Skylights are amazing features to have in your home. Not only are they practical, but they’re also extremely aesthetically pleasing and can help to add a substantial amount of value to your property as well.
As great as skylights are for natural sunlight, fresh air, (in some cases) and aesthetics, they do require a fair amount of maintenance when compared with regular windows in your home. This maintenance is largely to protect them from leaks.
Leaking skylights always seem to rear their ugly heads at the most inopportune times. The last thing any skylight owner wants is to be dealing with a leaking skylight. Usually, the main culprit for a leaking skylight is a damaged or perished seal. If the seal fails and allows rainwater to seep into your home, it can cause a great deal of damage, inside and out. The good news is that maintaining and replacing a skylight seal is not a particularly complex or costly procedure.
Here’s a skylight inspection and replacement guide to help you prevent skylight leaks in the home.
What are Skylights?
Before we can address what skylight seals are and how they function, we first need to understand what skylights are.
Skylights come in a variety of different designs, including fixed or vented. They are essentially windows which are attached to your ceiling instead of the walls.
Skylights are mainly designed to improve the ambience and aesthetics of a home’s interior, by allowing more natural sunlight to flood into the home. In the case of vented skylights, which can be opened slightly, they also let fresh air in and allow it to circulate, while allowing moisture and humidity to escape.
What are Skylight Seals?
Because skylights are fitted more closely to horizontally, rather than vertically, they’re prone to leaking as they’re constantly exposed to the elements.
As rain falls from the sky it pools and collects on and around the skylight. It is the job of the skylight seals to keep them watertight and prevent rainwater from penetrating into the home. As the name implies, skylight seals are designed to create a watertight seal between where the roof connects to the skylight itself.
Typically, these seals are made from silicone or other weather-resistant materials to help protect the skylights from the weather. As strong and durable as these materials are, however, they don’t work miracles. Eventually, if they aren’t cared for and maintained, they will begin to perish. When they succumb to damage from the elements, that is when your skylight develops a leak.
As well as helping to prevent water from getting into the home, skylight seals are also designed to help keep warm air in and prevent cool air from getting in from the outside. If your skylight seal has failed, the skylight won’t be as energy efficient, and your home will be cooler in the winter and your energy bills will increase.
Common Skylight Seal Issues to Identify
If you own a skylight in your home, experts recommend that you regularly have your skylights and their seals inspected. This can be carried out by a professional if you arrange for it, or if you’re able to do so safely and competently, you can carry out the inspections yourself.
As far as how often you should inspect your skylights and their seals, experts recommend at least twice per year. Ideally, this should be before the winter, and after the winter. This is because harsh winter weather can really do a number on your seals, although so too, can strong summer sunshine.
When carrying out any skylight inspection, especially when it comes to the seals, it’s important to know what to watch out for. Once you’re safely able to inspect the skylight, look for any visible signs of damage. If any of the glass, frame, seal, or flashing is damaged for example, this is likely going to be the source of your leak. Even if it isn’t yet leaking, if there is any damage it won’t be long until there is.
You should also check for any signs of water in the house, or on the inside of the skylight. It could be that your skylight is leaking slightly and that the water isn’t yet dripping onto the floor. Check the interior glass of your skylight and make sure it’s nice and dry. If not, you could have a leak on your hands.
Replacing a Skylight Seal and Preventing Further Issues
Finally, if the seal on your skylight does indeed need replacing, here are a few helpful tips, plus a few designed to help prevent further issues in the future.
Use the Right Tools
Once you know for certain that you need a new seal on your skylight, it’s important to use the right tools and equipment.
As well as the tools, materials, and equipment needed to carry out the repair, you’ll also need safety equipment and clothing as well.
Clean and Prep the Area
Once you’re up on the roof, you can begin to clean and prep the area where you’ll be working. This is not only to ensure that the flashing and sealant adheres, but it’s also to make life easier for you. Working in clean and dry conditions is much easier than having to sift through dirt, grime, leaves, and other debris.
Remove the Old Seal
Using a putty knife, carefully scrape away the old seal, making sure to remove it all. Don’t be temped to cut corners and apply the sealant over the old stuff because it won’t adhere and you’ll have to start all over again.
Add the New Seal
Once the old seal has been removed you can now apply the new seal. Work slowly and methodically. Begin with beads applied from the top and work down to the base, making sure to overlap each one. be sure to fill all gaps where the frame meets the roof, using waterproof sealant or silicone.
Once applied, use a smoothing tool to ensure an even finish that plugs all gaps and leaves a watertight seal.
Allow the Seal to Cure
Now comes the time to be patient, because you need to wait for the seal to fully dry and cure. Depending upon the weather and the conditions, this can take between 24 and 48 hours on average.
Before you carry out the repair, be sure to check the weather forecast at least three days in advance. If there is a chance of rain, don’t risk it. Wait until the risk of rain for the next three days is virtually zero.