• By Liam Ridings
• In Blog, Metal Roofing, Renovation
• Tags roof repairs

Who Repairs Skylights?

Skylights are a valuable asset to any home – roof lights allow for maximised natural light within a room, increase ventilation, and can make any space appear larger than it actually is. Skylights are light-transmitting structures that are installed in roofing panels, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. Most homeowners will install skylights to provide additional daylight and air circulation.

When a skylight becomes damaged, the entire roofing system is vulnerable, and the interiors of your home may not be protected from the exteriors. When this is the case, skylights require immediate repair to avoid the structural integrity of a property becoming compromised. But who repairs skylights?

Who Repairs Skylights?

Considering skylights are elements installed into roofing materials, a professional roofing company will be the team who repairs skylights on both commercial and residential properties. With improper installation and repairs being one of the most common causes of a faulty skylight, DIY skylight repairs are definitely not recommended. Skylights are complicated roofing structures that require the attention of a roofing professional who has both in-depth knowledge and experience of working on skylights.

Relying on a professional to repair your skylight means relying on an experienced, skilled and qualified roofer who will ensure the use of high-quality materials and craftsmanship. While it might be tempting to try and save some money by undergoing DIY repairs or hiring a cheap handyman, hiring a roofing company who repairs skylights for a living will end up saving you money down the road by getting it right the first time around.

Once you have a reoccurring skylight issue or your skylight becomes susceptible to roof leaks, the problem will not disappear until you engage with a roofer who repairs skylights regularly. Furthermore, if you leave the skylight leak to progress, it will cause significant damage to the surrounding roofing materials, sealing, and interiors of the room below. The longer you leave a skylight leak before repair, the more extensive the damage can become.

Common Skylight Repairs

As skylights essentially create a hole in a roof, skylights can easily become vulnerable to leaks and roofing damage. While some skylight problems can be quite obvious and easy to diagnose, many will require a full assessment and inspection to work out why your skylight may need repairs.

The most common skylight issues are leaks. Because skylights interrupt and penetrate the surface of a roof, the areas become particularly prone to leaking. A common skylight issue faced is when rainwater flows down the roofing, collects at the top of the skylight, build-up, and eventually begins to infiltrate and begin to drip inside the house.

The most common causes of skylight damage and skylight repairs include:

• Improper installation or Repair

• Storm Damage

• Lack of Maintenance

• Build-up of debris damaging material’s

• Water infiltration

• Natural disaster

Regardless of what has caused the need for skylight repairs, the necessary repairs must be made immediately. The longer you leave a damaged skylight, the more time you leave for other parts of the roof and house to become damaged.

How to Fix A Broken Skylight

How to fix a broken skylight or a skylight suffering from leaks really depends on the type of damage and the style of the skylight. Depending on the shape, size, type and style of the skylight, skylight repairs will vary.

The different types of skylights that may require various repair methods include:

• Tubular

• Dome

• Fixed

• Manual ventilating

• Electronic opening

• Solar-powered

When tubular skylights become damaged, the culprit is often in the underlying structure. This means that there will need to be significant work to repair the structure within the roof cavity, rather than a simple sealing solution.

Fixed skylights, on the other hand, are very simple to repair. Fixed skylights are relatively straightforward designs, and if suffering a leak, will generally just require a replacement of the flashing materials.

If your ventilating skylight requires repairs, the method of repair will depend on the type of ventilation method. Manual ventilating skylights may require flashing replacement, electronic skylights may require minor electrical configuration, and solar-powered skylight repairs may involve repairing solar panels or the connectivity between skylight and panels.

Repairing Leaking Skylights

If the skylight is suffering from a leak, one of the first things to address is the flashing. The flashing surrounds the skylight pane, seals the skylight panel, and prevent water from flowing through. Flashings are generally the section of the skylight where water has infiltrated; whether it be from poor installation or damage to the flashing materials. If there are any issues with the skylight flashing or sealing, a roofing contractor will likely use some caulking or roofing cement to ensure water will not enter the skylight hole again.

A roofing contractor will also ensure that all surrounding roofing shingles and sheets are in good condition and no materials are broken, missing or damaged. Any holes, open seams or joints will need to be adequately repaired, with the appropriate materials and repair methods.

Skylight Repair or Replace?

So, should you go for a skylight repair or replace it altogether? A common misconception is that once your skylight becomes damaged, it cannot be repaired and will need to be entirely replaced. This is not true! Believe it or not, with the right roofing professionals, repairs can leave you with a skylight as good as new.

Even if you need to replace some of the skylight parts, this can be achieved without undergoing a full skylight replacement. Depending on what is causing the problems with your skylight, a repair and a supplementary roof maintenance plan should be more than enough to keep your skylight lasting for years to come.

Vertec Roofing – The Skylight Repair Experts

A skylight is an excellent addition to any space. Increasing the natural light, decreasing energy bills, adding visual appeal and allowing air to circulate; skylight installation comes with many benefits. However, with the addition of a skylight, comes the risk of a leak in your roof. Skylight leaks can generally be avoided with roofing inspections and maintenance. If you do find that your skylight requires a repair, call Vertec Roofing.

Vertec are the leading specialists in roof leak detection, roof repairs and skylight damage. A team of roofing experts who repairs skylights regularly, we offer both experience and extensive knowledge into skylights and repairs for skylights. If you’re in Sydney and are looking for a reliable, professional and affordable skylight repair service, look no further than Vertec Roofing. We are confident that we can help every home find the perfect roofing solution.