Mims Mobley, Southeast District Sales Manager, VELUX Skylights - September 2026
In Florida, the roof does a lot. It manages heat, supports energy performance and shapes the comfort of everyday living in the home. When specified correctly, skylights integrate into the roof system to support energy efficiency, storm readiness, indoor comfort and long-term property value. For roofing contractors, skylights also represent an opportunity to increase revenue and help homeowners make smarter decisions.
A reroof is the ideal time to install or replace a skylight. The roof is already open, flashing details are being reconsidered and the crew is onsite. This makes it easy to evaluate whether an older skylight needs replacing, whether impact-rated glass is appropriate, whether a shade would improve comfort or whether a new skylight or tubular skylight could improve another interior space.
This conversation is also a chance to demonstrate your roofing and skylight expertise. If a homeowner doesn’t understand the differences in skylight materials or how certain variables affect performance, your ability to educate them helps them make more confident decisions – and helps you set yourself apart from companies that only focus on shingles or tile.
Florida’s climate puts unique demands on every roof component. Heat, humidity, wind-driven rain, intense sun and hurricane exposure all affect product selection. Acrylic dome skylights and polycarbonate units have served the market for years and polycarbonate remains common in certain areas of the state. However, glass skylights now offer clear advantages in several areas.
A fixed skylight works well for hallways, living rooms and stairwells where daylight is the main goal. But in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and rooms with high ceilings where heat or humidity collects, a venting glass skylight is a better fit. Venting skylights open to let warm, humid air escape while bringing natural light in from above. In Florida, where moisture management is always part of the building conversation, added ventilation may support a more comfortable indoor environment. Like shades, venting capabilities are more common in glass skylights than polycarbonate domes.
Florida homeowners want natural light but they also want control. Skylight shades offer flexibility throughout the day and across seasons. A shade can reduce glare, soften direct sun, improve privacy and help manage heat gain. Overall, that control makes a skylight more useful and comfortable. Some shades also add a
layer of insulation between the room and the glazing. While common in glass skylights, shade options are typically unavailable with polycarbonate products.
Impact resistance is a major topic statewide, especially as insurance requirements evolve. Florida homeowners already understand the value of impact-rated windows and doors and skylights belong in that same conversation. While polycarbonate has been a go-to in Florida for its impact qualities, laminated impact-rated glass skylights are now available that meet demanding windborne debris and design pressure requirements. Growing in popularity among Florida roofers, impact-rated glass skylights deliver a strong combination of storm performance and long-term durability while providing higher daylight quality and clearer sky views.
Low-E (low emissivity) glass features a thin, transparent coating that manages heat transfer while still allowing visible daylight into the home. In practical terms, Low-E glass reduces unwanted solar heat gain, improves insulating performance and protects interiors from UV exposure. For Florida homeowners, that means natural light with better comfort and energy efficiency than older plastic or non-coated glass options. As energy codes and homeowner expectations advance, thermal performance matters, making Low-E glass a stronger choice than acrylic or polycarbonate options.
In Florida, skylight selection must start with code compliance. Contractors should verify that any skylight being installed has documentation appropriate for the project location, roof type and wind zone. Key items to look for include:
Florida Product Approval (FPA): Confirms the product has been evaluated for use under the Florida Building Code. Roofers should verify the approval number, approved configurations, glazing type, roof application and installation requirements.
Impact Rating Levels: Some areas of Florida may only require basic impact ratings while others may require HVHZ approval. It’s important to confirm with your local Building Department what the local requirements are. Approved products can be found on Florida Product Approval and Miami-Dade websites.
Design Pressure Ratings: Skylights must be rated for the positive and negative wind pressures required for the specific building location and roof height.
Impact Testing Standards: For windborne debris regions, look for testing such as ASTM E1886/E1996 or Miami-Dade TAS 201, TAS 202 and TAS 203, depending on jurisdiction and product approval path.
Structural and Air/Water Testing: Standards such as ASTM E330 for structural performance and ASTM E283/E331 for air filtration and water penetration are commonly referenced in fenestration performance.
Energy Ratings: NFRC-rated values, including U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and visible transmittance, help contractors compare thermal performance and daylight transmission.
Approved Installation Instructions: Product approvals are only valid when the skylight is installed according to the approved method, including fastener type, spacing, underlayment, flashing, curb requirements and roof pitch limitations.
Do not assume that one product approval covers every application. A skylight approved for one roof type, slope, size or glazing package may not be approved for another. Always check the current approval documents and local jurisdiction requirements before installation.
Adding glass skylights to the conversation with your customers about their roofing or reroofing projects delivers real business benefits for you:
Increase profitability. Skylights add revenue to jobs you’re already doing. The roof is open, your crew is there and the installation integrates with work already in progress.
Differentiate your business. Most roofers focus only on the roof itself. Offering skylight expertise sets you apart and positions you as a full-service roofing professional.
Install with confidence. Today’s glass skylights are designed to simplify the installation process. Preconfigured flashing kits for different roof types and straightforward installation take away any guesswork, so you always feel comfortable installing skylights.
Build customer trust for long after the job is done. Glass skylights are engineered to endure Florida’s climate backed by strong warranties and built with features homeowners appreciate over time. When your customers stay satisfied with their skylights, you earn their trust, referrals and repeat business.
When you make glass skylights a part of your everyday roofing business, you open the door to bigger jobs, happier customers and a stronger reputation in your market.
Mims Mobley is the Southeast District Sales Manager for VELUX Skylights, bringing more than three decades of experience and industry expertise to the role. He began his career with VELUX as the local Sales Representative for Central and South Florida before relocating to Ohio, then Atlanta and ultimately returning to his hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina, home to the VELUX America manufacturing headquarters. Mims can be reached at 704-975-0890 or mims.mobley@velux.com.