Why Do I Have a Leaky Skylight?
A skylight is an excellent source of both warmth and light for your home and it can enhance the overall appearance of your house as well as giving a little extra air when required. A number of factors can lead to a leaky skylight but the most common factor is an improperly fitted or installed skylight. This inadequacy is usually brought about because having a skylight fitted by a professional roofing contractor can cost a lot of money, and people tend to revert to a handyman or, often worse, doing it themselves. Lack of proper knowledge of construction regarding the skylight fitting and the roof surrounding it can lead to disastrous results. Even the inadequate fixing of an existing leaky skylight can make things worse.
Use a roofing contractor to fix your leaky skylight
Roofing contractors tend to charge quite a lot to fit a skylight because they would rather work on larger roof installments. That doesn't mean you can't find a reputable and skilled roofing contractor who will complete the job at a reasonable price. However, because fitting a skylight is a skilled job, as is all roofing, you will need to pay more to have one fitted by an expert when compared to paying a handy man to fit it.
Why is my skylight leaking?
The slightest hole, crack or blemish on the skylight, the panels surrounding the skylight or the roof can lead to a leaky skylight so it is important that whoever is fitting your skylight has a good knowledge of all these factors. Age, extreme conditions and accidents can also cause a leaky skylight and it is important to repair the leak as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the skylight, the roof and the inside of the house.
Condensation
Bear in mind that drips on the inside of your skylight do not necessarily mean you have a leaky skylight. Simple condensation can often look like a worse problem than it is. This is especially true in humid conditions. Dryers, washing machines, hot baths and even the occupants of the home can cause condensation to build up on inside the skylight and if this drips it will give the impression that you have a leaky skylight. This becomes even more pertinent when the weather gets colder outside. A build up of ice or snow on the outside of your skylight is a sure way to promote condensation inside the skylight and even a small crack means that this condensation can be in between the two panes of glass if you have double glazing.
The damage a leaky skylight can cause
A leaky skylight causes relatively minimal damage in the short term, but over the long term damage can become significant. So, make sure that the drops you saw coming off your skylight are actually condensation and not the first symptoms of a leak. You may end up having to replace wallpaper, carpets and even make structural repairs to the inside of your house (although only usually in extreme circumstances). A leaky skylight may also indicate that you have bigger problems with your roof so you should get someone out to check it as soon as possible.
October, 2005
Copyright 2005 Roofer 911.com. All Rights Reserved
by Steven Briesemeister. Reprinted courtesy of Roofer 911.com, roofing contractor serving Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, NY and northern Virginia.