Having a skylight in your home allows natural sunlight to brighten your space on clear days and provides the chance to enjoy the rain while staying dry during the monsoon season. However, if your skylight begins to leak, it’s crucial to address the issue immediately. Even a small leak can lead to water accumulation, which can eventually cause the roof decking to rot. Many contractors emphasize that repairing a skylight is not a DIY-friendly task and should be handled by professionals. However, homeowners will know how to fix a leaking if they seal it and find the majority of the leaks with the correct tools. To learn how to properly fix the skylight at your home, check out the details in this content.
What Forces the Skylight to Leak?
A leak in the skylight can take place for many reasons, some of which are listed below:
Cold Climate
The skylight will start leaking because of the cold weather conditions, which normally happens because of condensation. When hot air has an element of moisture mixed with the cold surface, it makes the water drip into the room where the roof window or skylight is situated.
To determine if condensation is causing the leak, observe the skylight or roof window during different weather conditions. If you notice moisture or wetness during cold temperatures when there hasn’t been any rain, it likely indicates that condensation is the issue. In this case, a condensation assessment is necessary.
There are other ways you can identify if it’s a condensation issue when you notice the interior windows are fogged, peeling paint, and the presence of mildew or mold. Drying of clothes and cooking can also lead to condensation, especially when your home doesn’t have proper ventilation systems to eliminate the moist and warm air.
Heavy Rainfall
Heavy rain can also cause leakage in the skylight. When the skylight starts leaking during the rain, it’s not because of condensation. This mainly happens when the home is old or if it has structural damage. During such situations, you must contact a certified roof inspector and get the skylight properly inspected.
Caulking can crack or shrink, flashing with rust over time; seals will start rotting if you let water inside your residence. A roof inspector can help in such matters when you must constantly check the roof section for the issues mentioned here.
Although a house’s age is a key factor in skylight issues, particularly if the leak is due to problems with the flashing, replacing the entire skylight or roof window may be the only viable solution.
When you find small gaps in the flashing, sealing the skylight from the inside with an external silicone or caulking will help. Be sure to check the roof window or skylight for several weeks to confirm the repair was successful.
Leakage Between the Skylight Frame and Glass
Leaks can also take place between the frame and glass of the room window, but this is not a roof-related issue. It’s completely a skylight problem. This type of issue occurs when the weather seals start to shrink or dry off. If this starts to take place, you should get the skylight leak repair job done by using a waterproof sealant that will prevent the water from getting in.
When you’re getting the repair work done, you must use some caulking around the skylight’s glass. Conduct the repair during a dry day because the water in between the will roof window’s glass will start fogging up.
Fixing the Skylight/Roof Window: How to Do It?
When you want to fix the leaking skylight at your home, you can do so by checking out these pointers:
Find the Leak in the Skylight
Before you begin the leaking work, you must find the leak first. Water can get inside the house from anywhere, so you should look for small cracks in the corner of the skylight or in the glass. Once you identify these cracks, it becomes easier to proceed with the repair work.
Clean Up Before Repairing
You should clean up the sections around the affected area before making the repairs. Getting rid of all the debris and dirt will help with adhesion once you apply the roofing cement or sealant. Just imagine it as if you’re preparing a blank canvas before you start painting.
Using the Roofing Cement and Sealant
If the roof window or skylight has small cracks or fractures, a high-quality sealant designed for such issues can be used to address them. For larger holes and gaps, roofing cement is a more appropriate choice. Regardless of whether you’re using sealant or roofing cement, ensure that all leaking areas are thoroughly covered to prevent future problems.
Take Care of the Rubber Gaskets and Metal Flashings
It’s vital to check the metal flashings of the skylight because they play a massive part in keeping away all the moisture. Keep a check on its condition. If they have worn out or damaged, get them replaced immediately. On other hand, the rubber gaskets that constitute a watertight seal between the roof sheathing and added frame can get damaged as well. Replace it with a new one when yours has degraded through age.
Read also: Addressing Skylight Leaks: Repair Strategies and Preventative Measures
Conclusion
Including a skylight or roof window in any house can completely transform internal things. They will let in natural sunlight and even make the room much brighter. However, if it’s experiencing leaking problems, you should get it fixed by opting for the best skylight leak repair near me to prevent such issues from occurring again. At present, Roman Home Systems is offering top-notch services when it comes to fixing skylight leakage. The company has a unit of certified, knowledgeable, and skilled specialists who will take care of the leakage problem instantly. The company has over 10 years of experience and surely gets the work done on time.
