Skylight – Condensation or Leaking
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Leak or Condensation ?
Condensation in or on skylights
Warm or hot air with moisture in it will create condensation when it hits the cooler surface of a skylight. Newer homes, which are more tightly sealed for energy conservation purposes, and rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms that are not well ventilated, tend to experience more condensation issues than other homes.
Dual pane skylights are less apt to experience condensation issues from the interior of the home but are more apt to have condensation issues from a seal being broken or a crack or a whole in one of the pains of the skylight. In the majority of cases just replacing the glazing portion of the skylight is necessary. The frame and flashing around the skylight stays in place and does not usually need to be replaced.
Leaking around the skylight
If the laminated glass or acrylic dome is not cracked or damaged, then the flashing or the frame of the skylight may be the source of the leak. Often this is easily corrected by the application of a roofing sealant material or caulking. Generally this is fast and inexpensive to do. Occasionally, additional work around the skylight area where it is connected to the roof may be required. In example, patching or limited repair work.
Stains around the skylight
Staining around skylight areas is not an unusual occurrence and can usually be fixed rather easily and inexpensively. Over time the flashing or the joints in the flashing needs to be resealed or caulked, occasionally the curb or the glazing may need to be replaced. We don’t think twice about keeping our gutters clean but somehow, we forget that are skylights need maintenance and cleaning. There are cleaning materials that help keep the skylight clean and looking good, as well as materials that can be sprayed onto the skylight to extend the life of the glazing.
Who to consult? Skylight installers and contractors as well as roofing contractors.Cleaning, general maintenance and caulking is often handled by home owners and handymen. Repairs or replacement is generally done by roofers and skylight installers or contractors.
Additional Resources
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Stains by skylight areas may be from a crack, roof or roof flashing or a need for caulking to be redone: a maintenance item. Check...
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Repair or replacement. Several factors and choices usually exist. Look at...
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Maintenance, such as caulking or rubber sealant usually works most of the time.
I have had 2 opinions from skylight repair companies re condensation between glass in a skillion roof skylight, neither has offered the option of drilling holes and drying out the moisture then resealing the seal. There is very slight moisture coming into interior at one lower corner but over 5-6 yrs has never amounted to much real damage as such! It does not leak and nothing is bubbling or going mouldy or plasterboard is not swelling !Who do I contact to fix this problem cheaply rather than the expensive full, skylight replacement which seems excessive in this case. Am in Southern Highlands NSW. If I had enough courage I would drill the holes myself at base of metal frame but do not have a vacuum pump to extract the moisture.
please any advice or help appreciated penny