Skylights Sydney
Velux, Keylite, and Solatube skylight installation across Sydney metal, tile, and slate roofs. Soldered step-flashings, water-tested installs, and the specialist detailing that prevents 10-year leaks.
The right skylight transforms a dark, unloved room into the brightest space in the house — without adding a single kilowatt of artificial lighting. Top Hat Roofing installs Velux, Keylite, and Solatube skylights across Sydney, with the flashing expertise that determines whether a skylight becomes a beloved feature or a 10-year leak source. We’ve installed skylights on metal, tile, and slate roofs across every Sydney suburb.
Skylight Types We Install
Fixed Skylights
Non-opening, glass-panel skylights. The simplest and cheapest option. Maximises light, no moving parts to fail, longest warranty. Ideal for stairwells, hallways, and rooms where ventilation isn’t required.
Vented Skylights
Openable skylights providing natural ventilation alongside light. Essential in bathrooms, kitchens, and rooms where moisture or heat buildup is a concern. Manual or electric operation.
Solar-Powered Skylights
Velux Solar Powered Fresh Air skylights use integrated solar panels — no wiring required to install. Remote or app-controlled, rain sensor auto-close. Eligible for energy rebates. Increasingly popular in Sydney new builds.
Tubular Skylights (Solatube)
Reflective light tunnels that channel daylight from roof to ceiling. Ideal when the skylight location is far from a structural beam or when you want light in an interior room without a direct roof opening. Smaller footprint, easier to install.
Why Skylight Installation Is a Specialist Job
Skylights fail at the flashing, not the glass. A skylight cut incorrectly through a tile or metal roof becomes a permanent leak source — we see 10-year-old leaking skylights nearly every month, almost always installed by someone who understood the cutting but not the flashing. The difference is whether water shed by the skylight is properly directed over the next course of tiles or under the next Colorbond sheet, and whether step-flashings are soldered or just taped. We solder every step-flashing, and we water-test every install.
Metal Roof vs Tile Roof Skylights
Metal roof installations are faster and inherently more reliable — the flashing kit designed for corrugated or standing-seam profiles interlocks cleanly with the sheet. Tile roof skylights require custom step-flashings and careful tile reworking around the opening. Both are solid 20-year installs when done right; tile installs take more labour because of the hand-flashing work around the opening.
Quoting Skylight Installs
Fixed, manual-vented, solar-powered, and tubular skylights all sit at different price points, with Velux solar-powered units at the premium end and Solatube tubular the most affordable. Your quote includes supply, installation, flashings, and cleanup — ceiling patching and internal reveal work are typically done by a separate trade (plasterer/carpenter) unless your scope specifies otherwise.
Installation Timeline
A standard skylight install takes half a day on site for most straightforward cases — one skylight, existing reveal. Multiple skylights or custom ceiling reveals extend to a full day or two. Velux solar and electric vented models add an hour for wireless commissioning. We always scheduled around dry weather — skylight work requires an open roof for a period.
Do I Need Council Approval?
For standard skylight installation on most Sydney properties, no council approval is required — skylights are typically Exempt Development. Heritage overlay and conservation area properties may require a DA if the skylight is visible from a street-front elevation. We check your property’s planning overlay at the quote stage.
Areas We Serve
Skylight installation across the Sydney metro area — every suburb from the Northern Beaches through the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Hills, and Western Sydney. Heritage and terrace installations a specialty in Paddington, Glebe, Balmain, and Newtown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a skylight cost installed in Sydney?
Fixed, manual-vented, solar-powered, and tubular skylights all sit at different price points — Velux solar at the premium end, Solatube tubular the most affordable. Your quote includes supply, installation, flashings, and cleanup. Request a quote for your specific setup.
Do skylights leak?
Badly-installed skylights absolutely leak. Properly-installed skylights with soldered step-flashings and water-tested finish don't — we water-test every install. The skylight industry has a deservedly bad reputation from shortcut installers; correct flashing and tile integration is the whole job.
Velux vs Keylite vs Solatube — which is best?
Velux is the industry leader — highest build quality, longest warranty (20-year glass, 10-year flashing). Keylite is a solid mid-price option. Solatube is tubular, which is a different product for different uses (when you need light in an interior room). For openable/vented installations, we default to Velux.
Can I install a skylight on my tile roof?
Yes — most Sydney tile roofs accept skylights. It's slightly more labour-intensive than metal roofs because flashings must integrate with existing tile courses, but we've installed hundreds of skylights on concrete, terracotta, and slate tile across Sydney.
How long does a skylight installation take?
Half a day for a standard single install on an accessible roof. Multiple skylights or custom ceiling reveals stretch to a full day or two. Solar/electric commissioning adds about an hour. We schedule around dry weather.
Do skylights make rooms too hot in Sydney summers?
A modern Velux or Keylite skylight includes Low-E coating that reflects most solar heat while letting visible light through. In rooms facing west or north-west, we recommend vented or solar-vented models so heat can exhaust. Manual or auto-blinds are available for rooms where afternoon sun is intense.
Do I need council approval for a skylight?
For most Sydney properties, no — skylights are typically Exempt Development. Heritage overlay and conservation area properties may require a DA if the skylight is visible from the street. We check your property's overlay at the quote stage.
Can you replace an old skylight that's leaking?
Yes — typically we strip the old unit, rework the opening if needed, and install a new modern unit with fresh flashings. Existing leaking skylights are one of our most common callouts. Replacement cost is similar to a new install; the existing opening saves some labour but adds flashing-remediation work.