Custom Flat Roof Skylights Near You

What would your Brooklyn place feel like if the darkest room suddenly had its own patch of sky? A dim railroad kitchen bathed in morning sun. A hallway that doesn’t need lights all day. A bathroom with natural light instead of builder-grade fluorescents. Bespoke flat roof skylights make that possible-but only if they’re designed not to leak or turn your top floor into a greenhouse by July.

I’m Noah “Daylight” Kravitz, and I’ve been designing and installing custom flat roof skylights across Brooklyn for 14 years. Started in a Gowanus shop fabricating steel frames. Partnered with roofers when I realized most skylight leaks came from bad roof integration, not bad glass. This guide will show you what types of bespoke flat roof skylights work on Brooklyn buildings, how we design them for your specific room and roof, what the install actually looks like, and what to ask when you’re searching for a specialist near you.

Start with the Room, Not the Skylight Catalog

Most people browse skylight photos online and pick something pretty, then try to jam it into their roof. That’s backward. Good custom skylight design starts in the room you want to transform, not in a product catalog.

Which Room Needs the Daylight?

Walk through your place and find the space that feels most starved of light. Is it the kitchen in the center of a brownstone? An interior bathroom with one tiny window? A top-floor home office with windows blocked by neighbors? The skylight that brightens a dark hallway needs different sizing and placement than one over a living room where you’re trying to frame a view of clouds moving past.

Room size matters, too. A 900-square-foot loft can take a large box skylight and handle the light and heat. A 60-square-foot bathroom probably wants something smaller and more controlled. Ceiling height changes how light spreads-ten-foot ceilings give you room for a flared shaft that bounces daylight wide; eight-foot ceilings need tighter wells and careful glass sizing to avoid harsh spots.

What Do You Want the Skylight to Do?

Be specific about goals. Soft, diffuse light for a bedroom? A dramatic shaft of direct sun for a studio workspace? A framed view of the sky when you’re cooking? Ventilation to pull heat out in summer? Access to the roof for a future deck?

Bespoke flat roof skylights can deliver one or several of those at once. But adding operable vents, walk-on glass, or motorized blinds increases complexity and cost. A fixed skylight over a Park Slope kitchen might run $4,200-$6,800 installed. Add electric opening, rain sensors, and integrated shades, and you’re closer to $9,500-$13,000. Knowing your must-haves vs. nice-to-haves keeps the design focused.

How Will You Reach and Maintain It?

Can you access the roof safely to clear leaves or check seals every few years? If yes, a flush glass unit with minimal exterior hardware is fine. If the roof is shared, awkward to reach, or six stories up, you want a design that sheds debris on its own and allows any cleaning to happen from inside with a pole or ladder.

Privacy is another factor in tight Brooklyn blocks. Neighbors three feet away can see down through a clear skylight. Frosted glass, angled placement, or prismatic panels give you light without turning your bathroom into a show for the building next door.

Bespoke Flat Roof Skylight Types You Can Choose From

Not all custom skylights look or function the same. Here are the main typologies I design and install on Brooklyn flat roofs, with the trade-offs you need to understand.

Fixed Flush Glass Skylights

These sit almost level with the flat roof, held in low-profile aluminum or steel frames. Minimal exterior projection. Clean, modern look. Popular over kitchens and living spaces where you want maximum glass area and an uninterrupted sky view.

The benefit: they don’t interrupt rooflines or catch wind. The challenge: ponding water. Brooklyn’s flat roofs see heavy rain and occasional drainage issues. If water sits against the frame edges for hours, even the best sealant can fail over time. We design these with slight upstands and positive slopes away from all four sides, and we make sure nearby drains aren’t clogged before the skylight goes in.

Box and Lantern Skylights

Raised glass boxes or hipped “lantern” units that stand six inches to two feet above the roof deck. They pull light deeper into the room and create a vertical element you see from neighboring buildings. Great over stairwells or open-plan spaces in Williamsburg lofts or Clinton Hill brownstones.

Visually striking from inside-the glass walls catch light at different angles all day. But higher profile means more wind load, more visibility, and sometimes neighbor complaints. On landmarked blocks, the Landmarks Preservation Commission may push back if the lantern is too prominent from the street. I’ve designed several with setbacks or lower heights to pass review without losing the interior effect.

