7 Costly Skylight Mistakes Melbourne Homeowners Should Avoid

A low figure can look attractive until you discover it covers only the roof work. A complete skylight installation may also require timber framing, a ceiling opening, shaft construction, plasterboard, plastering, sanding, flashing and rubbish removal.

Two quotes are not comparable when one leaves the homeowner to organise several trades afterwards.

• Confirm the exact skylight model and size.
• Check whether flashing and custom roof work are included.
• Ask whether framing, shaft lining, plastering and sanding are included.
• Confirm that painting is included or excluded. Central Skylights generally excludes painting and states this clearly.

Melbourne homes include tiled pitched roofs, corrugated Colorbond, Klip-Lok, low-pitch additions and flat-roof extensions. One product or flashing approach does not suit them all.

• VELUX FS: fixed daylight for suitable pitched roofs.
• VELUX VS, VSE or VSS: pitched-roof daylight plus ventilation.
• VELUX FCM: fixed flat-roof skylight installed on a suitable kerb or upstand.
• Sun tunnel: useful where roof or ceiling space makes a full shaft impractical.

The recommendation should reflect the roof profile, pitch, drainage, room use and ceiling structure—not simply the model an installer happens to carry.

A skylight is not just a piece of glass. The flashing directs rainwater around the unit and safely back onto the roof. Poor flashing, the wrong flashing or over-reliance on sealant may look acceptable on day one but fail during wind-driven rain.

• Tile roofs require a compatible tile flashing system.
• Corrugated metal profiles may require purpose-made Colorbond flashing.
• Flat and low-pitch roofs may require a raised kerb or upstand.
• Drainage paths, roof laps and back flashing must be considered.

The easiest roof location is not always the best internal location. Position affects where daylight falls, how evenly it spreads, whether glare becomes a problem and how the shaft integrates with the ceiling.

• Centre hallway daylight over the area people actually use.
• Place kitchen daylight over work zones where possible.
• Consider opening models in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries.
• Check rafters, trusses, ducts, pipes and electrical services before finalising.
• Consider north, east, west and south orientation and seasonal sun.

More daylight is not automatically better. An oversized skylight or poor position can make a room uncomfortable, particularly in bedrooms, west-facing living areas, studies and rooms with screens.

Modern double glazing helps improve thermal performance, but size, orientation and shade control still matter. A VELUX blind is often easier to plan with the skylight than to add after the room becomes too bright.

• Consider a blind for bedrooms and nurseries.
• Think about afternoon sun in west-facing rooms.
• Choose opening skylights where releasing hot air or moisture matters.
• Balance usable daylight with comfort—not maximum glass area.

For homes with a pitched roof and flat ceiling, the shaft is what connects the roof skylight to the room below. Its width, depth, angle and finish directly affect how much light reaches the room and how integrated the result feels.

• A flared shaft can spread daylight across a wider area.
• A long, narrow shaft can reduce useful light.
• Framing and plaster details affect the finished appearance.
• Painting is a separate finishing stage unless specifically included.

Central Skylights can include framing, plasterboard, plastering and sanding where required, leaving the surface ready for painting.

A capable handyman, roofer or builder is not automatically a skylight specialist. The work combines product selection, roof penetrations, flashing, structural framing, shaft design, plaster finishing and an understanding of manufacturer requirements.

• Ask for evidence of similar installations on your roof type.
• Check recent customer reviews and completed projects.
• Confirm who is responsible for each stage of the work.
• Choose a team able to explain product, flashing and internal finishing clearly.

Central Skylights has completed more than 12,000 successful installations across Melbourne since 2018, working with pitched tile, metal and flat-roof applications.

An old dome may be leaking because of cracked acrylic, aged seals, deteriorated flashing, roof movement or a poor original installation. Replacing only the visible dome—or adding another layer of silicone—may not address the real cause.

• Inspect the roof and flashing around the opening.
• Check ceiling staining, moisture and the existing shaft.
• Consider upgrading to double-glazed glass.
• Decide whether the room now needs ventilation or a blind.