Roofing Projects · October 2, 2026
VELUX Skylight Install for a Dark Wash Park Bungalow Kitchen, Denver
Skylight installation · Denver, CO
This 1920s bungalow near Washington Park had a galley kitchen that stayed dark no matter the time of day. We laid out the opening between two existing roof vents, framed new headers into the rafters, and set a VELUX deck-mounted fixed skylight. Roof-side work wrapped in one day.
What did this roof look like before the skylight went in?
Before this, it was just a plain shingle roof with nothing over the kitchen, and that galley stayed dim even at noon. Now there’s a fixed skylight sitting between the original roof vents, flashed into the surrounding shingles so it looks like it’s always been there.
BeforeAfter
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Why a fixed skylight instead of one that vents?
A fixed skylight doesn't open, it just lets light through. For a small galley kitchen like this one, that's exactly what you want. The homeowner wasn't dealing with stuffy air, just a dark room at midday, so a vented unit would've cost more and added moving parts for no real reason. We went with the VELUX deck-mounted fixed unit and framed the opening between the two existing roof vents so we didn't mess with the attic ventilation that was already doing its job. Same approach we use on every skylight installation in Denver: match the fixture to the problem instead of grabbing whatever's fanciest on the shelf.
How do you cut into a 1920s roof deck without weakening it?
You plan the opening around the rafters before the saw ever touches the deck. On this bungalow, we laid out the skylight between the two roof vents so it wouldn't crowd the existing penetrations, then cut the deck and framed headers across the interrupted rafters to carry the load around the gap. Older homes near Washington Park don't always have the rafter spacing you'd find on newer roofing in Denver, so that layout step matters more here than on a 1990s truss roof. Once the framing was solid, we wrapped the curb in self-adhered underlayment and wove the step flashing kit straight into the surrounding shingles. That flashing work is what actually keeps the water out long-term, not the skylight unit itself.
How long did this install take, and what's left to finish?
The roof-side work was a one-day job: layout, deck cut, framing, skylight set, flashing, and underlayment, all done in a single day. What we didn't touch was the inside. The drywall shaft down to the ceiling, the part that makes the light shaft look finished in the kitchen, went to the homeowner's own contractor after we closed up the roof. That split is normal on a job like this. Our scope ends at a weathertight, flashed-in skylight, and the interior finish is a separate trade.
Frequently asked questions
Why a fixed skylight instead of a venting one over this kitchen?
The kitchen needed light, not airflow, so a fixed VELUX deck-mounted skylight did the job without the extra cost of operating hardware.
How do you cut into a roof this old without weakening it?
We laid out the opening between the two existing roof vents and framed new headers into the rafters before cutting the deck, so the load stayed carried around the opening.
How long did the skylight install take?
The roof-side work, cutting the deck, framing, setting the skylight, and flashing it in, all got done in one day.
Did Coppergate finish the inside of the skylight shaft?
No, we handled the roof and flashing. The drywall shaft down to the kitchen ceiling was finished by the homeowner's own contractor.
How is this skylight sealed against leaks?
We wrapped the curb in self-adhered underlayment, then wove the skylight's own step flashing kit into the surrounding shingles so water sheds around the opening the same way it does across the rest of the roof.
“Best money we've spent on this house. We don't turn the kitchen light on during the day anymore. [Example quote, demo site]”
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