Walkable and Terrace Skylights

Structural glass panels set flush into roof decks so you can walk over them while they bring daylight to rooms below. Common on brownstone rear extensions where the top is a terrace and the kitchen or bath sits underneath.

Engineering is critical: the glass has to carry live loads (people, planters, snow) and stay watertight. We use laminated, tempered units on steel frames anchored into roof joists. Slip resistance matters, too-smooth glass gets slick when wet, so we add acid-etched or fritted textures. The waterproofing detail is more complex than a standard skylight because the membrane has to transition from horizontal deck surface to vertical curb and back, all while staying walkable. Not a DIY situation.

Operable and Venting Skylights

Units that open manually with a crank or pole, or electrically with a remote. Useful for ventilation, smoke purge, or roof access. I installed a large operable unit over a Bushwick studio last year-owner wanted natural cross-ventilation in summer and the ability to step onto the roof to check HVAC without going through the building’s main stair.

Coordinate motor placement, power routing, and fire egress requirements early. If the skylight is part of a secondary means of egress, it has to meet specific sizes and operation standards under NYC Building Code. Rain sensors are almost mandatory in Brooklyn-nothing worse than an open skylight during a surprise afternoon storm.

What Your Flat Roof Will Allow (Before You Go Custom)

You can’t design a skylight in a vacuum. The roof structure, existing membrane, and site constraints shape what’s possible-and what’s safe.

Structure Beneath the Roof

Joist spacing and beam locations determine where you can cut an opening. Most Brooklyn brownstones have joists running front-to-back at 16 or 24 inches on center. You can drop a skylight between two joists without additional framing, or you can double up joists and add headers to span a larger opening. But if the space you want daylight in sits over a main beam or under a party wall support, moving that beam isn’t trivial-or cheap.

I bring a stud finder and sometimes a small inspection camera to look inside ceiling cavities before finalizing designs. Older buildings surprise you: hidden steel beams, abandoned chimneys, or wiring bundles exactly where you want the skylight. Better to know that during design than mid-install.

Existing Roof System and Membrane

Brooklyn flat roofs use modified bitumen, TPO, EPDM, or liquid-applied membranes. Each one needs specific curb and flashing strategies. Modified bitumen? We heat-weld the membrane up the curb and over a cant strip. TPO or EPDM? Mechanical fastening and tape seams or adhesive, depending on the system. Liquid-applied? The skylight curb gets prepped and the liquid extends seamlessly over it.

If your roof membrane is 15 years old and patchy, installing a bespoke skylight without addressing the surrounding roof is risky. Water finds the weak spots. I’ve had clients opt to re-roof the whole top before adding skylights, which sounds expensive but avoids calling me back in two years to fix leaks that started 10 feet from the new skylight.

Parapets, Neighbors, and Sightlines

Parapet height affects skylight visibility. A three-foot parapet hides a flush skylight from street view; an 18-inch parapet doesn’t. In landmarked districts like Fort Greene or Cobble Hill, visible skylights may need Landmarks review. Low-profile designs, setbacks from the front parapet, or prismatic glass that diffuses rather than reflects can help approvals go smoother.

Neighbors matter, too. If your skylight opens onto a shared roof or sits where the building next door can see directly into it, privacy glass or strategic placement keeps everyone comfortable. I had one project in Greenpoint where we angled the skylight shaft to aim light into the kitchen but kept the glass positioned so the neighbor’s kitchen window didn’t look straight down into the client’s space.

How Bespoke Flat Roof Skylights Are Designed with You

Custom doesn’t mean complicated. It means designed for your building, your room, and your goals. Here’s how that collaboration usually goes.

Briefing: Light, View, and Privacy

We start by standing in the room. I’ll look at how sunlight enters now-if any-and ask what you want to see when you look up. Sky and clouds? Tree canopy from a neighbor’s yard? Or just diffuse light so you don’t need electric fixtures until evening?

