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The details that make a roof last

Skylights, Vents & Roof Accessories

Skylights, ridge & attic vents, chimney flashing, underlayment — everything else.

Warranty
Manufacturer + 5-yr GripGo
Skylights, Vents & Roof Accessories — installed example
The details that make a roof lastPacific NW build
Skylights, Vents & Roof Accessories close-up

What it is & how it works

Skylights, Vents & Roof Accessories in plain English

A roof is a system. The shingles get the credit, but skylights, ventilation, flashing, and underlayment are what actually keep water out and heat where it belongs. We install and upgrade all of it.

Ventilation alone is why one asphalt roof lasts 15 years and the identical one next door lasts 35 — an unventilated attic cooks shingles from below and traps moisture that grows mold and voids warranties. We balance intake (soffit vents) and exhaust (ridge or box vents) on every roof. We're also a certified Velux skylight installer, we hand-fabricate step and counter flashing at every chimney and wall, and we use lifetime silicone pipe boots and full ice-and-water shield in valleys and at eaves — not the shortcuts most crews take.

Understanding your options

Tiers, styles & what's included

Tap any tier to see exactly what's in it, what it costs relative to the others, and who it fits best.

Option 1

Fixed Skylights

Non-opening skylights that flood a hallway, stairwell, or dark room with daylight. The most affordable skylight option.

  • Velux FS series with laminated impact glass
  • 10-year no-leak install warranty
  • Argon-filled Low-E glass for insulation
  • Available in 8+ standard sizes
Option 2

Venting Skylights (Manual & Electric)

Skylights that open to release hot air and moisture — ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and top-floor bedrooms.

  • Manual crank or electric remote
  • Built-in rain sensor auto-closes at first drop
  • Solar-powered option (30% federal tax credit)
  • Compatible with blinds & solar shades
Option 3

Solar-Powered Fresh-Air Skylights

The Velux 'Sun Tunnel' or CFS solar skylight — no wiring, no switch, opens with a remote. Qualifies for the federal solar tax credit.

  • Federal 30% solar tax credit eligible
  • Rain sensor & remote control included
  • No electrical wiring required
  • Battery lasts 10+ years
Option 4

Sun Tunnels / Tubular Skylights

Reflective tubes that pipe daylight from the roof into interior rooms with no direct roof access — closets, bathrooms, hallways.

  • 10", 14", or 22" diameter
  • Zero-loss reflective tunnel
  • Diffuser looks like a recessed light
  • Great for tight or interior spaces
Option 5

Ridge Ventilation

A continuous vent that runs the length of the roof peak, hidden under the ridge cap — the most effective exhaust ventilation available.

  • Invisible from the ground
  • Continuous airflow along the entire ridge
  • Paired with soffit intake for balanced ventilation
  • Baffled to keep wind-driven rain out
Option 6

Soffit & Attic Intake Vents

Every exhaust vent needs equal intake. We add or upgrade soffit vents so cool air pulls in low, hot air pushes out high.

  • Continuous perforated soffit panels
  • Baffles at every rafter bay to keep insulation clear
  • Retrofits for older homes without soffit venting
  • Balanced 1:150 or 1:300 net free area per code
Option 7

Solar & Powered Attic Fans

Actively pull hot air out of the attic on the hottest days — huge relief for upstairs bedrooms without central AC.

  • Solar-powered (no wiring, no electric bill)
  • Thermostat-controlled
  • Lowers attic temp 20 – 40°F on summer days
  • Federal 30% solar tax credit eligible
Option 8

Bath, Kitchen & Dryer Vents

Moist air must exit the roof, not the attic. We reroute bath fans and dryers with insulated ducting and proper roof caps.

  • Insulated ducting to prevent condensation
  • Roof caps with backdraft dampers
  • Bird & rodent screens on every vent
  • Corrected to code where dumping into the attic
Option 9

Chimney Flashing & Crickets

The #1 leak source we see. We rebuild it right — step flashing, counter flashing let into the mortar joint, and a cricket upslope of wide chimneys to divert water.

  • Hand-bent step & counter flashing
  • Counter flashing set into a saw-cut mortar reglet
  • Cricket saddle upslope of chimneys 30"+ wide
  • Chimney crown rebuilds and re-caps
Option 10

Pipe Boots & Roof Penetrations

Every pipe, vent, and cable through the roof needs a boot. The cheap rubber ones fail in 5 – 7 years — we install lifetime silicone.

  • Lifetime silicone pipe boots (not 5-year rubber)
  • Lead flashings on plumbing vents
  • Retrofit boots that slide over existing pipes
  • Storm collars on furnace and water heater vents
Option 11

Ice & Water Shield + Underlayment

The unseen layer that actually keeps your house dry when the roof gets breached.

