VELUX Certified InstallerSkylight Installation & Repair, Done Right.
Team-led, VELUX Certified skylight installation across Western NC. Deck-mounted units, Sun Tunnels, and full leak diagnosis — coordinated with the roof system so the warranty actually holds.
Quick answer
What is skylight installation and replacement?
Skylight work covers installing new units, replacing aging or leaking units, and rebuilding the curb and flashing that keeps them watertight. Most skylight leaks trace back to flashing and surrounding roof detail rather than the glass itself. Highlander installs and replaces skylights as part of roofing projects across Western North Carolina.
- New installs, replacements, and flashing rebuilds
- Leak diagnosis at the curb and flashing, not guesswork
- Handled together with the surrounding roof system
What we actually see in the field
Most "bad skylight" calls aren't a defective skylight. Here's what's really happening — and how we diagnose it before recommending a replacement.
Usually a flashing kit issue, failed seal on an aging unit, or improper underlayment integration — not the skylight glass itself.
Often a ventilation and humidity issue inside the home, not a skylight defect. We diagnose before we replace.
Failed insulating glass unit. The skylight frame can stay; the glazing is replaced as a serviceable component on most VELUX models.
If your skylights are 15+ years old and you're re-roofing, replace them in the same scope. Re-flashing aged units under a new roof is the #1 preventable leak source we see.
What VELUX Certified installation includes
A VELUX Certified Installer is trained and accredited by VELUX to install their skylights to spec — flashing kit, underlayment integration, fasteners, and interior shaft all coordinated as one assembly. That's what makes the VELUX installation warranty stick.
- VELUX deck-mounted skylights (fixed, venting, electric, solar-powered)
- VELUX Sun Tunnel installation for interior rooms with no roof access
- Engineered VELUX flashing kits — never a field-fabricated substitute
- Full interior light shaft framing, drywall, and finish coordination
- Skylight replacement during roof replacement (single scope, single warranty)
- Leak diagnosis, flashing repair, and glazing replacement on existing units
What actually drives skylight cost here
We do not publish a headline price, because a number pulled off a chart is not an estimate — and in Western North Carolina, two properties on the same street can price very differently. What we can do is show you every variable that moves the number, then put a written scope in your hands.
Unit type
Fixed, manual venting, solar venting, and tubular units differ substantially in unit cost before any labor is added.
New opening versus replacement
Replacing in the existing curb is far simpler than cutting a new opening, which brings framing, drywall, and interior finish work.
Flashing and roof system
The flashing kit has to match the roofing material. Metal and synthetic details take longer than shingle and are priced accordingly.
Interior shaft work
Deep attics need a finished light shaft, which adds framing, insulation, drywall, and paint to what looks like a roofing job.
Site access
Narrow gravel drives, steep grades, and tight tree lines change how materials get staged and how debris comes off the property — sometimes by hand instead of by truck.
What your written estimate includes
- On-site measurement and photo documentation of current conditions
- Grouped-cost scope: tear-off, decking allowance, underlayment, roofing system, flashing, ventilation, cleanup
- Named material specifications and color selections, not generic allowances
- A per-sheet decking rate so hidden rot has a known price before we open the roof
- Projected schedule window and the weather assumptions behind it
Want a real number?
Tell us what you are picturing and where. We check the roof system, attic depth, and framing, then price the unit and the labor separately so nothing is hidden.
Scheduling reality in the mountains
Current lead timeInspections are typically scheduled within a few business days. Scheduled skylight usually starts a few weeks out, and that queue lengthens after every significant storm.
Weather windows narrowAt Western NC elevations, late fall and winter bring cold mornings, ice, and wind. Shingle sealing and safe steep-slope access both depend on dry, warmer days, so usable install days get scarce.
Cost of waitingIf a roof is already compromised, water keeps moving through it. Small leaks turn into wet decking, insulation, and drywall, which widens the repair scope and the price.
We do not run countdown offers. If the roof can safely wait until spring, we will tell you that during the inspection.
Manufacturer-accredited. Locally accountable.
A VELUX Certified Installer is a contractor trained and accredited by VELUX to install their skylights to specification. That accreditation is what unlocks VELUX's installation warranty, not just the product warranty.
Manufacturer-accredited crew
Every skylight install is performed by a VELUX-trained team. We never subcontract this work to a general roofer.
Engineered flashing kit, every time
We use the VELUX-engineered flashing system for your specific roof type. No field-fabricated workarounds.
Documented at handoff
Unit model, serial, install date, and flashing kit are recorded so future service work is traceable.
Coordinated with the roof
Skylight and roof installed as a single scope under one warranty, with no finger-pointing between trades.
Schedule a skylight inspection.
Free, no-pressure assessment of your existing skylights: leak diagnosis, flashing review, and replacement recommendations in writing.
Pick the next step that fits
Some people need someone on the roof this week. Others are six months out and still gathering information. Both are welcome — start wherever you actually are.
