Problem
A leaking skylight is usually a flashing problem
Water under a skylight usually got in at the curb, the flashing, or the cricket above the unit—not through the glass. Caulk on the pane does not fix a flashing gap, and it can hide the real path until the next rain.
Signs we look for
- Stains on the well, drywall, or ceiling immediately under the unit
- Drips after wind-driven rain even when the glass looks intact
- Cracked or missing flashing at the upslope side
- Old tar or caulk built up around the frame
Why it happens
Skylights move with the roof. Screws back out, gaskets dry, and flashing woven into old shingles gets disturbed during a prior repair. Ice and debris against the curb in Minnesota and Illinois make it worse. In Kansas and Missouri, hail can dent the flashing without breaking the glass.
What we do next
We inspect the skylight, the curb, and the shingles around it. The job may be a flashing reset, a new unit, or a larger roof repair if that side of the house is worn out. You see that in writing before anyone opens the roof.
What not to do
Do not keep adding roof cement around the glass. It traps water and makes the next inspection harder. Catch drips inside if it is safe, photograph the well, and ask us to look.
Services that address this
Markets where we see this often
Related: All roof problems · Request an estimate.
People also ask
Can you repair a skylight without replacing the roof?
- Often yes, if the leak is at the curb or flashing and the shingles around it still have life. If that whole side of the roof is worn out, a larger job usually makes more sense.
Topic cluster
More on repair versus replacement
Repair fits when the failure is isolated and the rest of the roof still has life. Replacement fits when wear or storm damage covers several slopes, leaks keep returning, or the deck is involved. The inspection answers that before anyone writes a contract. Full topic.
Next step
Request an inspection for this problem
Send the address, the storm date if you have it, and what you have noticed. We inspect, then give you a replacement or repair price. Your insurance company decides what they pay.