Skylight Repair

**Leak at the skylight — but the skylight is fine.** ~70% of skylight leak calls we get are flashing failures around a sound skylight. The step flashing on the uphill side fails, water gets behind the curb, runs down the rafter, and shows up as a stain on the ceiling near the skylight. Fix: flashing rebuild, no skylight replacement needed — a far cheaper and less invasive scope than full replacement.

**Foggy / failed seal on the IGU.** When you see moisture between the panes of the insulated glass, the perimeter seal has failed and gas has leaked out. On Velux skylights manufactured after ~2007, the IGU can be replaced without removing the frame — meaningfully cheaper than full skylight replacement.

**Broken glass on a venting skylight.** Tree limb impact, hail, or interior accident. We replace the glass — on Velux, this means ordering the correct IGU replacement; on Sun-Tek and Wasco, we measure and order matching glazing. Lead time 1-2 weeks; temporary protective covering applied immediately.

**Motorized skylight won't open / close.** Velux Active and Sun-Tek motorized vented skylights have an internal chain-drive motor, control board, and remote. Common failures: dead remote battery, motor burnout (10-15 year service life), control board after lightning strike. We service Velux + diagnose other brands.

**Rain sensor fault.** Velux Integra units have rain sensors that auto-close the skylight when rain is detected. When they fail (corroded sensor, broken wire), the skylight either won't close at all or closes randomly. Fix: replacement sensor plus recalibration.

**Failed flashing kit on an old install.** Original Velux flashing kits last 25-30 years. After that, the gaskets and step flashing components reach end of life even if the skylight is fine. We install a new flashing kit and integrate it with the surrounding shingles.

**Condensation on the inside (not a leak).** Sometimes mistaken for a leak. Condensation happens when warm humid interior air meets the cold inside surface of the skylight. Fix is humidity control + insulation upgrade around the curb, not a skylight repair.

Interior inspection first — note where the water/stain appears relative to the skylight. Water rarely enters directly above where it shows; it follows rafters, runs along framing members, and drops at a low point.

Exterior inspection — climb the roof and check the four flashing zones around the skylight separately: head (uphill side), sill (downhill side), step flashing (the two side rails), and counter flashing (where flashing tucks under shingles above).

IGU + seal check — look between the panes for trapped moisture (foggy IGU), and check the perimeter gasket between the glass and the frame.

Vent / motorized parts check — for venting units, cycle the open/close to verify the motor, remote, and rain sensor are all functioning.

Curb integrity check — on site-built (vs flashing-kit) installs, verify the wood curb hasn't rotted at the corners and the curb is square (not racked from settlement).

Written report — same as any roof repair: photos, what failed, recommended fix, line-item pricing.

**Repair makes sense when**: the skylight frame is structurally sound, the leak source is flashing/seal/gasket (not the unit itself), and the IGU has either failed or can be replaced separately. Most Velux skylights under 25 years old are repair candidates.

**Replace makes sense when**: the frame is cracked or warped, the curb has rotted, the manufacturer no longer makes parts (Velux pre-1995, some discontinued Wasco models), or you'd benefit from upgrading to a newer Velux Active model with remote + rain sensor.

**The gray area**: 20+ year old skylights with a single failed component. We give you both quotes — repair + replacement — and our honest read on which is the right play given how long you plan to stay in the house and how the existing skylight performs.