What Makes a Velux Install “Certified”
Velux publishes detailed installation instructions for every model and roof type: how to frame the opening, where the underlayment collar goes, which flashing kit to use and how each piece laps. A certified installer is trained on those protocols and follows them every time.
That matters for two reasons. First, the skylight performs the way it was designed. Second, if something ever goes wrong with the product, there is no argument about whether it was installed correctly. We have held Velux Certified Installer status since 2004.
The 8 Velux Models Toronto Homeowners Choose Most
- Velux FS fixed deck-mount, the everyday workhorse.
- Velux FCM fixed curb-mount for low-slope roofs and retrofits.
- Velux VS manual venting with a rod or crank.
- Velux VCS electric venting with keypad, hardwired under ESA permit.
- Velux VSS solar venting with remote and rain sensor.
- Velux FSR / solar fixed variants for remote-controlled blinds on fixed units.
- Velux TGR rigid sun tunnel for interior rooms.
- Velux Modular Skylights for larger architectural openings.
Residential Velux Installation
Kitchens
VS or VSS to let cooking heat escape. A venting Velux over the cooktop pulls steam, smoke and cooking odours straight up and out, which matters in open-concept layouts where the range sits under the main living area. We typically recommend the VSS so you get a remote and a rain sensor, no electrician required.
Bathrooms
Venting units for steam, laminated glass standard. Velux VS or VSS over a shower or tub pulls humid air out before it fogs the mirror and feeds the drywall. Laminated Low-E3 glass is Velux’s stock bathroom glazing and meets OBC 9.7 safety glazing for wet zones.
Bedrooms
VSS with solar blackout blinds. A solar venting unit gives you fresh air without a pull-chain, and the solar blackout blind kills the 5 a.m. wake-up on east-facing roofs. We pair the blind to the same Velux Active remote so one button closes the glass and drops the blind for sleep.
Attics and Lofts
FS or VS units along the slope. Finished attic spaces usually run two or three FS fixed units in a row, parallel to the ridge, to wash the room with even daylight. For unconditioned attic conversions we add an insulated shaft and vapour-seal it to OBC 9.26 to keep moisture out of the roof assembly.
Hallways and Stairs
FS fixed for pure light. Stairwells and interior hallways rarely have roof access for a window, so a single FS fixed unit over the landing makes the whole vertical run brighter and safer. A 10 or 14 inch Velux TGR sun tunnel is the lower-cost alternative when a full skylight shaft won’t fit the framing.
Additions
Multi-unit Velux combinations framed with your builder. Home additions are where two or three Velux units get framed into a single ridge section, often over a great room. We coordinate with your GC on truss layout, then install the Velux flashing kit to match the new roof material so the addition reads as one continuous roofline.
Bungalows
FCM curb-mount where pitch is low. Many Toronto bungalows have shallow 3-in-12 pitches where a deck-mount Velux won’t sit right, so we use the FCM curb-mount on a site-built upstand. We frame the curb to Velux’s dimensions, wrap it with Grace Ice & Water Shield and tie it into the existing shingles so it sheds water like the rest of the roof.
Commercial Velux Installation
Offices
Modular skylights and fixed units. The Velux Modular Skylight system links multiple units into a single architectural opening, ideal for offices that want daylight without a full glass atrium. We handle the structural beam and the engineered shaft so the modular array sits on its own support, separate from the building structure.
Retail
Curb-mount units with screens. FCM curb-mount units on a flat or low-slope retail roof give you daylight over the sales floor without exposing the glazing to foot traffic above. We add an interior security screen where the unit sits over stockrooms or over the till so a roof-side incident doesn’t open the store.
Clinics
Laminated glazing, quiet operation. Dental and medical clinics need daylight without rain-on-tin noise, so we pair laminated glass with a sound-dampening shaft detail. Venting models use the low-profile VS crank rather than the louder VCS motor, which keeps the operator noise down during procedures.
Condo Amenities
Board-approved installs with COI. Condo party rooms and rooftop amenity spaces usually need board approval before any roofing work, plus proof of WSIB coverage and $5M liability before a single shingle comes off. We carry the standard COI paperwork, file the engineer-stamped drawing when a curb is being added, and only schedule after the board signs.
Specialty Velux Options
Solar VSS
No wiring, rain sensor, remote. The VSS is the unit we recommend most for retrofit work because there is no ESA permit and no drywall repair from running wire. The integrated solar panel keeps the battery topped up even through short Toronto winter days, and the built-in rain sensor closes the glass before you notice the weather.
Electric VCS
Hardwired keypad and Velux Active compatibility. The VCS is the right pick when you already have a home automation hub or you want a wall-mounted keypad by the room entrance. Wiring runs through the shaft to a junction box in the attic, the ESA permit is filed under our electrical sub-trade partner, and the unit closes on its own when paired to Velux Active indoor climate sensors.
Sun Tunnels
TGR rigid tubes. See sun tunnel installation. A 10 or 14 inch Velux TGR tube is the go-to when you want daylight in a closet, hallway or small bathroom where a full skylight shaft won’t fit the framing. We mount the dome on the roof above and finish the diffuser flush with the ceiling below, usually in under half a day per unit.
Blinds
Blackout, light-filtering, heat-reducing. See Velux blinds. Velux blinds clip into the same size code as the skylight itself, so a C04 blind fits a C04 skylight regardless of model. The blackout variant blocks roughly 99 per cent of light and the heat-reducing variant is a solar screen that drops summer gain on south-facing units.