Then we go to the roof. I measure the area above the room, check parapet heights, note nearby equipment (HVAC, vents), and see what neighbors or passersby might see. Those two perspectives-inside and outside-usually clarify size, placement, and whether you need one large skylight or two smaller ones.

Shape, Size, and Glass Specification

Proportion matters. A long, narrow slot pulls light deep into a galley kitchen and follows the room’s shape. A square or round skylight works better over a bathroom or stairwell where you want a centered focal point. Frameless glass looks sleek and modern but costs more and requires tighter structural tolerances. Aluminum-framed units are easier to weatherproof and less expensive.

Glass spec is where performance gets tuned. Standard options:

• Low-E coatings reduce heat gain in summer, keep warmth in during winter.
• Laminated inner panes for safety-if the glass breaks, it stays in place instead of raining shards into your kitchen.
• Solar control tints or frits cut glare and heat without losing too much visible light; essential for west- and south-facing skylights in Brooklyn summers.
• Acoustic laminate if you’re under a flight path or near a loud street-thicker interlayers dampen sound transmission.

I steer most clients toward double-glazed, low-E, laminated units. Single glazing fogs up in winter. Triple glazing is overkill for most Brooklyn residential projects unless you’re in a passive house or have extreme noise issues.

Interior Finish and Ceiling Integration

The shaft or well between roof and ceiling shapes how light spreads. Straight sides create a clean frame and direct light down like a spotlight. Flared or splayed sides bounce light wider, softening shadows and brightening more of the room. White paint maximizes reflection; darker finishes absorb light but can look dramatic.

Some clients want trimless reveals-drywall ending flush against the glass with no visible frame, just a shadow gap. Others add recessed LEDs around the perimeter for evening light. Integrated blinds-motorized shades that sit between the glass panes or in tracks at the ceiling-are popular for bedrooms and offices where you need blackout control.

What Professional Flat Roof Skylight Installation Looks Like

Knowing the process helps you plan time, budget, and expectations. Here’s what happens from my first site visit to final walkthrough.

Site Survey and Measurements

I inspect both sides-roof surface, parapets, equipment, and interior ceiling. Measure structural spans, check for ducts or wiring in the way, photograph conditions. Access routes matter: can we crane a large glass unit onto the roof, or do we need to carry everything through the building and up stairs?

If I see ponding areas near the proposed skylight or suspect structural issues, I’ll recommend opening a small inspection hole in the ceiling to confirm joist condition and spacing before committing to a design.

Design Confirmation and Fabrication

You’ll get drawings or 3D views showing the skylight in your roof and ceiling, with exact dimensions, glass spec, frame color, and curb details. Once approved, the custom unit is ordered or fabricated. Lead times vary-four to eight weeks is typical for bespoke glass units, longer if you’re adding motors, sensors, or unusual shapes.

Brooklyn weather plays a role. We don’t schedule roof cuts in January if we can avoid it. Spring and fall are ideal. Summer works but can be hot for the crew and uncomfortable inside if you’re removing a ceiling section in a top-floor apartment.

Roof Opening and Curb Build

On install day, we carefully cut the roof deck and membrane, then frame a curb or upstand to receive the skylight. The curb is usually wood blocking attached to joists, with cant strips at the base to slope the membrane away from the glass edges. Proper slope is everything-even a quarter-inch low spot can trap water and cause leaks three years later.

Membrane is dressed up and over the curb, with all corners and seams flashed per the roof system’s standards. If it’s a modified bitumen roof, we torch-weld. TPO or EPDM gets mechanically fastened and taped or heat-welded depending on the product. The curb top gets a compression seal or setting blocks ready for the skylight frame.

Setting the Skylight and Sealing

The skylight is lifted into place-sometimes with a small crane if it’s a large lantern unit, sometimes by hand if it’s a compact fixed panel. It seats onto the curb with gaskets, structural sealant, or mechanical fasteners depending on the system. We check for even bearing, square corners, and proper reveal distances on all sides.

Final waterproofing goes around any brackets, fasteners, or frame edges. If there’s a cap flashing or trim piece, it gets bedded in sealant and fastened down. Then we inspect every joint, looking for gaps or misalignment.

