What To Do If Your Skylight Starts Leaking
A dripping skylight can turn a quiet room into a mess fast. Before you panic, take a breath and follow a steady plan. Protect the space under the skylight, figure out whether you are seeing a true leak or just winter condensation, then schedule a proper fix. Eastern Roof Technologies is fully certified and licensed to install and service skylights across Lake Norman and the Greater Charlotte area. We can repair, re-flash, or replace the unit with the correct kit and a clean warranty path. If you want to see the products we install, visit our VELUX Skylights page.
Protect the room and take a few photos
- Move electronics and furniture. Lay down towels, set a bucket, and cover flooring with plastic if you have it.
- If a water bubble forms in the ceiling, place a bucket underneath and carefully relieve the lowest point so the water drains in a controlled way.
- Take clear photos of the stain, the skylight shaft, the frame, and a wide shot of the room. If it is safe, snap a photo of the skylight from the ground outside. These photos help with diagnosis and insurance later.
Is it a leak or is it condensation
Skylights sit at a meeting point of warm indoor air and cold outdoor air. In winter, the shaft can chill down and water can condense on the inside surfaces. That looks a lot like a leak, but it behaves differently.
- Signs of condensation: Dampness across the whole skylight well after very cold nights, fog on the glass, frost on attic nail tips nearby, and no single track line on the drywall. Improving ventilation and insulation often solves this.
- Signs of a true leak: A stain that tracks from one corner or side, drips that line up with heavy rain or wind, or visible water where the roof meets the skylight frame.
If you are not sure, we will sort it out for you. Contact Eastern Roof Technologies.
Common problems we find around leaking skylights
- Aged gaskets and glass seals. Older units can fog between panes or let water in along the frame.
- Improper or missing flashing. The metal that steps water around the skylight may be pieced together wrong or buried under shingles during a past reroof.
- No kick-out flashing at a nearby wall. Water can run behind the cladding and drop into the skylight area.
- Roof overlays. A second shingle layer creates steps that catch water and snow at the skylight curb.
- Poor attic airflow. Warm, moist air trapped in the shaft leads to condensation that stains drywall and trim.
What to do next: repair, re-flash, or replace
We keep the advice simple and practical. Fix what is broken. Upgrade when the unit is at the end of its life. Align the roof and skylight timelines so you do not have to open the roof twice.
- Repair fits small items. For example, resealing a lifted shingle course, setting a repair collar on a cracked pipe boot near the skylight, or tightening exposed fasteners. Start with a roof repair visit if you think the problem is minor.
- Re-flash is the right call when the metal details were installed incorrectly or were buried during a previous roof job. We remove the suspect metal and install a matched VELUX flashing kit for your roof pitch and material. This is the step that earns the “no leak” label.
- Replace when seals have failed, the glass is fogged, the frame is distorted, or leaks return season after season. Modern VELUX units, with the correct flashing and underlayment, perform better, vent smoother, and come with strong warranties. See the models we install on our VELUX Skylights page.
Timing and weather windows
Skylight work needs dry surfaces. In winter or a wet week, we stabilize first, then return on the next safe day for permanent work. Many replacements finish in a single day per unit. Interior paint or drywall touch-ups may add a little time, and we will tell you that up front.
Fixed or venting, and why it matters
Fixed skylights are simple and bright. Fewer moving parts and plenty of daylight. Venting skylights add fresh air to steamy bathrooms, busy kitchens, and high ceiling spaces. If you are replacing an older unit that has always made the room too warm, we can pair the skylight with factory shades to control heat and glare without giving up the daylight you wanted in the first place. Ask us about the best match for your room when you book.
How our skylight service visit works
- On-site check. Quick walk-through inside, photos, and a ladder check outside if safe.
- Diagnosis. We separate leak from condensation and find the exact entry point.
- Stabilize if needed. Temporary cover or a targeted patch so you stay dry while we schedule the permanent fix.
- Clear plan and price. Repair, re-flash, or replacement.
- Permanent work. VELUX skylight with the correct flashing kit and underlayment sequence, finished and documented with after photos.
Insurance and simple documentation
- Keep your before and after photos, dates, and any invoices in a single folder.
- If a storm triggered the issue, we can provide a short summary of cause and fix you can share with your carrier.
Why choose Eastern Roof Technologies for skylights
- We install, replace, and repair VELUX skylights and Sun Tunnels across Lake Norman and Greater Charlotte.
- Matched flashing kits for your roof type and pitch, not guesswork on the roof.
- Licensed and insured crew with a photo report for your records.
- Straight answers on repair versus replacement. We treat your home the way we want ours treated.
Quick answers
Do venting skylights leak more than fixed skylights
No. With the correct VELUX flashing kit and underlayment, both types are built to shed water. Venting simply adds airflow control.
Can you re-flash an older skylight without replacing it
Often yes if the frame and glass are still sound. When seals have failed or the unit is past its service life, replacement is the better spend.
Should I replace skylights when I replace my roof
It is smart to align the timelines. New roof plus new skylight creates one clean system and avoids tearing into a finished roof later.
How fast can you respond after a storm
Same day or next day stabilization is common when access and weather allow. Permanent work follows in the next dry window.