Velux Active
Indoor climate sensors that open and close skylights automatically. Velux Active pairs with the VCS or VSS and watches temperature, humidity and CO2 in the room. When the kitchen steams up or the bedroom gets warm, the skylight cracks open on its own and closes again when the rain sensor at the glass says so.
Velux Flashing Kits and Materials
| Kit | Roof type |
|---|---|
| EDL | Asphalt shingles and thin roofing up to about 1/2 inch |
| EDW | Profiled tile and metal up to about 3.5 inches |
| EDM | Low-profile materials |
| Underlayment collar | Every install, plus Grace Ice & Water Shield |
Our Velux Expertise
We know Velux size codes, which sizes fit 16-inch rafters versus 24-inch trusses, and the small model differences that trip up general contractors. We also handle warranty registration, so you are not hunting for paperwork later.
What Actually Stops Homeowners From Booking a Velux Install
“I’m not sure Velux is worth it.”
In our opinion, for most Toronto homes it is, because of the factory flashing kits and glass quality. We will show you the Fakro alternative too if it fits better.
“Solar won’t work in winter.”
The VSS battery holds charge through short winter days. Toronto gets enough daylight in December to keep the VSS panel topped up, and the battery is sized for cloudy stretches. We have units running in North York and Scarborough homes that close themselves on the first snowflake without ever being plugged in.
“Electric means rewiring my ceiling.”
Not with the solar VSS. Electric VCS needs wiring and an ESA permit, which we handle.
“Warranty claims are a pain.”
We register it at handover and keep records. Velux factory warranty is 10 years on the product and up to 20 years on the glass, and certified installs avoid most disputes about whether a leak is product or labour. We also keep a copy of the install paperwork, flashing kit and serial numbers on file so a future claim is a 10 minute email rather than a treasure hunt.
Velux Install Timeline
Consultation
Model, size code and kit selected. We meet at the house, walk the roof and the room below, and write the model, size code and flashing kit on a notepad so the quote is exact. Pricing comes from our published Velux price list so there is nothing to negotiate later.
Ordering
One to two weeks through our dealer account. Common FS, VS and VSS sizes usually ship from the Velux Toronto warehouse in three to five business days. Larger Modular units or specialty glass can take two to three weeks and we will tell you up front if your model is one of those.
Install Day
One day per unit for most homes. The crew arrives at 8, sets up the dump zone and fall-arrest, cuts the opening, frames it and installs the Velux flashing kit the same day. Most single-unit Velux installs wrap by mid-afternoon with the shaft drywall finished and the room cleaned.
Handover
Warranty registered, remote paired. Before we leave, the warranty card is filed online and a copy is in your inbox, the Velux Active remote is paired to the unit, and the rain sensor is tested with a spray bottle. We walk you through the remote buttons, the blind control and what to do if the unit ever stops responding.
Velux Installation Cost in Toronto: What You Are Paying For
Model
FS lowest, VSS highest. Fixed Velux FS installs start at $2,800 per unit, manual VS around $3,200, electric VCS around $4,200 and solar VSS around $4,500, all with the flashing kit and shaft included. We publish these prices so you can sanity-check our quote against anyone else’s without playing phone tag.
Flashing Kit
Matched to roof type. EDL for asphalt and thin roofing, EDW for profiled tile and metal, EDM for low-profile materials, plus the underlayment collar on every install. The flashing kit is what keeps the warranty valid and the water out, so we never substitute a “close enough” kit from another brand.
Framing
Truss bay vs cut rafter. If the unit fits inside an existing truss bay we frame between the trusses with no structural cuts, which is cheaper and avoids a permit in most cases. If the size forces us to cut a rafter, we sister in a header to OBC 9.7 and pull the permit as a separate line so you see exactly what the building department costs.
Electrical
Only for VCS units, with ESA permit. VCS electric venting needs a 120V home run from the panel, an electrical rough-in inspection, and the ESA notification filed at the end. We coordinate this through our licensed sub-trade so you do not have to chase an electrician separately, and the ESA fee is shown on the quote as its own line.
Shaft
Insulated and vapour-sealed. The shaft is framed with 2x4s or 2x6s depending on the attic insulation depth, filled with R-20 or R-28 batts, and sealed with 6 mil poly before drywall. This meets OBC 9.26 for air and vapour control and stops the warm, moist indoor air from condensing in the shaft in winter.
Accessories
Blinds and sensors. Velux blackout, light-filtering and heat-reducing blinds are quoted by size code and can be added at install or any time later. Velux Active climate sensors pair with VCS or VSS units and are usually added in the same visit as the install to keep the trip count down.
Velux Installation vs Replacement vs Repair: Which Service You Need
New opening: this page. Existing Velux: Velux replacement. Leak on a sound unit: flashing repair.
Fixed, Venting or Solar: Choosing Your Skylight Type
Velux FS for light, VS for manual venting, VSS for solar remote venting with rain sensor. VCS if you want hardwired keypad control.
Velux Installation Timeline in Toronto: What to Expect Week-by-Week
Week one consultation, weeks two to three delivery, install in a day. Permits add two to six weeks when framing is cut.
Why Toronto Homeowners Choose Our Velux Installers
We have been installing Velux skylights across Toronto and the GTA for over twenty years and more than 2,000 units, holding Velux Certified Installer status since 2004. Every crew on your roof is in-house, WSIB-covered and on payroll with us, so no subcontractors are touching the opening. Each Velux install is framed and detailed to OBC 9.7 for the fenestration and OBC 9.26 for the roofing, with the correct EDL, EDM or EDW flashing kit for the roof you actually have. Every quote is itemized with the permit as its own line, pricing is published, and the factory warranty is registered before we leave the driveway. Trust us, you’re in good hands.
