Commercial Tubular Skylights (Sun Tunnels): Installation, Repair & Replacement

Summary

Tubular Skylights (sun tunnels) channel daylight through a roof dome, reflective tube, and ceiling diffuser into interior rooms across Phoenix, Arizona. Sky Design Concepts installs and services Solatube systems and diagnoses tube seals, dome cracking, or diffuser damage before recommending repair, restoration, or replacement.

Key Takeaways

Tubular Skylights, also called sun tunnels, use a rooftop dome, a reflective tube, and a ceiling diffuser to carry daylight into rooms with no direct line to the roof.
A much smaller roof opening is needed compared to a conventional skylight, making tubular units a practical retrofit on crowded commercial roofs.
Typical uses include corridors, restrooms, interior offices, classrooms, and break rooms, often paired with a larger conventional skylight in the main space.
Common failure points include a yellowed or cracked roof dome, failed flashing, loose tube joints, and a damaged diffuser.
A dim room doesn’t always mean a failed unit, dirty glazing or a hazed dome is a common and simpler fix.
The dome can often be replaced independently of the tube and curb when those parts remain sound.
Sky Design Concepts represents Solatube through Kingspan Light + Air, and also services other tubular brands no longer in production.

Not every room that needs daylight has the roof space for a full skylight well. Tubular skylights, often called sun tunnels, channel daylight through a small rooftop dome and a reflective tube down to a ceiling diffuser, bringing natural light into interior offices, restrooms, corridors, and break rooms without the structural opening a traditional skylight requires. Sky Design Concepts installs and services these compact systems across Phoenix and the Southwest, including Solatube units from Kingspan Light + Air.

Because the roof penetration is so small compared to a dome or glass skylight, tubular systems are often the easiest retrofit option for a building that wants more daylight without a structural roof change. Our crews diagnose the specific failure, whether it’s a cracked roof dome, a failed tube seal, or a clouded diffuser lens, before recommending a fix, and every visit starts with a free on-site evaluation.

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What Is a Tubular Skylight (Sun Tunnel)?

A tubular skylight is a daylighting device with three parts: a dome on the roof that collects sunlight, a highly reflective tube that carries the light through the building, and a diffuser in the ceiling that spreads it across the room. Because the light travels through a tube, the device can reach spaces that sit below attics, mechanical space, or other roof structure.

You will see several names for the same product. Sun tunnel, tubular daylighting device, light tube, light tunnel, and solar tube all describe a tubular skylight. Solatube is a brand name, and many people search for it the way they search for the product itself.

Tubular skylights suit interior rooms that have no wall windows and no direct line to the roof. Typical uses include corridors, restrooms, offices, classrooms, break rooms, and retail areas. They also work in school and education facilities and in warehouse and industrial skylights projects where designers want even daylight at the work level.

A report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on commercially available tubular daylight devices notes that they need a much smaller roof opening than conventional skylights and can deliver daylight farther because of the reflective tube. That small opening is why tubular units are often the practical choice on a crowded commercial roof. For help matching light levels to a space, our daylighting consulting service covers daylight planning and product selection.

Tubular Skylights vs Conventional Skylights: What Is the Difference?

Tubular skylights and conventional skylights both bring daylight through the roof, but they fit different rooms and roof conditions. This table compares them so you can see which one suits your building.

	Tubular skylight (sun tunnel)	Conventional skylight
How light reaches the room	Through a dome, a reflective tube, and a ceiling diffuser	Directly through the roof opening and glazing
Roof opening	Small	Larger, sized to the skylight
Best spaces	Interior rooms, corridors, and rooms below roof structure	Open areas directly under the roof, such as atriums and large floor areas
Routing around obstacles	The tube can bend around structure, pipes, and ducts	The room must sit directly under the opening
Typical glazing	Plastic dome and diffuser	Glass or plastic. See glass skylights and dome, unit, and polycarbonate skylights
Larger or unusual openings	Not the usual choice	See custom and monumental skylights

Many commercial projects use both. A large conventional skylight lights the main space, and tubular skylights light the rooms around it. We help you choose the mix that fits your roof and floor plan.

