Manchester's humid continental climate brings heavy snow and freeze-thaw cycles that push water under old skylight flashing on homes built before the 1980s in neighborhoods like Rimmon Heights and Bakersville. Replacement starts with checking rafter spacing and deck condition, because many two-family houses in the North End and East Side still carry original tongue-and-groove boards that rot once a skylight seal fails. We use self-flashing units sized to the existing curb whenever possible to avoid reframing, and we always tie the new step flashing into the existing slate or asphalt layers rather than relying on caulk alone.
Hillsborough County permitting requires any skylight work that changes roof pitch or opening size to meet current energy code, so we pull permits and insulate the shaft to R-49 before closing the ceiling. In older stock around the Amoskeag Millyard and Downtown, we often find skylights installed over unvented attics; those jobs require adding baffles and ridge venting so the new unit does not create ice dams the following winter. Customers in Goffes Falls and Hallsville frequently request solar-control glass because south-facing skylights overheat living spaces during the brief but intense summer.
Replacement also means addressing the curb itself. Many 1960s and 1970s homes in the South End still have site-built wooden curbs that have twisted; we sister new pressure-treated lumber and install a new cricket upslope when the skylight sits below a valley. This prevents the ponding that shows up every spring when snowmelt runs down the low-slope sections common on Manchester capes and ranches.
Technician insight
In Manchester the thing that catches most people out with Skylight Replacement is the condition of the original curb on homes built before 1980 in neighborhoods like the West Side and Rimmon Heights. Once you open the roof you often find the wood has twisted from years of snow load and ice dams, so the new unit will leak again unless you sister or rebuild the curb before setting the flashing.
West Side Cape Skylight Replacement
A 1972 cape in the West Side had a leaking Velux over the kitchen that had stained the ceiling after repeated freeze-thaw cycles. We found the wooden curb had rotted along the uphill side where snow piled against the chimney. We rebuilt the curb with pressure-treated lumber, installed a new insulated unit with step flashing woven into the existing asphalt, and added ridge venting to reduce future ice-dam pressure.
Skylight Replacement Services We Offer
✓Velux Skylight Replacement
Direct replacement of existing Velux units with current insulated models that meet New Hampshire energy code and handle Manchester snow loads.
✓Dome Skylight Replacement
Swap outdated acrylic domes for polycarbonate or glass units that resist cracking from freeze-thaw cycles on West Side and North End homes.
✓Custom Curb Rebuild
Rebuild rotted or out-of-square wooden curbs on older Manchester housing stock before installing the new skylight.
✓Solar Control Glass Upgrade
Replace clear skylights with low-E or tinted glass to cut summer heat gain in south-facing rooms common in East Side and Bakersville capes.
✓Shaft Insulation and Drywall
Insulate and finish the light shaft to R-49 while the skylight is open, preventing condensation stains on ceilings in unvented attics.
Skylight Replacement Cost in Manchester, NH
| Service | Typical Range | What Affects It |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Velux replacement, no curb work | $1,200–$1,900 | Single-story homes with asphalt shingles in good condition. |
| Dome to flat glass conversion | $1,800–$2,600 | Includes new curb flashing on older two-family houses. |
| Custom curb rebuild plus skylight | $2,400–$3,800 | Required when original curb has rotted or twisted on pre-1980 homes. |
| Solar-control glass upgrade | $300–$600 | Added to any replacement when south exposure causes overheating. |
Ranges are typical for Manchester, NH and confirmed with an exact written quote before any work starts.
How it works
- 1
Site Assessment
We measure the existing opening, check rafter condition, and note roof slope and surrounding flashing details on your Manchester home.
- 2
Permit And Material Selection
We pull any required Hillsborough County permit and select the correct size and glass type for local snow and sun exposure.
- 3
Removal And Curb Work
Old unit and flashing come off; rotted curb sections are sistered or rebuilt to create a square, solid base.
- 4
Installation And Flashing
New skylight is set, step flashing is woven into the existing roof, and interior shaft work is completed the same day when possible.
- 5
Final Walkthrough
We test for leaks with a hose, review the new unit operation, and leave the site clean.
Pricing
Most skylight replacements in Manchester fall between $1,200 and $3,800 depending on size, glass type, and whether curb work is needed.