Do you have rooms in your home that use a skylight to get natural light into the space? If so, know that it is possible for a skylight to leak over time. Here is why this part of your roof can develop a leak and how it can be fixed.
Condensation
One thing to consider is the climate that your home is located in. Any place where it is cold outside is likely going to have the heat on to make the interior feel comfortable. Unfortunately, that hot air will rise and collect at the top of a room. If you have a skylight, all that hot air is going to come into contact with the very cold glass. Most skylights will have a part known as the condensation channel that will catch the water, but that channel may overflow or be cracked, which would cause what appears to be a leak. Thankfully, this could be an easy problem to deal with. Try running a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in the air during the winter.
Bad Sealant
If the problem isn't condensation, it's likely due to the skylight actually leaking. There are many places where water can get into your home, such as the window's frame if it is old, damaged, or cracked. Fixing the problem may be as simple as applying a new sealant around the glass to keep the water out.
Bad Flashing
The leak may be caused by bad flashing around the skylight. If the flashing has become damaged over the years, you will need to get a roofing contractor out to your home to make the necessary repairs.
The solution will be to reseal the flashing that surrounds the window. It will require that the shingles located around the flashing material are removed and replaced in order to ensure that a good seal has formed.
Roof Leak
It is possible that water is getting in from a roof leak much higher up on your roof. If water is getting beneath the shingles at a place above where the skylight is located, the water could be getting in from the roof deck and traveling underneath the flashing. Consider having your roof inspected to find the source of the leak since it may not be obvious where it is located. This is another task that can be done by a local roofer.
To learn more, contact a roofing repair contractor.
When you build a home or make a large addition to the home, you will hire a general contractor to oversee the project and do the majority of the work. This individual may subcontract some small tasks to specialists, such as window installers and HVAC techs, but for the most part, it is their responsibility to ensure everything is built according to plan.
As you can imagine, general contractors have very varied jobs. No two days are alike! On this website, you will learn more about what general contractors do, which will come in handy the next time you need to hire one.