Parts of a Tubular Skylight and Common Service Issues

Each part of a tubular skylight can fail in its own way, and knowing the part tells you the fix. This table lists the parts, what each one does, and what we see go wrong.

Part	What it does	Common service issues
Roof dome	Collects sunlight from the sky	Yellowing, hazing, cracks, and crazing from sun exposure
Flashing and curb ring	Seals the unit to the roof	Leaks from worn sealant, loosened flashing, or a damaged seal at the roof membrane
Reflective tube	Carries light from the roof to the ceiling	Loose or separated joints, dents that block light, dust, insects, or moisture inside the tube
Ceiling ring and diffuser	Spreads the light across the room	Loose or damaged diffuser, water stains, and dirt that dims the output

A dim tubular skylight is not always a failed one. Dirty glazing or a hazed dome often causes the loss, and cleaning or a new dome restores the light.

Tubular Skylight Repair, Restoration, and Replacement

We match the fix to the failure. A leak at the flashing needs a different repair than a hazed dome, and a dim room with a clean, sound dome may need a tube or diffuser repair. Strong Arizona sun is hard on plastic domes, and monsoon storms test every roof seal.

Tubular Skylight Repair

Tubular skylight repair stops active leaks and restores light output. Repairs include resealing the flashing, replacing a failed dome, securing or replacing loose tube sections, and replacing a damaged diffuser or ceiling ring. Our commercial skylight repair page covers the full repair process.

Skylight Restoration and Wet Sealing

When the dome and tube are sound but the roof seal has worn, restoration extends the life of the unit. Skylight restoration and wet sealing renews the sealed joints at the dome, the curb ring, and the flashing. It does not fix a yellowed or cracked dome, so we inspect the plastic first.

Tubular Skylight Replacement

Replacement makes sense when repair cannot hold. A yellowed or cracked dome, a damaged tube, repeated leaks at the same roof opening, and a failed curb all point that way. See commercial skylight replacement for how we plan the work.

New Tubular Skylight Installation

We install new tubular skylights in new construction and as retrofits in existing roofs. A retrofit means cutting a small roof opening, setting the curb and flashing, routing the tube to the ceiling, and fitting the diffuser. Details are on our commercial skylight installation page.

Signs You Need Tubular Skylight Repair or Replacement

A tubular skylight that leaks over a ceiling, equipment, or an occupied room needs attention now, and a unit that only looks worn needs an inspection soon. These are the signs to check for:

Water stains around the diffuser or ceiling ring: Moisture usually means failed flashing or sealant at the roof, or a loose tube joint.
A yellowed, hazy, or cracked roof dome: Sun breaks down plastic over time and cuts the light that reaches the room.
Moisture or fog inside the tube or under the diffuser: Condensation shows that humid air or water is entering the system.
A dim room that used to be bright: Dirt, haze, or a damaged tube can all reduce output.
Dust, insects, or debris inside the diffuser: The tube joints or the roof seal have opened.
A loose, rattling, or sagging diffuser: Loose hardware and damaged ceiling rings let the unit move.
Sealant that is cracked, shrunken, or peeling at the roof: Sealant ages in heat and UV and stops keeping water out.

If you see more than one of these, book a free on-site evaluation. We inspect the dome, flashing, tube, and diffuser, and tell you whether repair or replacement makes sense. For a deeper look at that decision, read Repair, Restore, or Replace?

Fall Protection for Tubular Skylights

Treat every tubular skylight dome as a hole in the roof. Plastic domes are not built to carry a person, and an old or brittle dome can break underfoot. OSHA’s construction fall protection rule, 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4), requires employers to protect workers from falling through holes, including skylights, more than 6 feet above a lower level. Accepted protection includes personal fall arrest systems, covers, and guardrail systems around the opening.

