Identifying Opportunities to Brighten Your Home
Many homes have underutilized or dark spaces that could be completely revitalized with the addition of natural light. Understanding where each type of solution works best can help you envision the possibilities.
Ideal Locations for Skylights (A View of the Sky):
Kitchens: Brighten up your most-used workspace, reducing the need for artificial light during the day.
Living Rooms & Family Rooms: A skylight in a room with a vaulted ceiling can create a dramatic architectural focal point and a sense of openness.
Master Bedrooms & Bathrooms: Wake up to natural light or gaze at the stars. In a master bath, a skylight can provide both light and privacy.
Home Offices & Studios: Abundant natural light is proven to boost productivity and is essential for any creative work.
Attic Conversions & Bonus Rooms: Skylights are often the only way to bring light and a feeling of space to a converted attic room.
Ideal Locations for Sun Tunnels (Brightening Enclosed Spaces):
Entryways & Mudrooms: Create a bright and welcoming first impression for guests entering your home.
Windowless Bathrooms & Powder Rooms: Sun tunnels provide bright, natural light where a traditional window isn’t feasible, making these small spaces feel larger and cleaner.
Dark Hallways & Stairwells: Eliminate the need to turn on lights every time you pass through a central hallway, making your home safer and more energy-efficient.
Walk-in Closets: See the true colors of your clothes without having to rely on a single light bulb.
Laundry Rooms: Brighten up a typically utilitarian space, making chores more pleasant.
Skylight & Sun Tunnel Options for Your Home
Choosing the Right Product for Your Space and Needs
Modern skylights and sun tunnels offer a wide range of features and styles. We help you select the perfect option to match your home’s architecture, your lifestyle, and your budget.
1. Skylight Options:
Shades and Blinds: Many skylights can be fitted with factory-installed blinds or shades, available in light-filtering or room-darkening options. These can be controlled manually or via remote control, giving you complete command over the light.
Fixed Skylights: These non-opening skylights are an excellent choice when the primary goal is simply to let in light. With no moving parts, they are a cost-effective and reliable option.
Venting Skylights: These units can be opened to allow fresh air to circulate, making them ideal for kitchens and bathrooms where they can help vent heat and humidity. They are available in several operating styles:
Manual Venting: Opened with a hand crank or telescoping pole. Best for easily accessible locations.
Electric Venting: Opened with the touch of a button on a wall-mounted switch or remote control. Many models include rain sensors that automatically close the unit when precipitation is detected.
Solar-Powered Venting: These feature a small, integrated solar panel to power the opening and closing mechanism, making them eligible for federal tax credits and easy to install without complex wiring.
Glazing and Glass Options: Modern skylights feature advanced double-pane glass with Low-E coatings and argon gas fill for superior energy efficiency, preventing heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Options for laminated or tempered glass provide added safety and noise reduction.
Sun Tunnel (Solar Tube) Options:
Ceiling Diffusers: The interior fixture that you see on your ceiling comes in various styles, from simple frosted designs to more decorative options, allowing you to match your home’s decor.
Rigid Tunnels: These are the best choice for performance, featuring a highly polished, mirror-like interior that can efficiently transmit bright, white light over longer distances with minimal light loss. They are ideal for straight runs from the roof to the ceiling.
Flexible Tunnels: These are best for installations with obstructions in the attic space that require maneuvering around joists or ducts. While slightly less reflective than rigid tunnels, they offer a versatile solution for complex installations.
Why Professional Installation is Non-Negotiable
A Skylight is a Roof Window. It Must Be Installed by a Roofer
This cannot be overstated: a skylight or sun tunnel installation is a roofing project first and foremost. An improperly installed unit is a guaranteed leak, and the resulting water damage can cost many times the price of the skylight itself. As certified roofing experts, our installation process is meticulous and weather-tight.
Proper Flashing Systems: The flashing is the most critical component. It’s a series of custom-fit metal pieces that integrate the skylight curb with your roofing shingles, creating multiple layers of protection to shed water away from the opening. We use manufacturer-engineered flashing kits designed specifically for your roof type (e.g., asphalt shingles, metal).
Curb Construction and Sealing: Most skylights are mounted on a “curb,” a raised wooden frame. We ensure this curb is built to the correct height, properly integrated with the roof deck, and sealed with a high-grade ice and water shield membrane before the skylight or flashing is even installed.
Integration with the Roofing System: We understand how your entire roofing system works. We don’t just cut a hole; we properly layer every component—deck, underlayment, ice and water shield, flashing, and shingles—to maintain the roof’s water-shedding integrity.
Preventing Condensation: Proper insulation and sealing around the interior shaft of the skylight are crucial, especially in Connecticut’s climate. This prevents warm, moist indoor air from meeting the cold skylight pane, which can cause condensation and “sweating.”