Interior Finishing and Testing

Inside, the shaft is framed with studs or blocking, insulated if there’s a thermal break needed, and finished with drywall or other lining. Paint, trim, and any integrated lighting or blinds go in last. Once that’s done, we run a controlled water test-hose on the roof, someone inside watching-or do a close visual inspection of all seams.

No leaks? We clean up, haul debris, and hand over care instructions and warranty paperwork. If something isn’t right, we fix it before leaving the site.

Brooklyn, NY Factors That Shape Your Skylight Design

Local climate, building types, and regulations all influence which bespoke skylight choices make sense here.

Weather and Heat Gain

Brooklyn summers hit 90°F with high humidity. An unshaded south-facing skylight can turn a bedroom into a sauna by 2 PM. Solar control glass, external or internal shades, and careful orientation balance light and heat. North-facing skylights give softer, cooler light year-round. East-facing units catch morning sun-great for kitchens, tough for bedrooms if you’re not an early riser. West-facing skylights get intense afternoon sun and need the most shading.

Snow, Ponding, and Drainage

We see snow every winter-sometimes a few inches, sometimes over a foot. Flat roofs accumulate drifts, and skylights can create low spots where snow melts and refreezes. Curbs need to account for drifting and standing water. Drains and scuppers should be positioned so meltwater doesn’t flow across the skylight frame or splash onto the glass constantly, leaving mineral stains and debris.

Landmarks and Shared Roofs

In landmarked districts-Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope Historic District, parts of Fort Greene-skylights visible from the street may need LPC approval. Low-profile or setback designs are favored. Flush units or lanterns set back behind parapets usually pass without issue. Prominent box skylights on front slopes sometimes don’t.

On shared roofs in co-ops or condos, you’ll need board and DOB approval. A local pro familiar with NYC filings can generate the drawings, engineer’s letter, and waterproofing details the board wants to see. Expect four to eight weeks for approvals, longer if the board meets infrequently.

Why Go Bespoke Instead of Off-the-Shelf?

Stock skylights come in fixed sizes and shapes. They’re cheaper up front but often don’t fit Brooklyn buildings well. Here’s what custom gets you.

Fit to Your Building, Not the Other Way Around

Bespoke units align with your joist spacing, parapet layout, and interior grid. No awkward framing patches or last-minute size compromises. They respect neighbor views, property lines, and sightline limits in tight blocks where every inch matters.

Better Light Where You Need It

Sizing, placement, and shaft shape are tuned to your specific room and finishes, not a generic opening. For art studios, you can balance daylight and glare. For home offices, you can position the skylight to avoid screen reflections. For bathrooms, you can use frosted or prismatic glass for privacy without losing brightness.

Integration with Roof and Interior Design

Custom skylights are coordinated with your roof assembly, terrace plans, lighting, and HVAC so everything works as a system. This reduces ugly add-ons and future rework when you change interiors or add a deck above. It also means the waterproofing is designed for your exact roof system, not adapted from a generic detail that might work or might not.

Priority tip: When you talk to a pro, mention your room use (sleeping, cooking, working), your heat and glare tolerance (do you love sun or prefer diffuse light?), privacy needs (neighbors close by?), and who will maintain it (easy roof access or not?). Those four points shape 80% of the design decisions.

Risks of Poorly Designed or Installed Flat Roof Skylights

Bad skylights cause real damage. Here’s what goes wrong when design or install is rushed or generic.

Leaks and Hidden Damage

Undersized curbs, bad flashing, and generic domes dropped on flat roofs without proper integration are a leading cause of ceiling stains, mold, and rot. Leaks around skylights often migrate along joists or sheathing before appearing inside, so by the time you see a stain, the damage is wider than you think.

I’ve pulled out three-year-old “professional” installs where the curb had no cant strip, the membrane was just caulked to the frame, and water had been wicking into the wood deck every rain. Cost to fix: full curb rebuild, new membrane section, and interior ceiling and joist repairs. Much more than doing it right the first time.

Condensation and Fogging

Single glazing or poorly insulated wells cause condensation on the glass, leading to dripping, fogging, and water damage around the opening. In Brooklyn winters, warm interior air hits cold single-pane glass and condenses instantly. Bespoke units with proper double glazing, thermal breaks in the frame, and insulated shafts prevent this almost entirely.