Roofers, HVAC technicians, and maintenance staff walk past domes on commercial roofs every week. We install skylight fall protection, guards, and screens on new and existing skylights, and we can add them during a repair or replacement visit.

Solatube Tubular Daylighting Systems Through Kingspan Light + Air

Solatube is a tubular daylighting brand within the Kingspan Light + Air family, and Sky Design Concepts represents those brands. Solatube International joined Kingspan Light + Air in 2021. Visit our Kingspan Light + Air page to see the full family of brands we represent, and browse every manufacturer on our manufacturers page. If your roof has a Solatube or another brand of tubular skylight that is no longer in production, we can still inspect and service it.

What Affects the Cost of a Tubular Skylight Project

Tubular skylight pricing depends on scope, so a free on-site evaluation gives a firmer number than any online range. These factors move the price most:

Repair, restoration, or replacement: Resealing flashing costs less than replacing a dome, and replacing a dome costs less than replacing the whole unit.
Tube diameter and length: A larger tube and a longer run add material and labor.
Tube route: Bends around structure, pipes, or ducts add parts and time.
Number of units. More units on one roof change the labor plan.
Diffuser and accessories: Dampers, lighting kits, and diffuser styles change unit cost.
Roof and ceiling conditions: The roof type, ceiling height, and access affect labor.

If you are comparing tubular skylights with other options, see our dome, unit, and polycarbonate skylights, glass skylights, and translucent wall and roof assemblies pages. For the full list, see our commercial skylight systems.

Our Tubular Skylight Process

Every tubular skylight job starts with a free on-site evaluation, and the evaluation decides the scope. Here is how a project moves from first visit to finished roof:

Free on-site evaluation: We inspect the dome, flashing, tube, ceiling ring, and diffuser, and we check how the unit ties into the roof membrane.
Findings and recommendations: We explain what failed and why, then recommend repair, restoration, or replacement. If the skylight is sound, we say so.
Product and layout selection: For replacement or new installation, we match the tube size, tube route, and diffuser to the space and the roof.
Scheduling and roof access: We plan the work around your tenants, operations, and roof access.
Repair, replacement, or installation: Our crew sets or repairs the dome, tube, and diffuser, then flashes and seals every joint.
Final check: We inspect the seals and flashing and review the finished work with you.

Ready to start? Request a free on-site evaluation or call (602) 276-5001.

Why Choose Sky Design Concepts

Commercial work only, since 1985: Every tubular skylight we install or repair sits on a commercial, industrial, institutional, or public building.
Licensed in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico: We also travel to West Texas for tubular skylight projects.
A represented Solatube brand: We represent Solatube through Kingspan Light + Air, so you work with an installer tied to the manufacturer.
One contractor from repair to replacement: Tubular skylight repair, restoration, replacement, and installation all come from the same crew.
A straight answer at the evaluation: If your skylight is sound, we tell you. If it needs repair or replacement, we show you why.

What Our Clients Are Saying

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✦ What customers say

Customers describe Sky Design Concepts as professional from start to finish, with a courteous, efficient installation team that goes above and beyond. Reviewers say the installers clean up after the job is done, call the company a local Arizona business, and say they would use it again for future skylight work.

Professional installers Clean job sites Efficient work Local Arizona company Would hire again

AI-generated summary of customer reviews, updated November 3, 2026.

Jason Lowery
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★★★★★

Amazing efficiency! Professional installation team! Arizona local and family owned/operated. Couldn’t ask for a better all around group. Always willing to go above and beyond!

