How to Fix a Leaking Skylight

A skylight is a beautiful way to invite the skies into your home. Some skylights can be opened up to allow a breeze in without letting in dirt and leaves. You may find at some point that a leak develops from the region of your skylight. Water can get through the flashing that surrounds the installation area of the skylight. You can repair the leak yourself fairly easily.

Things You'll Need

• Pry bar
• Water
• Roofing caulk
• Roofing material

Instructions

1. Pull back all of the shingle or roofing material around the skylight. Use a pry bar to remove the roofing and expose the flashing of the skylight.

2. Pour water over the flashing seams and nail heads to locate the leak. To locate the source of the leak, have a friend stand under the skylight and tell you when and where the water leaks.

3. Let the water dry that you poured on the roof. You need to material to completely free of any liquid before you perform the repair.

4. Apply roofing caulk generously to the source of the leak. The leak location as well as the surrounding area should be covered with caulk. Let the caulk dry completely according to your caulk’s directions.

5. Perform another water test to ensure you covered the entire leak and in case there is more than one. Repeat the process until no water at all comes through the skylight.

6. Replace the roofing material you removed to access the skylight.

Tips & Warnings

• Perform repairs during dry, cool weather to keep the roofing adhesive from becoming sticky or malleable.

• Do not pour too much water on the skylight at a time or you could flood the room.

References

• Showroom 411: My Skylight is Leaking