Skylight installation in winter: what GTA homeowners should know
Quick answer: Yes, skylight installation in winter is a normal job on a GTA roof. We cut the opening, build the frame, and seal it the same day. We only move the date for a snowstorm.
The photo shows a VELUX longlight with snow on the glass and on the roof around it. A house job is smaller. The roof is still closed before we leave.
How skylight installation in winter works
The opening closes the same day
We mark the spot from inside, so the light lands where you need it. Then we lift a patch of shingles and cut the wood under them.
We do not leave that hole open overnight. The cut, the frame, and the seal all happen on the same visit.
Shingles go back the same day. Paint can wait.
Replacing an old unit is a shorter version of the same day. The old frame comes out, we check the wood, and the new unit goes in the same hole. We still close the roof before we leave.
The flashing and the sheet underneath
A VELUX skylight installation uses a metal flashing kit made for that unit. The pieces fit together and send water down the roof. They do not rely on caulk that needs a warm day to set.
The sheet under the shingles stays soft in the cold. Old felt paper can crack if you unroll it while it is frozen, so we do not use it. Both the kit and the sheet work fine in winter.
You can see the units, and what a finished opening looks like, on our skylight installation page.
When the date moves
We install on cold, clear days. A light dusting is fine if we can brush the work area clean.
We move the date when:
- A snowstorm would hit while the roof is open.
- Ice from that storm makes the slope unsafe to stand on.
- Water is already coming through the ceiling. That is a repair, not a booking for spring.
We tell you before the truck shows up. It is a one-day change, not a wait until May. If the weather turns while we are there, we close the roof before anyone leaves.
Already have water inside? Start with what to do when a roof is leaking.
A drip on the glass, with dry walls around it, is often just damp air in the house. Here is how to tell a leak from condensation.
Why winter can be the better time
Spring is busy. Everyone who waited calls in the same few weeks. A winter date is usually sooner, and it is easier to keep.
This is also when a GTA home is darkest. A stair, a hall, or a kitchen that faces the neighbour's wall sits under a lamp for months.
A skylight put in now helps through those dark months. You do not have to wait until June.
A winter skylight installation in Toronto gets tested right away. Wet snow, a thaw, and cold rain all hit the flashing in the first weeks. By the time the leaves come out, that test is done.
Not sure if the unit should open? Read venting versus fixed skylights before you book.
Questions people ask
Can you install a skylight in winter?
Yes. A clear, cold day is a normal work day. We only move the job for a snowstorm, or for ice that storm left on the slope.
Will my roof be open overnight?
No. We cut, frame, and seal the opening the same day. The shingles go back on before we leave.
Does the flashing fail in the cold?
No. The metal kit sheds water by how it is shaped. It does not need sunshine to cure, and the sheet under the shingles stays flexible too.
Is it harder to get a date in winter?
No. The wait is usually shorter than in April. You also get the extra light while the days are short.
Book a visit
Well Roofing is a skylight installer in the GTA, based at 17 Peterlee Avenue in Etobicoke. We come to the house in Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, and the cities around them.
Book a free roof assessment and we will look at the slope and give you a date. Or call (416) 999-9706.