Roofing Blog

A skylight lets the sunlight stream into your home to warm you on cold winter days. It also provides natural lighting all year long, which reduces your need for artificial lighting. However, nothing lasts forever, so you will want to replace it before leaks develop and cause damage to the roof and interior of your home. There are several indications it is time to replace your skylight.

The lifespan of a typical skylight

The lifespan of skylights varies by manufacturer and other factors. Weather conditions in your area, type of roof, and normal wear and tear over time all play a part in the condition of your skylight. If the skylight was installed when you bought your home, you may not know the exact age. The rule of thumb is skylights should be replaced every ten years. If your home is older, it is a good idea to have the skylight inspected by a professional. 

Signs your Skylight should be Replaced

If you are fairly sure your skylight is nearing the end of its lifespan or you have doubts about its condition, here are several warning signs to indicate you should replace it now.

• Age– As previously stated, skylights should be replaced at around ten years. If you know this is the case, there is no need for further inspection. This is the time to schedule an estimate to replace it. 
• Visible Cracks – If you can spot cracks, even small ones, it won’t be long before larger cracks start to appear. This affects the stability of the glass. These cracks may be due to age or weather-related damage. Hail is known to be a major source of cracks in skylights. Debris thrown on the roof during a storm also can cause damage.
• Leaking – This one is a no-brainer. If you notice leaks, time is of the essence. Skylights are mounted on the roof and leaks may cause damage to the surrounding area of the roof, walls, and even the wood structure. Try not to put off replacement and repairs if this is the case.
• Discolored glass – Any type of change in the look of the glass may indicate a larger problem is present. The window may have a foggy or yellow appearance. Sometimes, this is evident by a change in the amount of sunlight streaming into your home. 
• Damage to the Roof – Leaks elsewhere on the roof are indication leaks may also be present around the skylight. Water under the roofing shingles may have affected the seal. If repairs are being done to your roof, also inspect the skylight.

These signs are a good indication your skylight needs to be replaced but they don’t take the place of a professional inspection. A certified roofing contractor with experience in your area will know the faults of different types of skylights and can quickly identify any problems.

Skylight Installation and Technology

Modern skylights are manufactured to have increased lifespans and be more durable.  Small living spaces appear larger with a skylight and larger rooms will have a comfortable warm feeling.

• Installation – A contractor experienced in skylight installation can help you choose the optimal placement. The seal and flashing must be done correctly to ensure there are no leaks during all weather conditions. 
• Technology – Recent innovations in skylight manufacturing include electronically controlled tinting, which lets you remotely change the tint to vary the amount of sunlight and heat entering the room. Another upgrade available is Tubular skylights. Primarily used for providing light in a smaller space. These have been around for years, but are still very popular today. 

Benefits of Replacing Your Skylight

A new skylight with the latest technology is going to be more energy efficient and you will start saving on your utility bill right away. Waiting will not be cost-effective, considering your energy expense will rise as the skylight becomes compromised over time. Replacing your skylight when installing a new roof is recommended, but you shouldn’t wait for an extended amount of time if a new roof is not in the budget shortly. You will be increasing your energy costs while budgeting for a roof replacement. Many homeowners don’t realize the impact a modern skylight has on your home. Energy Efficiency, Curb Appeal, enhanced appearance, and interior comfort in your living space are all benefits you will enjoy with this addition. 

Please contact Trico Exteriors to discuss installing or replacing a skylight. We have been proudly servicing customers in the Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Hilton Head areas since 1973. Customer service is our goal. Trico installs quality Velux Skylights. Our technicians are experienced and knowledgeable in roofing and skylight installation. We will be happy to answer any questions regarding skylights or any of our services. Give your home a great new look by adding a new skylight!

Skylights add beauty to homes. They bring in daylight and fresh air, and help create insulated spaces for improved energy efficiency. Maintaining the skylights of your Charleston home will allow you to enjoy these benefits continuously. What does skylight maintenance entail? Get the details here.

How to take care of your skylights

Maintaining your skylights involves three efforts: 

• Cleaning your skylights
• Fixing leaky skylights
• Fixing cracks in your skylight panel

How to clean your skylights?

Skylights should be cleaned once or twice a year. In this time, they would have gathered dust, spiderwebs, dirt, dry debris, and dead insects. You’ll need to clean the inside and outside of your skylights – but how do you do it and is it safe?

Cleaning the inside glass of your skylight

1. Mix a few drops of dish soap or another mild soap in water to create a cleaning solution. For stubborn dirt, use water and a vinegar solution (50:50).
2. To reach your skylight, you will need to use a ladder or fashion a long cleaning stick.

• If using a ladder, position it such that you’re able to access the skylight without straining
• To create the cleaning stick, detach the handle of a mop and tie a rag around the end of the handle

3. Soak the rag in the solution you’ve prepared. Wring out the excess moisture and clean the skylight just as you might clean your window.
4. Dry the skylight. For this, remove the wet rag and secure a dry rag to the handle.

Cleaning the exterior glass of your skylight can be hazardous. Walking across your roof is a safety hazard as it is. Falling through your skylight is an additional danger. We recommend engaging a skylight maintenance service for effective and safe cleaning.

How to deal with leaky skylights?

The flashing in skylights will suffer inevitable wear and tear over time. Degraded flashing will lose its waterproofing properties and allow rainwater to seep into the roof surface, damaging your home’s exterior and interior. Replacing flashing that is in bad condition will take care of the problem.

Another cause for water leakage is improper skylight installation. Installing skylights is a complex process. Experienced roofing contractors like Trico Exteriors ensure the optimal leak-proof placement of skylights. You won’t have to deal with skylight maintenance issues that shouldn’t have occurred in the first place.

What to do if your skylight has cracks or breaks?

Modern skylights are made using extremely durable material resistant to external elements and bouts of wrathful weather. However, hail and flying debris can still damage skylight glass. Major thunderstorms can crack or even dislodge older or inferior quality skylights. This is something South Carolina homeowners should bear in mind to avoid any skylight maintenance or installation related mistakes that can turn expensive in the future.

The solution – Replace your skylights

The general rule is that skylights should be replaced every ten years. But if your skylights weren’t installed properly, they will start showing problems in the first few years. As a golden rule, make sure to hire experienced roofing contractors that you know will carry out a proper skylight installation.

Keep your skylights in great shape with an annual check-up

At the minimum, you should inspect your skylights annually for issues that require your attention. Look out for the following: 

• Leaks and water damage
• Visible cracks on your skylight
• Signs of condensation on your skylights, which you can fix on your own by keeping your skylights open for about five minutes a few times a day

For the best results, we suggest you have a skylight maintenance company inspect your skylights. They will be able to identify problem areas that may have escaped you.

If you need to walk across your roof to inspect your skylights, we’d advise you against it. Leave the job to professional maintenance technicians trained to use safety equipment and protocols for accurate and incident-free skylight inspection and maintenance.

Your roofing contractor may also offer maintenance services. In this case you should call them to check your skylight and perform minor repairs or fix leaks as needed.

How to get started?

When you notice water damage in your walls, have your skylight and roof inspected immediately by Trico Exteriors. We offer roof and skylight maintenance and replacement throughout Charleston, SC. As a multi-generational roofing contractor, we’ve performed various types of skylight repairs. We also install quality skylights based on the unique space and construction parameters of your home. If you need to replace your old or poor quality skylights, leave us a message and we’ll get back to you in a jiffy.