Skylight Repair

Skylights require immediate attention. Many skylight leaks begin when water makes its way under gaps in the skylight itself, into the flashing around the skylight, or the flat roof membrane that goes up the curb. When this water freezes, and in Quebec freezing temperatures are a given, it will expand causing the gap to widen. Skylights can also leak due to improper installation. Leaking should be addressed immediately by a professional. Don’t risk climbing on your roof and always seek expert advice.

Great question. And not too soon. A leaking skylight is never a good thing.

Failing to call a roofing professional to get it fixed fast, means the next monsoon downpour could cause thousands of dollars in water damage to your home. Nobody wants that.

Skylights are notoriously difficult to seal properly. Unfortunately, once there’s a leak, fixing is difficult. At the risk of repeating ourselves, you’re going to need a professional roofer. If you don’t have one on speed-dial, there are a couple things you can try yourself to rule out smaller issues.

Condensation

Water from inside your home can condense on the skylight, where it then pools and drips. Condensation requires certain factors, though. Let’s see if any of these could apply to your situation:

• Your skylight is in or near a room with lots of moisture. Bathrooms are great examples.
• Your skylight is single-glazed
• You have a caulking issue around the glass

Leaking

Just like a window, skylights are essentially a pane of glass that’s surrounded by a frame, which is commonly made from metal. Leaks can occur:

• Between the glass and the frame because your seal is worn or weathered
• Between the frame and the roof. Here, this becomes a roofing problem and the cause is one of two: your skylight wasn’t installed correctly or the flashing and seal around it are worn out.

If you caulk around the glass with clear silicone caulk, you may be able to repair leaking between the glass and frame of a skylight. However, this means water has infiltrated the seal so your skylight may look permanently foggy from the moisture between glass panes. The ideal solution is a new skylight.

Professional help

It’s a common assumption that all skylights will eventually leak. Yes, and no. Sure, materials have an expected lifespan, but a properly installed and well maintained skylight could outlast your roof. True story. Hire an experienced roofer that understands the work. If he’s honest—he should be!—he’ll tell you if a reliable skylight repair is possible.

Sensing you need a new skylight? We can help you pick and choose the product that fits your needs, then make sure your skylight installation is done right, for the long haul.