Can You Seal a Leaking Skylight?
Skylights are a great way to add natural light to your home. However, older versions of skylights come with issues of leaking and cracking. We often get calls from homeowners asking “Can you seal a leaking skylight?” Unfortunately, a leaking skylight cannot be sealed to prevent further leaking and we’ll explain why.
Diagnosing a Leaking Skylight
If you have concerns about a skylight leaking, it’s important to understand that there are a number of reasons your skylight may appear to be leaking:
- Condensation: If a skylight is in a room that is prone to condensation, such as a bathroom, the visible water may just be condensed water vapor. If that’s the case you’ll need to improve ventilation to prevent excess moisture. If the skylight is not properly insulated, it can develop condensation that can drip down and appear to be a leak. This can be remedied by adding insulation around the skylight.
- Roof damage: A damaged roof can cause water to seep in and around the skylight, leading to leaks. In this case, fixing the roof is necessary to stop the leak.
- Flashing issues: Flashing is the metal strip that surrounds the skylight and helps prevent water from seeping in. If the flashing is damaged or installed incorrectly, it can allow water to enter the skylight.
- Aging: As a skylight ages, the seals around the edges can begin to degrade and cause leaks.
If the cause of the leak is related to a damaged roof or faulty flashing, it’s important to address those issues first. If the leak is due to condensation, adding insulation around the skylight can help. If the skylight is simply aging and starting to degrade, sealing it may provide a temporary fix, but it’s important to remember that it may need to be replaced in the near future.
The best way to locate the issue is by contacting a licensed professional that is skilled at installing skylights. It’s important to note that not all roofing companies can install skylights properly. You will want a company that has been trained and meets the installation requirements set by VELUX skylights.
Can You Seal a Leaking Skylight
If your skylight is leaking from old age or installation error than the best course of action is to replace the skylight and install it properly. Attempting to seal the skylight with a caulking gun and silicone or cement will only serve as a temporary fix and will not prevent the skylight from continuing to leak. If the skylight is cracked, has gapping at the point of flashing, or is incorrectly installed, then we recommend replacing the skylight and saving yourself from worse damage down the road. If it’s time to replace your roof, then it’s most likely also time to replace your skylights. When we do a new roof installation, we advise homeowners to also replace their skylights.
Finding a Memphis Skylight Installer
When trying to diagnose issues with your skylight it’s best to seek professional advice. Our team at Restoration Roofing is skilled at replacing and installing VELUX skylights to ensure that you have a leak free roof for years to come. If you’re looking for an experienced, certified, and reliable skylight installer in the Memphis area, look no further than Restoration Roofing. We have been serving our customers since 2016, and we take great pride in our customer satisfaction.
Our team of experts is here to help you with all your skylight installation needs. We offer free estimates and are happy to answer any questions that you may have about skylights or other products that we offer at our company. We believe that every client should feel comfortable with their choice of contractor, so we work hard to make sure that everyone who works with us feels confident in the decisions they make when choosing us as their installer.
If you’re looking for a reliable skylight installer in Memphis, Tn area contact us today!
