Skylights that let in light, not water

Why skylights leak in Arizona

Most leaking skylights are not leaking through the glass. The water gets in at the curb, where flashing meets the tile or foam around it. On tile roofs, the flashing has to be worked under the tile uphill and over it downhill, and the underlayment around the curb has to be lapped correctly. Shortcuts there show up in the first monsoon.

Sun is the other problem. Older acrylic domes yellow, turn brittle and crack after years of UV, and the seals around them dry out. A cracked dome in July often means a leak in August, usually right when crews are busiest.

Repair, replace or remove

If the dome and frame are sound, we can often reflash the curb and reseal it. If the unit is cloudy, cracked or more than 20 years old, replacement usually costs only a little more and solves both the leak and the heat gain. Modern units use insulated, low-E glazing that lets light in while blocking much of the heat.

Some homeowners decide to remove an old skylight altogether. We frame and deck the opening, patch the roof with matching tile or foam and hand the interior drywall work to your finisher or ours.

Sun tunnels for rooms without windows

A tubular skylight, often called a sun tunnel, brings daylight into hallways, closets, laundry rooms and interior bathrooms without the heat of a large skylight. The tube runs from a small dome on the roof through the attic to a ceiling diffuser.

Installation usually takes a few hours. On tile roofs we remove tile around the opening, install a flashing base that ties into the underlayment, cut tile to fit and reset it. On foam roofs we seal the base directly into fresh foam and coating. Either way, the tube is sealed at the ceiling so attic heat and dust stay out of the room.