How to Seal a Leaking Skylight
Skylights can accentuate nearly any room by providing extra light during the daytime. They also give a room an open feel that makes the interior space seem larger. Some skylights, especially older ones, were made with plastic flanges that tend to leak. If you have a leaking skylight, you'll have to climb the roof to perform repairs. If you are comfortable with working on the roof, this project should take you less than an hour. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Extension ladder
- Claw hammer or pry bar
- Putty knife
- Roofing cement
- Bricks
Instructions
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1
Set the ladder on level ground and lean it against the edge of the roof. If possible, avoid leaning against an aluminum gutter, which can bend under pressure. Climb the ladder onto the roof.
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2
Pry up the edges of the shingles surrounding the skylight, using a pry bar or claw hammer. Do not remove the shingles entirely--just lift the edges enough so you can slide a putty knife between the shingles and the skylight flange.
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3
Scoop up roofing cement with the putty knife. Spread it over the top of the flange and the adjoining roof substrate. Also, spread roofing cement on the underside of the shingles that lie over the flange.
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4
Press the shingles firmly back into place. Lay heavy objects such as bricks over the shingles to help strengthen the repair joint. Remove the bricks after 48 hours.
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Tips & Warnings
If the leak is coming from the top edge of the skylight (the edge closest to the top of the roof), you may want to inspect the shingles above it. The problem may be caused by a leak beneath a shingle that does not directly touch the skylight.
Do not use roofing cement as a permanent fix. This process is intended only as an emergency repair. Complete repair involves removing and replacing the skylight unit.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
