Skylight Repair in North Dallas: stop the drip around the skylight

Where skylights leak

• The uphill side. Water, leaves, and debris pile up against the top of the skylight. If the flashing there is short or the debris holds water, it backs up under the shingles.
• Side flashing that was sealed with caulk instead of stepped in with the shingles, or that has pulled away from the frame.
• Old sealant and gaskets on the skylight frame itself, which dry out and crack after years of Texas sun.
• Cracked domes on older plastic skylights, often after hail.

Is it a leak or condensation?

Before we touch the roof, we rule out condensation. On a cold morning, warm, humid air inside the house hits the cold glass and turns to water, which drips and looks a lot like a leak. Condensation shows up in cold weather whether or not it has rained, and it usually beads across the whole pane. A real leak shows up during or after rain and tends to start at a corner or along one edge. If it's condensation, a roofer can't fix it, and we'll tell you so.

Repair the flashing or replace the skylight?

If the skylight is in good shape and the leak is at the flashing, we reflash and reseal it and repair the shingles around it. If the glass is fogged between the panes, the dome is cracked, or the frame is rotted, the skylight itself needs replacing, and that's a job for a skylight company. Once they set the new unit, we can flash it into the roof. If you're replacing the whole roof, plan on new flashing at every skylight. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is a common source of the first leak on a new roof. See roof replacement.

What skylight repair costs

Reflashing and resealing a skylight is a repair, well short of the cost of a new roof. The price depends on the size of the skylight, the roof pitch, and whether water has rotted the curb or decking around it. You get a firm written quote after the free inspection, before any work starts. If hail cracked the dome or damaged the flashing, our storm damage team can help with the claim. For leaks in other spots on the roof, see roof leak repair.