Get eyes on it and a number in writing
On-site look, photo documentation, and a written scope you can compare line by line.
- 4.8★ Google · 158 reviews
- Licensed and insured
- Crews based in Franklin, serving Western North Carolina
Luke Smith
Owner & Founder
Kristy Smith
Owner & Financial Manager
Who shows up at your property.
Highlander Building Services is owned and operated by Luke and Kristy Smith. Every project gets a single named point of contact from inspection through completion — backed by Western NC-based crews and a Franklin office that answers the phone.
One named contact
Same person from quote to final walkthrough.
Western NC crews
Based in Franklin, not a traveling subcontractor network.
Owner-led
Luke and Kristy set the standards the team follows.
What homeowners say about our skylight work
"After three bad experiences with other contractors, we were skeptical. Highlander changed that completely. James came out personally, gave an honest assessment — no pressure, no upselling. The install crew was clean, fast, and meticulous."
"We've used Highlander for two properties now. Their standing seam metalwork is exceptional — these are the only crews I'd trust at 3,800 feet. They genuinely understand what mountain weather demands."
NC GC #87668
Licensed NC General Contractor · fully insured
Family-owned in Franklin since 2017
Showrooms in Franklin & Sylva
4.8★ · 158 Google reviews (as of September 2026)
Google Business Profile reviews
19 WNC towns served
Across 10 mountain counties
Recent: Metal Roofing
Highlands, NC · 3,200 sq ft roof replacement
Skylight FAQs
Related roofing services
Replace skylights in the same scope as the roof.
Targeted flashing and leak repair around penetrations.
Standing seam systems with skylight integration.
Hail and impact damage on skylight glazing.
Premium composite roofs with VELUX integration.
Browse our full roofing division.
Skylight service across the Western NC mountains
VELUX Certified skylight installation and repair throughout our 10-county service area in Western North Carolina.
Macon County
Jackson County
Macon County
Jackson County
Swain County
Haywood County
Jackson County
Jackson County
Buncombe County
Henderson County
Transylvania County
Cherokee County
Clay County
Macon County
Macon County
Jackson County
Transylvania County
Jackson County
Swain County
Related pages you may find useful
- Roofing Services Hub
Full roofing division overview
- Metal Roofing for Mountain Homes
Standing seam and metal panel options
- Roof Replacement Options
Plan a re-roof around your skylights
- Highlands, NC Service Area
Roofing and skylight service in Highlands
- Recent Highlander Projects
Skylight and roofing project gallery
- Request an Inspection
Get a written scope and estimate
Related reading and local coverage for Skylights
- Velux Skylights for Mountain Homes: Light, Ventilation, and Planning
Why Velux is the dominant skylight choice for Western NC mountain homes — light quality, ventilation options, and planni
- Skylights in Franklin
Franklin, NC · Macon County · 2,119 ft
- Skylights in Highlands
Highlands, NC · Macon County · 4,118 ft
- Skylights in Cashiers
Cashiers, NC · Jackson County · 3,484 ft
- Skylights in Sylva
Sylva, NC · Jackson County · 2,037 ft
- All Service Areas
Every Western North Carolina town we cover.
- Virtual Roof Designer
Upload a photo of your home and preview roofing materials and colors before you decide.
- Get My Written Estimate
Written scope from a Western NC team — 828-524-7773.
Common concerns, answered straight
The five questions we hear most often — and exactly what we do about each one.
"I don't know what this will cost."
We measure your roof on site and send a written, grouped-cost scope that names materials, quantities, and labor line by line. You see what drives the number before you decide anything, and nothing is added later without a signed change order.
"I don't want to fight my insurance company."
We document the damage with dated photos and a written condition report you can submit with your claim, and we can meet the adjuster on site so everyone is reading the same roof. We do not decide your claim, but we make sure the evidence is complete and the scope language is clear.
"Contractors always run behind."
Mountain weather moves schedules, so we build the calendar around real weather windows and tell you the plan in writing before materials are ordered. If a date shifts, you hear it from your project contact the same day rather than finding out from an empty driveway.
"Who is actually showing up at my house?"
Our crews are Franklin-based and led by a foreman you meet before work starts, not a rotating pool of day labor. You get one named point of contact for the whole project and daily progress updates while the crew is on your property.
"I'll be cleaning up nails for a year."
We tarp landscaping and staging areas, keep debris moving to the dumpster through the day, and run magnetic sweeps of the drive and lawn before we leave each evening. The final walkthrough is done with you, and anything you spot gets handled before we call it complete.
One conversation.
One local team.
Tell us about your property. A project advisor — not a call center — responds as soon as possible with a clear next step.
- 4.8★ Google · 158 reviews
- Licensed and insured
- Crews based in Franklin, serving Western North Carolina
Our Promise to You
4.8★ rated. 4.8★ rated. Roofing & Construction across Western NC since 2017.
Explore VELUX Skylights
Browse the current VELUX skylight and Sun Tunnel lineup, straight from the manufacturer — then tell us which rooms you want daylight in.