Commercial Dome Skylights: Polycarbonate, Acrylic & Unit Skylight Systems

Summary

Dome, Unit & Polycarbonate Skylights use acrylic or polycarbonate glazing on curb-mounted units, common across Phoenix, Arizona, commercial roofs. Sky Design Concepts diagnoses yellowing, cracking, or curb seal failure before recommending repair, restoration, or replacement, often swapping just the dome, with a free on-site evaluation.

Key Takeaways

Dome, Unit & Polycarbonate Skylights are curb-mounted, self-flashing units, often called bubble skylights, glazed in acrylic or polycarbonate rather than glass.
Acrylic holds clarity well in strong UV but can crack under impact; polycarbonate resists impact better but can yellow or haze without a UV-resistant layer.
Common failure signs include yellowing, crazing, brittleness, moisture between double-dome layers, and failed curb seals.
Surface crazing on acrylic and polycarbonate domes is the equivalent of fiberbloom on fiberglass panels, a UV-driven degradation pattern.
A dome can often be replaced on an existing curb when the curb and flashing remain sound, lowering the overall cost.
Sky Design Concepts works with Kingspan Light + Air, VELUX Commercial, Sunoptics, American Skylights, Acralight, and Bilco.
Every dome skylight more than six feet above a lower level requires OSHA fall protection under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4).

Dome, unit, and polycarbonate skylights make up the bulk of what sits on flat commercial roofs across Phoenix and the Southwest, curb-mounted, self-flashing units sized to a standard opening rather than a custom architectural feature. Sky Design Concepts services, repairs, and installs these systems in acrylic and polycarbonate glazing, matched to the building’s impact-resistance needs and budget.

These units carry their own failure patterns, cracked or impact-damaged domes, curb seal failure, and the surface crazing that acrylic and polycarbonate glazing develop under sustained UV exposure, and our crews diagnose which one is actually happening before recommending a fix. Whether a dome just needs resealing at the curb or the glazing itself has gone brittle, every visit starts with a free on-site evaluation and a written scope before any work begins.

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What Are Dome, Unit, and Polycarbonate Skylights?

A dome skylight is a clear or translucent plastic dome mounted on a curb that is flashed into the roof. The curved shape sheds water and debris, and the plastic is light enough to span openings that would need heavy framing in glass. Most dome skylights are made from acrylic or polycarbonate, and many use two layers with an air space between them.

A unit skylight is a complete, factory-assembled skylight that arrives as a single piece: glazing, frame, and curb or flashing flange together. Unit skylights install faster than field-built systems and suit standard opening sizes. Our glass skylights page covers units glazed with glass, and this page covers units glazed with plastic.

Search terms for these products overlap, so here is how they map. A bubble skylight is a common name for an acrylic or polycarbonate dome. A plastic skylight is any skylight glazed with acrylic or polycarbonate. An acrylic skylight dome is a dome made from acrylic, and a polycarbonate skylight is one made from polycarbonate. They are the same family of products, and the right one depends on the roof and the space.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) rates skylights for U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, and visible transmittance, and those ratings let you compare one dome or unit against another. In Phoenix, solar heat gain deserves the closest look because cooling load drives energy cost. For help matching light levels to a space, our daylighting consulting service covers glazing selection.

Where Dome and Unit Skylights Work Best

Dome and unit skylights suit large, low-slope commercial roofs where many openings share a budget. Common uses include warehouse and industrial skylights, distribution centers, retail centers, gyms, and school and education facilities. If you need ventilation or smoke control, see retractable and operable skylights and smoke vents and roof hatches.

Acrylic vs Polycarbonate Skylight Domes: Material Comparison

Acrylic and polycarbonate are the two plastics behind most dome skylights, and each ages differently in strong sun. This table compares them side by side so you can pick the right dome for your roof.

