Curb-mounted skylight

A curb-mounted skylight sits on a raised frame, called a curb, that is built up from the roof deck before the glazing goes in. The curb lifts the unit above the surrounding roofing, and the skylight is then flashed and sealed into that frame. Most curbs are framed with lumber and sheathed, then covered with the same roofing material as the rest of the roof, so the finished opening looks like a small box rising out of the plane of the roof.

The raised base is the main point of the design. Because the curb holds the unit above the deck, water that reaches the flashing has a shorter path to get over and around the opening, and the flashing can be built in layers that shed water downhill. That is why curb-mounted units are a common choice on low-slope or flat sections where a flush unit would sit in a shallow spot that collects water. The same height also gives the installer room to set the glazing at the correct angle and to insulate the curb walls.

Deck-mounted skylights, sometimes called flat-flashed or deck-level units, have no raised frame. They sit almost flush with the roofing and rely on a flashing kit and a tight seal at the surface. They take less framing and can look lower-profile from the ground, but they depend more heavily on precise flashing at the roof plane.

Curb-mounted work is usually handled by a skylight installation contractor who frames the curb, sets the unit, and coordinates flashing with the roofer. Homeowners in Citrus County who are searching for that kind of help can start with the skylight installation providers listed in this directory.

"