Skylights are a great addition to any home. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they can also provide much needed natural lighting to an otherwise stuffy room. Unfortunately, they can also cause many issues when they become damaged. For example, a leaky skylight can cause major problems if left unchecked. Mold, damaged framing, electrical issues — you name it. You want to get this fixed right away, but before you can fix it you need to figure out exactly what is causing the leak. To help get you started, here are 5 reasons why your skylight could be leaking.
Your roof can often take quite a beating during storms. Over time, this can cause damage to your skylight ranging from cracked glass to damaged sealant. Sometimes this damage is merely cosmetic, but more often than not it leads to leakage. Be sure to periodically check on your skylights — especially after bad storms — to make sure that there aren’t any obvious signs of damage.
Sometimes the flashing is improperly installed from the start. You may not notice the leak right away, but it’s only a matter of time before it starts happening. You always want a professional roofing contractor to install your skylight. When not done right they are often more trouble than they’re worth.
Occasionally the leak is coming from inside the house. This happens when condensation builds up on the underside of your skylight due to lack of proper insulation. If your skylight is consistently leaking even on days when you don’t get any significant rain, this is likely the culprit.
During particularly heavy snowfall your flashing may not be up to the task of keeping all that moisture out. That doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with it. The best way to prevent this is to remove snow from your roof before it can build up with something like a roof rake.
The metal part around your skylight connecting it to the roof is called the flashing. The flashing is meant to direct water away from the skylight instead of allowing it to build up around the wooden frame. This is absolutely essential to preventing leaks. Over time the flashing corrodes and rusts, meaning it can’t effectively do its job. The only solution to this is to have a roofing contractor replace it with new flashing. The upside is that modern flashing is much more weather-resistant, meaning you probably won’t have to worry about replacing it again for a long while.
So, there are 5 reasons why your skylight could be leaking. In order to determine the exact cause, it’s best to consult with a professional roofing contractor. Waiting too long could expose your home to significant water damage, so this is not something that you want to sit on. In general, the longer you wait to fix it the costlier it will be. If you’re currently dealing with a leaky skylight, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at All-Nu construction. You can contact us today for a free quote.