Overheating and Glare

Cheap clear domes in the wrong spot overheat small rooms and create harsh glare on screens and work surfaces. I replaced a builder-grade dome over a Bed-Stuy home office two years ago-client couldn’t use the desk from noon to 4 PM because of blinding reflections. New custom skylight with solar control glass and a north orientation fixed it completely.

Common Questions About Bespoke Flat Roof Skylights

Can every flat roof take a skylight?
Most can, but structure, roof condition, and code constraints matter. If joists are undersized or the roof membrane is failing, those issues need to be addressed first. A site survey will confirm feasibility.

Will a skylight always make my room hotter?
Not if it’s designed correctly. Low-E glass, solar control coatings, shading, and orientation all manage heat gain. North-facing skylights add almost no heat. South- and west-facing ones need more careful spec.

Can you replace my old dome with a custom glass unit?
Yes. We remove the old dome, assess the curb and roof condition, upgrade flashing if needed, and install a new bespoke skylight. Often the new unit is larger or better placed than the original.

How long does a custom flat roof skylight last?
Glass units last 25-35 years or more. Gaskets and seals may need service every 15-20 years. The roof membrane around the skylight typically needs replacement on the same cycle as the rest of the roof-every 15-25 years depending on system.

Do I need a permit for a new skylight in Brooklyn?
Usually yes, especially if you’re cutting a new opening or modifying structure. DOB filings are straightforward for most residential skylight projects. Landmarks review is required if you’re in a designated district and the skylight is visible from the street.

What to Have Ready Before You Call a Brooklyn Skylight Specialist

Make your first conversation productive. Gather these before reaching out:

• Photos of the room you want to brighten and of the roof area above (from a safe vantage point or neighboring window).
• Any existing plans, DOB filings, or notes about roof type, age, and known issues-leaks, ponding, structural quirks.
• A rough sense of size or number of skylights you’re imagining, even if it changes after professional input.
• Thoughts on priorities: more light, better ventilation, roof access, views, privacy, or all of the above.
• Awareness of building rules (co-op, condo, landlord constraints) and whether your block is landmarked.

How to Choose the Right ‘Near You’ Partner for Bespoke Skylights

Not all contractors who install skylights understand flat roof integration or custom design. Here’s how to filter for real experience.

Look for Roofing + Skylight Integration Experience

Ask whether they both design and install skylights and work with or as flat roofing contractors. You don’t want separate trades blaming each other when a leak shows up. Request photos of Brooklyn projects where they cut new openings or replaced old skylights on flat roofs, and ask about their waterproofing strategy for your specific roof system.

Ask About Design Support, Not Just Supply

A bespoke provider should ask about room use, light quality, and interior finishes-not just glass sizes and prices. See if they offer sketches, renderings, or at least a marked-up photo to help you picture the skylight from inside and outside. If they jump straight to pricing without understanding your goals, keep looking.

Clarify Permits, Warranty, and Aftercare

Confirm who handles DOB filings and, if needed, Landmarks or co-op board submissions. Review warranties on the skylight unit, glass seals, and roof waterproofing around the curb. Ask how service calls and glass replacement are handled five or ten years down the line-some manufacturers have local service networks, others don’t.

Bring Custom Flat Roof Skylights to Your Brooklyn Home

A well-designed, well-installed bespoke skylight can completely transform a Brooklyn room-without compromising your flat roof. Custom doesn’t just mean fancy. It means correctly sized, properly flashed, and tuned to how you actually live.

If you’re tired of dark interiors and ready to explore what’s possible on your flat roof, start with a feasibility visit from a Brooklyn-based specialist. Share photos, basic roof info, and your wish list. Ask for a review that covers structure, roof system, design options, and approvals. You’ll move from idea to a tailored proposal with confidence-and a clear path to the daylight you’ve been missing.

Costs are for typical Brooklyn residential projects as of 2025, including design, fabrication, install, flashing, and interior finishing. Structural modifications, roof membrane replacement, or Landmarks filings add to base cost.