Manufacturer Certification: As GAF and ShingleMaster™ CertainTeed Select contractors, we are trained in the specific installation methods required by the industry’s leading manufacturers. This ensures your installation is done right and that your product warranties remain valid.
Hiring a general handyman or an uncertified contractor to cut a hole in your roof is a major risk. Trust the proven roofing professionals to protect your home.
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Energy Efficiency and Modern Skylights
Debunking the Myth of Heat Loss
Old, single-pane plastic bubble skylights gave all skylights a bad reputation for being inefficient. Today’s products are entirely different. Modern skylights are highly engineered, energy-efficient windows for your roof that can actually help improve your home’s thermal performance.
Advanced Glazing: Standard skylights now feature dual-pane, insulated glass units. The space between the panes is filled with an inert gas like argon, which insulates far better than regular air.
Low-E Coatings: A transparent, microscopic metallic coating (Low-E) is applied to the glass. In Connecticut’s climate, this coating works year-round: in the winter, it reflects heat back into your home, and in the summer, it reflects the sun’s infrared heat back outside, keeping your home cooler.
ENERGY STAR® Rating: We install a wide range of skylights that are ENERGY STAR® certified for our climate zone. This means they have been independently tested and proven to meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Reduced Need for Artificial Light: The most direct energy saving comes from turning off electric lights. Sun tunnels, in particular, can illuminate a space so brightly during the day that you won’t need to flip a switch, reducing your electricity consumption.
A modern, professionally installed skylight is not a drain on your energy bills; it’s a smart feature that enhances your home’s comfort and efficiency.
Our Skylight & Sun Tunnel Installation Process
Professional Skylight Installation For Your Property
Our systematic process ensures a smooth, professional experience and an impeccable result for every project.
Consultation and Location Planning
We meet with you to discuss your goals, evaluate your home’s structure and roofline, and help you determine the optimal size and placement for your new skylight or sun tunnel.
Product Selection
We guide you through the various models, features, and glazing options to select the perfect product that fits your needs, style, and budget.
Site Protection
Before work begins, we protect the interior of your home. Drop cloths are laid down from the entry to the work area to keep your home clean.
Precise Roof and Ceiling Opening
Our skilled team carefully measures and cuts the openings in both your roof and ceiling, ensuring the placement is structurally sound and perfectly aligned.
Expert, Weathertight Installation
This is the critical step. We install the curb, the ice and water shield, the unit itself, and the manufacturer’s engineered flashing system, integrating every layer to create a completely waterproof seal.
Interior Finishing
We frame the interior light shaft, install insulation, and finish the drywall. The interior is then ready for you or your painter to prime and paint.
Final Inspection and Cleanup
We perform a final inspection of both the interior and exterior work, clean the entire work area, and walk you through the operation of your new skylight or sun tunnel.
Why Choose a Certified Roofer for Your Skylight
The Most Important Decision You’ll Make
When installing a skylight, you’re hiring a roofer, not just a window installer. Choosing a proven roofing expert is the only way to guarantee a leak-proof result.
A+ Better Business Bureau Rating: Our long-standing A+ rating demonstrates our commitment to quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction across all our services.
25+ Years of Keeping Roofs Dry: Our core business since 1999 has been protecting Connecticut homes from water. We bring that same level of expertise and dedication to every skylight installation.
Factory-Certified Expertise: As GAF and ShingleMaster™ CertainTeed Select contractors, we are trained in the industry’s best practices for roof penetrations, ensuring your installation doesn’t compromise your roof’s integrity.
We Understand Flashing: Improper flashing is the #1 cause of skylight leaks. We are masters of this critical skill, using high-quality, engineered flashing kits on every job.
Licensed and Insured for Roofing: Our CT License #HIC 0633301 and comprehensive insurance are for roofing and exterior work, providing you with the right protection for this type of project.
FAQs
Common Questions About Skylights & Sun Tunnels
Adding a source of natural light is an exciting home improvement project. It’s natural to have questions, and with our decades of experience, we’ve heard them all. Here are the answers to some of the most common inquiries.
Transform Your Home with the Power of Natural Light.
Don’t let a dark hallway or a gloomy kitchen detract from the enjoyment of your home. Let the experts at American Quality Roofing and Siding bring in the bright, beautiful, and mood-lifting benefits of natural daylight.
As certified roofing professionals, we are the trusted choice for a flawless, leak-proof installation. We combine the art of interior transformation with the science of weathertight roofing. Contact us today to discover how we can brighten your home.
- Licensed and Insured – CT #HIC 0633301
- Factory Certified by GAF Materials Corporation
- ShingleMaster™ CertainTeed Select Contractors
- A+ Better Business Bureau Rating