Can you install a skylight yourself?

Skylights are a beautiful feature to have in your home – and the natural light they let in can completely transform the feel of space. But can you install a skylight yourself?

As budget renovators, we love a good DIY. Not only is it a great way to save money, but it’s also an opportunity to get creative or learn a new skill. And, doing it yourself can be extremely satisfying.

Over the last few years, we’ve completed some fairly sizeable home renovations without any real concerns. So, when I suggested to Chris that a skylight would be a great way to bring some extra light to our home office, he was confident that he could manage it. 

And – he did! But, this project was certainly no walk in the park. So while you absolutely can install a skylight yourself, a better question might be should you install a skylight yourself?

Here are some things to know about completing a DIY skylight installation, and some tips to help you decide whether to give it a go or leave it to the experts. 

Choosing the skylight 

When it comes to choosing a skylight, there are two main options: solar tubes or roof windows.

Roof windows are a stunning feature, but they’re significantly more expensive and the installation process is much more complicated. In some cases, you will need to plaster them in, and they may not suit all roof types. 

Solar tubes (also known as sun tunnels) use reflective light through a diffuser to provide a consistent level of light in a space. The tube can also bend around corners, so where you place the light in a room doesn’t need to perfectly align with where you place the light on the roof. 

For those planning to DIY, solar tubes come more highly recommended. There are even DIY kits you can buy, like the one we purchased. 

Understand what’s involved

Before you decide to dive in – it’s a good idea to make sure you understand what’s involved, and instructional videos can be a great place to start. We love the Bunnings DIY series, and we found this particular video super helpful:

Obviously, you’ll need to get on the roof to complete the job. But, depending on which type of skylight you choose and what type of roof you have, you may also need to get inside the roof cavity. 

For anyone uncomfortable with heights or tight spaces – these could be red flags. And, particularly sloped roofs may not be suitable to get on top of without proper safety gear.

While the video above makes the job look simple, it definitely requires a certain level of skill. Even for experienced DIY renovators, cutting a hole into your ceiling can be daunting! Not to mention ensuring that everything has been properly sealed and waterproofed.

Be mindful of the weather

Speaking of waterproofing, if you do decide to go ahead and install a skylight yourself – make sure to plan around the weather forecast. 

Trying to install a skylight in the rain could be a recipe for disaster, so we waited until we had a nice summer day with clear blue skies. What we didn’t account for was how fast the temperature would rise both in the roof cavity and on top of the roof. 

While we successfully managed to dodge any rain, it turned out to be much warmer than we anticipated – and it was pretty unpleasant for poor Chris!

Consider the costs

Now for the all-important part: the costs. At the time, the kit we purchased cost $470 and we spent approximately $150 on materials to complete the project. This included things like flashing, silicone and paint.

So, all up, it was a very budget-friendly DIY and one we believe will add value to our home. Of course, if you start the project and realise you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, you may have to call in the professionals after all – which may end up costing you more all up.

Before we started, we received a quote from a local installation company of approximately $600, depending on a few factors like location and accessibility. This was also based on the DIY kit, but there may have been further costs to cover the materials.

Again – a fairly reasonable price for what we now realise is a pretty full-on day’s work. While we’re glad we went with the DIY option this time around, it’s given us a strong appreciation for what the pros do day in day out!

As you can see from the before and after images above, installing a skylight has made an incredible difference to our home office, which previously received very little natural light. Both pictures were taken around the same time of day with no artificial light used. Pretty amazing, right?!

We hope this gives you a solid understanding of what to expect when completing a DIY skylight installation and the challenges it can bring. Our intention isn’t to discourage you – but to make sure you know what you’re in for! If you decide to give it a go yourself, feel free to reach out with any questions. Good luck!