  • 6' of ice & water shield at every eave (code minimum is 3')
  • Full-coverage synthetic underlayment (not felt)
  • Peel-and-stick membrane in every valley
  • Wall-abutment membrane wrap up the sidewall
Option 12

Snow Guards & Snow Retention

For metal and steep roofs — keeps sliding snow from crushing gutters, cars, entries, or pets.

  • Individual pad-style guards or continuous snow rails
  • Color-matched to panel finish
  • Engineered to snow load
  • Standard on any GripGo metal roof over walkways
Option 13

Drip Edge & Rake Metal

The metal edge that keeps water from wicking under the shingles at eaves and rakes. Required by code — but often skipped or done wrong.

  • Galvanized or painted aluminum
  • Color-matched to gutters or trim
  • Sealed under ice & water shield at eaves, over it at rakes
  • Kickout flashing where the eave meets a wall
Option 14

Gutter Heat Cables (Ice Dam Prevention)

Self-regulating heat cable that melts ice-dam channels at the eaves and downspouts on shaded, north-facing roofs.

  • Self-regulating (won't overheat)
  • Cheaper than replacing damaged fascia year after year
  • Only needed on chronic ice-dam roofs
  • Installed with clips, not adhesive

The system

Anatomy of a full roof system

A roof is a stack of layers — each one has a job. Here's what goes into every one we build, in plain English.

123456
  1. Ridge cap & vent
    Lets hot air escape from the attic peak
  2. Shingles / tiles / shakes
    The visible weather layer
  3. Synthetic underlayment
    Secondary water barrier across the whole deck
  4. Ice & water shield
    Peel-and-stick at eaves, valleys, and penetrations
  5. Roof decking (sheathing)
    The plywood/OSB nailing surface
  6. Rafters + soffit intake
    Structure and fresh-air inlet that balances the ridge vent

The honest take

Advantages & things to consider

Advantages

  • Balanced ventilation extends roof life dramatically
  • Certified Velux skylight installer with 10-year no-leak warranty
  • Lifetime silicone pipe boots (not 5-year rubber)
  • Hand-bent flashing, not caulked shortcuts

Things to consider

  • Retrofitting ventilation on some older homes needs soffit work
  • Solar-powered skylight tax credits change year to year

Is this right for your home?

Quick fit check

Best for
Any roof upgrade or new build — these details are what separate a 20-year roof from a 40-year roof.
General longevity
Depends on scope & materials
Relative investment
Free estimate — no obligation
Maintenance level
Low
Style options
Multiple profiles and finishes
Climate fit (Pacific NW)
Well suited to Pacific NW rain, moss, and wind

What GripGo inspects

Free on-site inspection checklist

Every quote starts with a real inspection — not a driveway guess. Here's what we look at before we write a single number down.

Every field shingle, ridge cap, and starter course

Flashing at walls, chimneys, and skylights

Pipe boots and vent penetrations

Ridge vent + soffit intake balance

Attic decking for staining, sag, or moisture

Gutter seams, hangers, and downspout flow

Common questions

What Seattle homeowners ask us about skylights, vents & roof accessories

How much does a skylight cost installed?+

A fixed Velux skylight installed in an existing asphalt roof runs $1,800 – $3,200. Venting adds $500 – $900. Solar-powered fresh-air models are $2,800 – $4,500 (before the 30% federal tax credit).

Won't a skylight leak eventually?+

Not the way we install them. We're a Velux-certified installer using the full Velux flashing kit and a 10-year no-leak warranty. Skylights leak when installers skip the flashing kit and 'caulk them in' — we don't do that.

How do I know if my attic is properly ventilated?+

Signs of bad ventilation: ice dams in winter, upstairs rooms 10°F+ hotter than downstairs in summer, moist attic insulation, mold on the underside of sheathing, or shingles curling before 15 years. Any of those and we can add or rebalance ventilation as a standalone project.

Are solar attic fans worth it?+

Yes, on any Seattle home without central AC and with a hot upstairs in summer. They can drop attic temperature 20 – 40°F, which drops the ceiling of the room below by 5 – 10°F. Solar models cost nothing to run and qualify for the federal 30% solar tax credit.

Do I need snow guards?+

On asphalt or composite, rarely. On metal, yes — anywhere sliding snow could hit a walkway, gutter, entry, or driveway. We include them by default on GripGo metal roofs over those areas.

Ready when you are

Free inspection, honest recommendation, no pressure. That's how we've done it since day one.