Alfred Dorantes
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Courteous & Professional staff. Installers clean up after they’re finished with the projects. Highly recommend

Connor Smith
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★★★★★

SkyDesign was great to work with start to finish! Very professional and do great work! Will definitely use this company again for any skylight needs

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Monday: 7AM – 4PM
Tuesday: 7AM – 4PM
Wednesday: 7AM – 4PM
Thursday: 7AM – 4PM
Friday: 8AM – 12PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Proudly Providing Tubular Skylight Service in Phoenix & Across Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and West Texas

Sky Design Concepts installs and services tubular skylight systems for contractors, developers, school districts, and property owners throughout Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and West Texas.

We are proud to provide tubular skylight service in Phoenix, AZ, Scottsdale, AZ, Tempe, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Mesa, AZ, Chandler, AZ, Glendale, AZ, Goodyear, AZ, Tolleson, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, Peoria, AZ, and Avondale, AZ, as well as Las Vegas, NV, Henderson, NV, and Reno, NV; Albuquerque, NM, Santa Fe, NM, and Las Cruces, NM; and El Paso, TX, and Midland–Odessa, TX. For a full view of our coverage, see our service area page.

Get a Free On-Site Evaluation for Your Commercial Tubular Skylights Today

A leaking, cracked, or dim tubular skylight gets more expensive the longer it stays on the roof, because water damages the ceiling, the insulation, and whatever sits below. Sky Design Concepts will inspect the dome, flashing, tube, and diffuser at no charge, tell you whether repair, restoration, or replacement fits your building, and give you a clear scope before any work starts.

Call us at (602) 276-5001, or request your free evaluation today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tubular skylight?

A tubular skylight is a daylighting device that uses a roof dome, a reflective tube, and a ceiling diffuser to carry sunlight into a room. It needs a much smaller roof opening than a conventional skylight, and the tube can route around roof structure. We install and service tubular skylights on commercial buildings. See our commercial skylight installation page for details.

Is a sun tunnel the same as a tubular skylight?

Yes, a sun tunnel is another name for a tubular skylight. Light tube, light tunnel, solar tube, and tubular daylighting device all describe the same product. Contractors and manufacturers tend to say tubular daylighting device, and many property managers search for sun tunnel.

What is Solatube?

Solatube is a tubular daylighting brand within the Kingspan Light + Air family. Solatube International joined Kingspan Light + Air in 2021, and Sky Design Concepts represents the Kingspan Light + Air brands. See our Kingspan Light + Air page for the full family.

How is a tubular skylight different from a regular skylight?

A tubular skylight carries daylight through a reflective tube, and a regular skylight admits it directly through the roof opening. That makes tubular units a fit for interior rooms, corridors, and spaces below roof structure. Regular skylights fit open areas directly under the roof, and many buildings use both. Compare options on our glass skylights page.

Why is my tubular skylight leaking?

A leaking tubular skylight usually has worn flashing, failed sealant at the roof, or a loose tube joint. Water can also enter through a cracked dome. We trace the leak during a free on-site evaluation and repair it, or recommend replacement when the unit has failed in several places. See commercial skylight repair.

Why is my sun tunnel dim?

A dim sun tunnel usually has a hazed or dirty dome, a dirty diffuser, or a damaged tube. Cleaning or replacing the dome often restores the light. We inspect each part before recommending a fix, and we pair repairs with skylight restoration and wet sealing when the roof seal has worn.

Can you replace the dome on a tubular skylight without replacing the whole unit?

Yes, when the tube, flashing, and curb are sound, the dome can often be replaced on its own. We check each part during the evaluation before recommending that scope. See commercial skylight replacement.

Do tubular skylights need fall protection?

Yes, a tubular skylight dome should be treated as a hole in the roof, and workers near it need protection. OSHA requires covers, guardrails, or personal fall arrest systems around skylights when the roof is more than 6 feet above a lower level. We install skylight guards and screens for commercial buildings.

How much does tubular skylight installation or repair cost?

Cost depends on the repair or replacement scope, tube diameter and length, the tube route, the number of units, and roof access. A free on-site evaluation gives a firmer number than any general range. Contact us to schedule one.

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