	Acrylic Dome	Polycarbonate Dome
Also searched as	Acrylic skylight, acrylic skylight dome, bubble skylight	Polycarbonate skylight, plastic skylight
Clarity in sun	Holds clarity well in strong UV	Can yellow or haze in UV unless it has a UV-resistant layer
Impact resistance	Lower, and can crack under impact	Higher, and suits roofs exposed to hail or debris
Common failures	Cracking and crazing with age	Yellowing, hazing, and surface scratching
Light options	Clear, white, and tinted	Clear, white, and tinted
Best fit	Clear daylight where impact risk is low	Impact-prone roofs and high-traffic roof areas

Product specifications vary by manufacturer and by dome layer, so confirm each rating on the submittal for your unit.

Dome Skylight Repair, Restoration, and Replacement

We match the fix to the failure. A leak at a gasket needs a different repair than a cracked dome, and a hazy dome on a sound curb often needs a new dome and not a new skylight. Strong Arizona sun is hard on plastic glazing, and monsoon storms test every seal.

Dome Skylight Repair

Dome skylight repair stops active leaks and secures loose parts. Repairs include replacing gaskets, resealing the dome-to-curb joint, re-flashing the curb, and replacing corroded or missing fasteners. Our commercial skylight repair page covers the full repair process.

Skylight Restoration and Wet Sealing

When the dome is sound but the seals have worn, restoration extends its life. Skylight restoration and wet sealing renews the sealed joints at the dome, the curb, and the flashing. It does not fix a yellowed, cracked, or brittle dome, so we inspect the plastic first.

Dome and Unit Skylight Replacement

Replacement makes sense when repair cannot hold. Yellowed or brittle domes, cracks, repeated leaks at the same curb, and corroded frames all point that way. Depending on what the evaluation finds, replacement covers the dome on an existing curb, the whole unit, or the unit and the curb. See commercial skylight replacement for how we plan the work.

New Dome and Unit Skylight Installation

We install new dome and unit skylights in new construction and as retrofits in existing roofs. A retrofit means cutting a new opening or enlarging an existing one, framing the curb, and flashing it into the roof membrane. Details are on our commercial skylight installation page.

Signs You Need Dome Skylight Repair or Replacement

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

Yellowed or hazy plastic: UV breaks down plastic over time, and a dome that has gone yellow or cloudy lets in less usable daylight.
Cracks or crazing: Fine surface cracks (crazing) and full cracks weaken the dome and let water in.
Brittle plastic: A dome that cracks when touched or flexed has reached the end of its service life.
Water stains or drips under the skylight: These usually point to a failed gasket, worn sealant, or flashing pulled away from the curb.
Moisture or dirt between the layers of a double dome: This means the seal between the layers has failed.
Loose, missing, or corroded fasteners: Wind can lift a dome that is not held down properly.
Sealant that is cracked, shrunken, or peeling: Sealant ages in heat and UV and stops keeping water out.
Rising cooling cost or glare under the skylight: An old clear dome may let in more heat than the space needs.

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

Fall Protection for Dome and Unit Skylights

Treat every dome skylight as a hole in the roof. Plastic domes are not built to carry a person, and an old, 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 near domes on commercial roofs, so guards matter on every building with plastic skylights. We install skylight fall protection, guards, and screens on new and existing dome and unit skylights, and we can add them during a repair or replacement visit.

Dome, Unit & Polycarbonate Skylight Manufacturers We Work With

A dome skylight is only as good as the curb it sits on and the glazing material behind it, which is why Sky Design Concepts doesn’t push a single brand across every roof. We specify, install, and service these systems based on what the building actually needs.

Kingspan Light + Air and VELUX Commercial cover the bulk of our standard dome and unit installs, backed by factory certification on both lines. American Skylights rounds out our options for straightforward acrylic and polycarbonate domes sized to common commercial curbs, while Acralight steps in when a project needs a dome profile that isn’t sitting on a shelf anywhere. For warehouse floors where even light distribution matters more than a traditional dome shape, Sunoptics prismatic units are often the better fit, and when a roof also needs smoke vents or hatches, we pull those from Bilco. See the full manufacturers page for product-level detail on each brand we represent.

