Skylights · Brands

Skylight brands

Compare skylight brands on three things you can verify: the NFRC-certified U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient on the label, whether the manufacturer makes a flashing kit for your specific roof covering, and the written warranty document for the exact model. ENERGY STAR certification for skylights is based on those NFRC ratings and the thresholds vary by climate zone. Beyond that, brand matters far less than whether the person installing it flashes it correctly.

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Every major manufacturer makes units that perform well and units that don't — model line matters more than brand. Two skylights from the same company can have materially different U-factors and glazing packages. Ask for the NFRC label numbers on the specific model quoted, and compare those, not the brochure adjectives.

Flashing kits are the practical differentiator. A manufacturer that offers a kit engineered for your roof covering — asphalt shingle, low-profile tile, high-profile tile, metal — is giving your installer the best chance of a dry roof. Ask which kit is included by part number.

Availability and service matter more than people expect. If a motor, control or blind fails in eight years, you want a brand your local suppliers actually stock. Ask the installer what they can get parts for locally.

We won't publish brand warranty terms here, because they change by product line and by year and we won't be the reason you relied on an out-of-date number. Ask for the current warranty document for the model on your quote, and read it before you sign.

How to choose

Compare NFRC label numbers, not slogans: U-factor and SHGC are third-party certified and directly comparable. ENERGY STAR criteria for skylights are built on them and vary by climate zone.
Ask which flashing kit, by part number: The right kit for your roof covering is a bigger determinant of dryness than the brand.
Check local parts availability: Motors and controls fail before glass does. Buy something your local suppliers actually service.
Read the current warranty document: Terms vary by model and change over time. Get the one that applies to what you're buying.
Weight the installer above the brand: A well-installed mid-range unit outperforms a premium unit flashed badly, every time.

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All skylights brands

Velux

Fakro

Wasco

Solatube

FAQ

Skylights brands — common questions

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Which skylight brand is best?

There's no single answer that survives contact with your specific roof and climate. Compare NFRC-certified U-factor and SHGC for the exact model, check that a flashing kit exists for your roof covering, and read the warranty.

Does the brand affect whether it leaks?

Much less than the installation does. Contractors consistently report that flashing and installation errors cause a large share of skylight leaks, not the units.

What does ENERGY STAR certification mean for a skylight?

That the unit meets criteria based on NFRC-certified U-factor and SHGC ratings, with thresholds that differ by climate zone. It's a floor, not a ranking.

Should I let the installer pick the brand?

Often yes — installers are fastest and most accurate with systems they use weekly. But ask for the NFRC numbers and the warranty so it's an informed yes.

Sources

Where these figures come from

ENERGY STAR — Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights Key Product Criteria · retrieved 2026-07-26
Cityside — Proper Skylight Flashing: Preventing the Most Common Leak Point on the Roof · retrieved 2026-07-26