Skylights that don't leak and attics that don't cook the roof
Two of the most common problems on 1980s–90s Huntsville houses: a skylight that's fogged or leaking, and an attic that hits 140 degrees because the soffits were never opened. Both are cheap to fix — especially during a re-roof.
The acrylic bubble skylights installed across Huntsville's 1980s and '90s subdivisions are past their lives — fogged, cracked at the frame, leaking at the curb flashing — and a leaking skylight puts water on the ceiling drywall and the framing below it. We replace them with Velux deck-mounted units with the manufacturer's flashing kit, in the same opening, in a few hours; during a re-roof it's the obvious time because the flashing goes in with the new shingles.
Attic ventilation is the quieter problem. Most houses of that era have a few static turtle vents and soffit vents that were never cut open or were painted shut. On a July afternoon that attic runs 130 to 150 degrees, which bakes the shingles from below, raises the cooling bill and voids some shingle warranties. The fix is balanced ventilation: continuous ridge vent for exhaust and real soffit intake — open, baffled, unobstructed by insulation — so air moves. A powered or solar attic fan helps when the roof shape won't take enough ridge vent.
What's included
Skylight replacement
Velux deck-mounted fixed, manual and solar-venting units with the flashing kit, in the existing opening.
Skylight repair & reflash
Resealing and reflashing units that are sound but leaking at the curb.
Sun tunnels
Tubular skylights for hallways, baths and closets with no ceiling access.
Ridge vent
Continuous shingle-over ridge vent replacing turtle vents, with exhaust area calculated for the attic.
Soffit intake
Cut-in and baffled soffit vents, or a continuous vented soffit, so the ridge vent has air to pull.
Attic fans
Powered and solar fans with thermostats for roofs that can't take enough ridge vent.
Skylight and ventilation costs in Huntsville, AL
| Job | Typical installed price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skylight replacement, Velux fixed, standard size | $1,200 – $2,200 | Installed with flashing kit |
| Solar-venting skylight | $2,200 – $3,800 | Rain sensor, remote |
| Skylight reflash / reseal | $350 – $800 | When the unit is sound |
| Sun tunnel | $900 – $1,600 | Installed |
| Ridge vent, typical house | $500 – $1,200 | Cheaper during a re-roof |
| Soffit intake vents (cut-in) | $400 – $1,200 | Baffles included |
Skylight prices include the unit, flashing kit, interior trim reset and haul-away. Ventilation is priced by the linear foot of ridge and number of soffit vents, and is significantly cheaper as part of a re-roof.
Recent work
Questions we get about skylights & ventilation
Replace or repair my leaking skylight?
If it's an acrylic bubble or over 20 years old, replace it — the frame and seals are done. A glass unit under 15 years old leaking at the flashing can usually be reflashed.
Do you replace skylights during a roof replacement?
That's the best time — the new flashing kit integrates with the new shingles and underlayment, and the labor is lower.
How do I know if my attic is under-ventilated?
An attic far hotter than outside in summer, curling or prematurely aged shingles, condensation on nails in winter, and soffit vents you can see are painted over or stuffed with insulation. We check it on every inspection.
Ridge vent or attic fan?
Ridge vent with soffit intake for almost every gable or hip roof — passive, silent, no motor. A fan for low-slope or complicated roofs with too little ridge. Never both — the fan pulls air in through the ridge instead of the soffits.
Can bad ventilation void my shingle warranty?
Yes — the major manufacturers require ventilation to FHA/HUD minimums for the full warranty. We correct it on every re-roof.
Does a cooler attic really lower my power bill?
Ten to 20 percent off summer cooling on an under-ventilated house is typical here, and the HVAC ducts in the attic stop fighting a 140-degree space.