What Affects the Cost of a Dome or Unit Skylight Project

Dome and unit 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 a joint costs less than replacing a dome, and replacing a dome costs less than replacing a unit and its curb.
Size and number of units: Larger openings and more skylights add material and labor.
Material and layers: Acrylic or polycarbonate, single or double dome, and clear, white, or tinted plastic all change unit cost.
Manufacturer and product line: Different lines carry different specifications and prices.
Curb and roof condition: A damaged curb or deteriorated flashing adds work.
Roof access and building use: Roof height, lift needs, and work-hour limits all affect labor.

If you are comparing plastic against other glazing, see our glass skylights, fiberglass and Kalwall-type skylights, tubular skylights, and translucent wall and roof assemblies pages. For the full list, see our commercial skylight systems.

Our Dome Skylight Process

Every dome 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 plastic glazing, gaskets, fasteners, curb, and flashing, and we check how the skylight 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.
Glazing and system selection: For replacement or new installation, we match the material, dome layers, light diffusion, and manufacturer to the building.
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 or unit, 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 dome and unit 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 dome and unit skylight projects.
Five manufacturers, one recommendation: We install Kingspan Light + Air, VELUX Commercial, Sunoptics, Acralight, and American Skylights, so the dome or unit we specify fits your roof.
One contractor from repair to replacement: Dome 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
Local Guide · Google

★★★★★

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 Dome, Unit & Polycarbonate Skylight Service in Phoenix & Across Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and West Texas

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

We are proud to provide dome, unit, and polycarbonate 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 Dome, Unit & Polycarbonate Skylights Today

A yellowed, cracked, or leaking dome 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, gasket, curb, and flashing 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 dome skylight?

A dome skylight is a plastic dome, usually acrylic or polycarbonate, mounted on a roof curb to admit daylight. The curved shape sheds water, and many domes use two layers with an air space between them. We install, repair, and replace them on commercial roofs. See our commercial skylight installation page for details.

Is a bubble skylight the same as a dome skylight?

Yes, a bubble skylight is a common name for a dome skylight. The name comes from the rounded shape of the acrylic or polycarbonate dome. Contractors and manufacturers use the term dome, and many property managers search for bubble skylight, so both refer to the same product.

What is the difference between acrylic and polycarbonate skylights?

Acrylic holds clarity well in strong sun, and polycarbonate resists impact better. Polycarbonate can yellow or haze in UV unless it has a UV-resistant layer, and acrylic can crack under impact. We help you choose based on your roof, your climate exposure, and how the space uses light.

What is a unit skylight?

A unit skylight is a factory-assembled skylight that arrives as one piece with its glazing, frame, and curb or flashing flange. Unit skylights install quickly and fit standard opening sizes. We install both plastic-glazed units and glass skylights.

How do I know if my plastic skylight needs to be replaced?

Replace a plastic skylight when the dome is yellowed, cracked, or brittle, or when leaks keep returning at the same curb. Those signs mean the plastic or the curb has reached the end of its service life. A free on-site evaluation confirms whether repair or replacement fits. For a deeper look, read Repair, Restore, or Replace?

Can you replace just the dome and keep the curb?

Yes, when the curb and flashing are sound, a dome can often be replaced without replacing the curb. We check the curb, flashing, and roof tie-in during the evaluation before recommending that scope. See commercial skylight replacement.

Do dome skylights need fall protection?

Yes, a dome skylight 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.

Which manufacturers do you install for dome and unit skylights?

We install dome and unit skylights from Kingspan Light + Air, VELUX Commercial, Sunoptics, Acralight, and American Skylights. Each brand has its own product lines, and we match the line to your roof. See every brand on our manufacturers page.

How much does dome skylight repair or replacement cost?

Cost depends on the repair or replacement scope, the material, the number of layers, unit size, 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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