Velux & Skylight Installation Cost in Cork (2026 Guide)

I'm Michael Casey, founder of Keystone Roofing. I've been fitting Velux roof windows and rooflights into Cork homes since 2000 — slate and tile pitched roofs in the city terraces, and flat-roof rooflights on the extensions that have gone up all over the suburbs. This guide is the straight version of the price conversation I have on site every week, with 2026 ex-VAT figures and the factors that actually move them.

What type of skylight are you actually fitting?

The word “skylight” covers four quite different products, and the price gap between them is large. Getting the type right for your roof is the first decision.

Centre-pivot roof windows

The classic Velux. The sash pivots on a central hinge, so it opens outward from the middle. It's the default for a pitched slate or tile roof and by far the most common install we do in Cork. Good value, reliable, and the frame handle sits at the top so it works well over a worktop or low in a room.

Top-hung roof windows

Hinged at the top so the whole sash swings outward like a door. They give a clearer view and more headroom because you lean into the opening rather than around a central pivot. Popular in converted attic bedrooms and dormers. They cost a little more than centre-pivot and often pair with a fixed window below for an “escape” combination.

Flat-roof rooflights

A different product entirely — a glazed or domed unit set into a timber upstand (kerb) on a flat or very low-pitch roof. These are what go on the single-storey rear extensions all over Douglas, Ballincollig and Bishopstown. They cost more because the unit itself is dearer, the upstand has to be built and weatherproofed, and the flat-roof membrane has to be dressed up and over it. See our flat roof repairs Cork page for how the deck and membrane tie in.

Sun tunnels

A small dome on the roof feeding daylight down a reflective tube to a ceiling diffuser. Ideal for a windowless hallway, landing or en-suite where a full window isn't possible. The cheapest daylight option and the least disruptive to fit — no structural opening, just a tile or slate swapped for the flashing collar.

How much does each skylight type cost in Cork in 2026?

These are typical supplied-and-fitted ranges, ex-VAT, for a straightforward install into an existing roof with no major structural work. They assume safe access from a ladder or a light tower rather than a full scaffold.

Skylight type	Typical ex-VAT range	What's included
Centre-pivot roof window (standard Velux)	€900–€1,600	Window, flashing kit, fit into existing slate/tile opening, internal reveals made good
Top-hung roof window	€1,100–€1,900	As above, larger or upgraded unit
Flat-roof rooflight	€1,200–€2,500	Glazed/domed unit, timber upstand, membrane dressed up and over, internal reveals
Sun tunnel	€500–€900	Dome, reflective tube, ceiling diffuser, flashing collar
Structural opening (new/enlarged, with steels)	+€800–€3,000	Rafter trimming, lintels/steels, extra labour and plastering — quoted after survey
Scaffolding (where required)	+€800–€2,500	Full scaffold for higher or awkward roofs

The single biggest jump is structural. Dropping a Velux into an opening that's already there is a half-day job. Forming a brand-new opening — cutting rafters, adding a trimmer or a steel, and making the ceiling good afterwards — is a different scope and can add anywhere from a few hundred euro to a few thousand depending on the span and whether a structural engineer's detail is needed.

What affects the price most?

• Roof type. Natural slate takes longer to cut and re-dress cleanly than concrete tile, so slate installs sit at the upper end of the range. The correct flashing kit differs for slate, plain tile and profiled tile.
• Access. A single-storey extension you can reach off a light tower is cheap to work on. A second-storey window on a three-storey Cork terrace on the northside may need a full scaffold, and that scaffold can cost more than the window.
• Glazing. Standard double glazing is baseline; laminated, triple, solar-control or acoustic glass all add cost. On the Atlantic-facing side of the county, upgraded glazing earns its keep.
• Blinds and controls. Manual is cheapest. Electric or solar-powered opening and integrated blinds add a few hundred euro per unit but are worth it for anything out of arm's reach.
• Flashing kit. Using the manufacturer's matched flashing kit for your exact roof covering is non-negotiable. It's a small line on the quote and the difference between a dry window and a callback.

Pitched roof vs flat roof: why the install differs

On a pitched slate or tile roof, gravity is on your side. The window sits in the plane of the slope, the flashing kit laps water down onto the tiles below, and the whole job is mechanically simple. That's why pitched installs are the cheaper end of this guide.

A flat roof has no natural fall to shed water off the glass, so the rooflight sits on a raised timber upstand and the membrane — EPDM, felt or fibreglass — is dressed up the sides and over the top edge to keep the joint dry. That upstand and membrane detailing is the extra work, and it's exactly where cheap flat-roof rooflight installs fail. If you're pricing a flat-roof extension, our flat roof cost in Cork guide covers the membrane options that sit alongside the rooflight.

Condensation and flashing: the Cork-specific bit

Cork's damp, mild climate makes condensation the most common complaint I hear about skylights — and it's almost never a faulty window. It's the install. Two things cause it:

1. Poor insulation around the reveals. If the timber lining around the window isn't insulated back to the roof, that cold ring sweats in winter. Done properly, the insulation is continuous right up to the frame.
2. No ventilation path. Bathrooms and kitchens throw a lot of moisture. A trickle vent on the window and adequate roof ventilation stops that moist air condensing on the cold glass.

On the flashing side, wind-driven rain off the Atlantic finds any shortcut. The matched flashing kit, correctly lapped soakers and a properly dressed underlay collar are what keep a Cork skylight dry in a January southwesterly. Skip them to save fifty euro and you'll pay for a leak trace later. If daylight is only part of the plan and you want the room warmer too, it's worth reading our Cork roof repairs guide for how flashing faults show up.

Is a skylight worth it?

For most Cork homes, yes. A single roof window transforms a dark attic conversion, a north-facing kitchen extension or a gloomy landing, and it does it for a fraction of the cost of a dormer or a wall window. Just spec it once, spec it right — correct type for the roof, matched flashing, insulated reveals and adequate ventilation — and it'll be dry and clear for 20 years or more. For the full picture of what a new roof or extension roof costs to budget around it, see our cost of a new roof in Cork 2026 guide.