If you have an older home in Los Angeles, there is a good chance your skylights are acrylic domes from the 1980s or 90s. By now they have probably yellowed, hazed over, or cracked. Replacing a dome skylight is one of the most common jobs we do, and one of the most satisfying, because the difference in light is dramatic.
Why old domes fail
Dome skylights are made of acrylic or polycarbonate, a plastic. Plastic and decades of Southern California sun do not mix well. Over time the material:
- Yellows and hazes, so the light coming through looks dim, gray, and dirty even when the dome is clean.
- Gets brittle, losing the flex it had when new, until a branch, a ball, or a hailstorm cracks it.
- Crazes and cracks, developing fine spiderweb cracks that let water in.
Once a dome has gone yellow and brittle, there is nothing to repair. The material itself is spent. Replacement is the only real fix.
What we replace it with
You have two good directions:
- A new dome. Modern acrylic or polycarbonate domes, in clear, white, or bronze. The economical like-for-like swap, and a big improvement over a 30-year-old dome.
- A glass skylight. If you want maximum clarity and a unit that will not yellow again, this is the time to consider switching from a plastic dome to a glass skylight. Clearer, longer-lasting, and often worth it on a visible skylight.
A typical job: A ranch house in the San Fernando Valley with three yellowed dome skylights over the living room, all hazy and one cracked. We replaced all three in a single day. The owner could not believe how much brighter and cleaner the light looked.
The curb is usually fine
In most dome replacements the existing curb the dome sits on is sound, and we set the new unit right onto it. If a curb needs minor work or a flat unit needs a little pitch for runoff, we handle that. What we do not do is reroof, if the roof itself is the problem, that is your roofer’s job, and we will tell you.
What it typically costs
Standard-size dome replacement runs $600 to $1,200. Custom sizes run a bit more. Acrylic domes hold up longer over time but cost more than polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is more impact-resistant when new and cheaper, but it tends to deteriorate faster than acrylic, a real tradeoff worth discussing for your situation.
How it goes
Call, we come look and measure, and recommend a new dome or a switch to glass. Estimate within a few days, then we order and install, usually a single day on the roof.