Acrylic dome
A damaged dome is replaced to match the curb on older curb-mounted units.
A roofer in Morristown can repair a leaking skylight by resealing or replacing the flashing, fixing failed glass seals or replacing a cracked dome, after a careful look from the roof and from inside. One call to (862) 363-5004 reaches a nearby roofer who handles skylight repair.
Water around a skylight almost always gets in at the joint between the frame and the roof. The skylight sits in a hole cut through the roof, and step flashing along the sides, a head flashing on the uphill side and a sill flashing at the bottom keep water out of that hole. Debris piling up on the uphill side, ice at the head flashing and old sealant that has cracked are the other common entry points.
Not every drip is a leak. In cold weather, moisture from showers, cooking and breathing condenses on the inside of the glass and drips, often in kitchens and bathrooms. A haze trapped between the panes points to a failed glass seal, not a leak, and calls for glass work instead of flashing work.
Some quick notes make the first call more useful. Note whether the water appears during rain, during snowmelt or on cold dry mornings, and where it shows up on the frame or ceiling. Mention whether the skylight is fixed or opens, and roughly how old it is, since many units reach the end of their life around the same time as the roof.
Skylight Repair is often paired with skylight installation and flashing repair, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Morristown, NJ right now? Call (862) 363-5004 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Morristown.
Call nowA skylight repair starts with knowing exactly where the water comes from.
Stains at the top of the shaft usually point to the head flashing, while drips on the glass point to condensation. The pattern of stains often tells the story.
On the roof, the roofer checks the step flashing, head flashing and sill flashing, the shingles around the curb and any debris piled on the uphill side. A hose test, run carefully from the bottom up, can confirm the entry point.
The shingles around the skylight are lifted, the old flashing removed and new flashing installed in correct laps. For most leaks, reflashing is the whole fix.
Failed insulated glass, a cracked pane or a crazed dome is replaced, and worn gaskets and seals are renewed. Glass work does not always require disturbing the roof.
Damaged drywall, trim and paint in the light shaft are repaired once the leak is stopped and the area is dry. Insulating the shaft walls helps the glass stay warmer in winter.
A damaged dome is replaced to match the curb on older curb-mounted units.
Leaking flashing is removed and replaced with proper step, head and sill flashing instead of another layer of caulk.
Insulated glass with a failed seal is replaced without changing the frame.
Water damage around the skylight opening is cleaned up so no trace of the leak remains.
Stuck sashes and failed operators are fixed so it closes tight in rain.
A lasting skylight leak repair corrects the flashing laps instead of covering them with sealant. The most common fixes are new step flashing along the sides, a new head flashing on the uphill side and clearing debris that dams water above the unit. A tube of sealant may slow a leak, but it does not fix one.
For Morristown homeowners, the timing of the drip is the best clue: rain and snowmelt point to a leak, cold dry mornings point to condensation. An aging skylight on an aging roof is often better replaced than repaired, especially if the glass is fogged too. The best plan avoids paying to flash the same opening twice.
When the glass or dome is the problem but the frame and flashing are sound, replacing just the glazing makes sense. Skylight glass is typically tempered on the outside and laminated on the inside, so any replacement should match that safety rating. Plastic domes on older curbs can usually be swapped without touching the roof.
Before ordering new glass for a Morristown skylight, the roofer checks whether replacement parts are available for that model. Many units let the sash or glass come out without disturbing the flashing, but older or discontinued ones may not. Upgrading to low-E glass at the same time can reduce heat gain and condensation.
In Morristown, skylights tend to start leaking when the roof around them is aging or after a heavy storm. Homes in Morristown and nearby towns like Cedar Knolls, Morris Plains, Whippany and Madison range from decades-old skylights that were caulked in place to newer units with full flashing kits, and each fails in its own way, and catching a drip early saves the drywall and insulation around it.
Need skylight repair around Morristown? Call (862) 363-5004 for a Morristown roofer who serves the towns around it too.
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Morristown, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers in Morristown know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
More questions? Call (862) 363-5004
Installing new skylights, venting skylights and solar tubes in pitched roofs, flashed into the shingles so the opening stays dry.
Learn moreFlashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, so water runs onto the shingles instead of into the wall.
Learn moreStopping water at the pipe boots, flashing, valleys and nail holes where roofs actually leak, with the damage underneath checked too.
Learn moreTracing hidden roof leaks with attic checks, moisture meters, hose testing and infrared scans, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
Learn moreLooking for something else?
See all roofing servicesCall (862) 363-5004 to talk to a roofer serving Morristown, NJ.