What matters for a skylight in Sydney
Western heat calls for restraint
Penrith reached 48.9 °C in January 2020. Your Home says roof glazing takes in almost twice the heat of an unprotected west-facing window the same size, and can let in more than three times the light of a vertical window. A smaller skylight than you'd guess is often enough.
Sydney's sun suits tubes
Your Home says tubular skylights work best in sunny, clear climates, and suggests skylight area of about 1 to 2% of floor area for good tubular units, or 3 to 5% for conventional skylights and roof windows. Solatube says its 250 mm model lights about 19 m2 in direct sun.
Paddington caps roof glazing
In the Paddington Heritage Conservation Area, rear roof planes can include no more than 25% transparent material, which counts skylights and dormer windows. The controls are written for the back of the house, so if you want glass on a street-facing slope, or you're in another heritage area, talk to council before you buy.
Bushfire and hail
On bush fire prone land, skylights must comply with AS 3959 for the home's Bushfire Attack Level. Sydney has seen hail up to 9 cm in 1999 and 6 cm across the west in 2021, so ask what the glazing is made of and what the warranty says about storm damage.
Who fits a skylight in NSW, and what goes wrong
NSW counts putting in skylights as roof plumbing, so for a job over $5,000 the installer needs a contractor licence in that category. Most skylight leaks come from the flashing, the metal or moulded collar that sheds water around the unit. VELUX says its flashing kits shed water without relying on sealants and suit roofs pitched from 15 to 90 degrees. On a low-pitched metal roof, BlueScope says a penetration that blocks the sheet channels needs a small gutter above it to divert water.
Old skylights and roof manholes can be asbestos cement, so if you're replacing one on a pre-1990 house, ask for it to be checked first. If yours already leaks, see skylight replacement and leaks.
What to ask a Sydney skylight installer
- Tubular or roof window for this room, and what size do you recommend for its floor area?
- How will you stop it overheating the room in summer: glazing, blinds or orientation?
- Which flashing kit suits my roof pitch and material?
- Does the unit meet AS 3959 if I'm on bush fire prone land?
- Does your licence on Verify NSW cover roof plumbing, and what warranty covers your workmanship as well as the product?
What we'd choose
For a hallway, bathroom or small room, we'd go tubular and keep it modest. For a living area where you want a view of the sky or extra airflow, a roof window with a blind is worth the extra. Out west we'd err smaller and avoid west-facing slopes where we could. In Paddington or any heritage area, we'd check with council first. Our national skylights page covers the types, and the Sydney hub covers local conditions.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.