Skylight Shade Installation & Repair · New York City

Skylight shade pricing in NYC typically ranges from about $650–$1,400 per skylight for manual cellular or roller systems on standard residential skylights (Velux VSS, Velux VS, FAKRO and similar), and $1,400–$3,500 per skylight for motorized systems on Velux Solar, Somfy RTS tension, Lutron Sivoia QS, or Hunter Douglas PowerView. High-ceiling installations requiring interior scaffold access, atrium spans, or architectural glass roofs price higher because of the access and rigging — every quote includes on-site assessment, system specification, scaffold planning, fabrication, installation, motor programming, and a written workmanship warranty.

The terms are often used interchangeably, but technically: 'skylight shades' refers to fabric-based systems (cellular, roller, or pleated fabric on a tensioned track); 'skylight blinds' refers to slat-based systems (Venetian-style aluminum or wood slats on a track) — less common in NYC because of dust accumulation on horizontal slats overhead; 'skylight covers' typically means a removable interior cover panel for full blackout, often used in bedrooms and media rooms where 100% light block is required. We install all three system types depending on the room, the skylight model, and the look you're after.

Yes. We evaluate access requirements before every skylight project and set up interior scaffold systems when needed — atriums, double-height living rooms, vaulted ceilings, glass roof structures, and 20'+ skylight installations. Our team handles safety planning, lift coordination, structural bracket assessment, and ceiling protection. No ladder-only shortcuts on high-access projects.

Yes. We install tension-based motorized systems specifically designed for angled, sloped, and overhead surfaces — Somfy RTS tension systems, Lutron Sivoia QS sloped-skylight kits, Hunter Douglas PowerView tensioned roller, and Norman specialty tension systems. These use guided tracks and tensioned cables along both edges so the fabric stays taut against gravity at any angle from horizontal to nearly vertical.

Yes. For full room-darkening on skylights — bedrooms, primary suites, nurseries, media rooms — we install blackout cellular shades, blackout roller systems with side channels, and removable blackout cover panels. The right system depends on the skylight model and whether you need 100% blackout for sleep or just heavy room-darkening. Velux DKL solar blackout blinds are the most common factory option; for custom Manhattan brownstones and lofts we typically spec Hunter Douglas Duette Architella blackout or Somfy-motorized blackout roller with side tracks.

On any skylight more than 10' off the floor, motorization isn't a luxury — it's the only practical way to operate the shade. We install electric skylight shades on three power options: hardwired (best for new construction and renovations, integrates with Lutron RadioRA 3 or Crestron), solar-powered (Velux Solar — built into Velux skylights, no wiring required, recharges from the sun itself), and rechargeable battery (Somfy and Hunter Douglas PowerView — 6–12 months per charge, ideal for retrofits in occupied apartments). All three integrate with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit for scheduled operation and voice control.

Yes. Velux is the most-installed skylight brand in NYC residential and we install Velux-branded blinds and shades (FSK solar-powered blackout, DKL manual blackout, RFL light-filtering, FMK exterior heat-blocking) as well as third-party tensioned systems from Somfy, Lutron, and Hunter Douglas that work on Velux openings. For non-standard sizes or custom Manhattan brownstone skylights we fabricate custom solutions.

We install Somfy (RTS and Zigbee tension systems), Lutron (Sivoia QS for whole-home integration), Hunter Douglas (PowerView Duette and Designer Screen), Norman (specialty tensioned systems), Screen Innovations (large-format and architectural), and Velux (factory-original solar and manual blinds). System selection depends on skylight dimensions, slope angle, smart-home platform, power source available, and budget.

Yes. We diagnose and repair all motorized skylight shade issues — motor failure, dead solar batteries (Velux Solar), limit recalibration, fabric tension problems, track misalignment, RTS or Zigbee remote reprogramming, and hardwired power supply faults. Early service prevents motor burnout and fabric damage. For dedicated repair coverage see our skylight shade repair page.

Yes. We carry full workers' comp and general liability insurance and provide Certificates of Insurance to every co-op and condo board in NYC — typically within 24 hours of the request. We're set up with most major management companies (Brown Harris Stevens, Halstead, Douglas Elliman, FirstService Residential, Argo, Related) and schedule around freight-elevator hours, doorman release, and building quiet hours.