This article ends with several easy suggestions for skylight repair and prevention. For instance, when installing skylight over an asbestos gable roof, the loose skylight flashings may be filled with felt to hide the leak. However, if this is not done, then the skylight will eventually sag and allow the water in, causing the damage.

preventing skylight leaks

The first thing to do to prevent skylight leaks is to make sure the roof is properly flashing. This can be done using a high quality spray bottle to spray the flashing directly onto the skylight. Be sure that the flashing is completely covered by the ceiling and any surrounding walls. If this is not done properly then you may get a false leak, especially in high winds. In addition, improper flashing creates the potential for moisture to enter into the skylight and increase the risk of mold and mildew growing in the skylight area.

finding the cause of your skylight leak

To determine the cause of the skylight leaks, you will also need to inspect the skylight itself. Some skylight leaks will have nothing to do with the ceiling or flashing around the skylight, but rather have come from some sort of penetrations within the ceiling itself. These penetrations may come in the form of nails or screws. Any penetrations need to be sealed to stop the water from coming in. If the damage has come from penetrations, then the best way to fix it is to replace these penetrations with something else. However, in many cases the damage is self-repairing as the area will quickly repair itself if it is properly taped and caulked.

skylight damaged or faulty install

In cases where the skylight itself is causing the problem, then there are several different ways to fix this problem. First, most people will caulhen and tape the edges of the skylight to keep out any water and moisture. This is often referred to as “bulb sealing.” In cases where the problem is caused by moisture penetrating the flashing or insulation then you will need to use a product such as “wind seal” or “uv caulking,” which is sold in most home improvement stores. These products are designed to allow any moisture that might accumulate in the edges of the skylight to escape through these seals.

skylight aging or bad flashing

In addition, many skylight leaks can be found in older homes with poor flashing and insulation. While it is usually not possible to repair or replace the actual skylight itself, there are things you can do to fix this problem on your own. For example, skylight leaks can often be solved by placing some insulation inside of the opening of the skylight to stop any leaks from occurring. You can also place some sort of flashing on the outside of the window to stop any condensation from forming.

In most cases, skylight leaks will not stop you from using your skylight. In fact, they are often easily resolved without professional help. You may simply have to do a little more of your own home improvement, such as putting in a new shutter or adding some sort of skylight installation mesh. Many of these items can easily be found at any home improvement store and will add a lot of extra comfort and enjoyment to your skylight experience. You may even find that you want to go out and purchase skylight leaks!