Edmonton Roofing Skylight Specialist | The Reason Why Skylights Leak
Hi there! Welcome back to the Alberta Skylights YouTube channel. My name is Trevor, and I’m here with Ryan, the owner, operator, and Edmonton roofing skylight specialist with Alberta Skylights. Today, we’re diving into a topic we hear a lot about: do skylights always leak?
The Myth: Skylights Always Leak
Trevor: Ryan, you were telling me about an experience you had the other day on social media. Someone in a forum mentioned that skylights always leak.
Ryan: Yep, I hear it all the time: “Skylights always leak.”
Trevor: Is that true?
Ryan: No, it’s not.
Trevor: What do you mean by that?
Ryan: We deal with skylights pretty much day in and day out. People call us because they have problems, but here’s the thing—it’s actually pretty rare for a properly installed skylight to leak. The main issue we see is terrible installation practices.
What typically happens is that someone gets their roof replaced, and the roofing contractors look at the skylight and think, “Oh, it’s fine. It’ll be okay.” They put the roof back together, but they don’t handle the skylight properly. When problems arise, they blame the skylight rather than addressing the real issue.
Trevor: So it’s not the skylight itself but how it’s been reinstalled or worked around?
Ryan: Exactly. Most of the time, the roofing contractor doesn’t want to come back to fix it, so they perpetuate the myth that “skylights always leak.”
Common Skylight Installation Issues
Trevor: So if a roofing contractor replaces a roof and leaves the skylight, what kinds of issues might they cause?
Ryan: It’s often things like:
- Improper underlayment.
- Flashing not being installed correctly.
- Shingles not put back properly around the skylight.
When we’re called to fix a skylight, it’s often too late to save it. Most of the skylights we see are 20+ years old, which is beyond their lifespan.
When to Replace a Skylight
Ryan: Skylights generally have a life expectancy of 15–20 years, similar to a roof. The best time to replace a skylight is when you’re replacing your roof. If you don’t, you’re asking for problems.
Trevor: What does your process look like when you fix or replace a skylight?
Ryan: We:
- Remove the skylight.
- Strip all the shingles and flashing around it down to bare wood.
- Waterproof the area.
- Install new flashings.
- Install a new skylight.
That solves the problem entirely.
Defining Skylight Leaks
Trevor: Let’s define a leak. What do you consider a skylight leak?
Ryan: A leak is water coming from the outside to the inside. That’s the purest definition.
However, skylights are also prone to condensation, which isn’t technically a leak. Condensation happens inside the building and can sometimes look like a leak.
Common Skylight Problems
Trevor: What are some worst-case scenarios you’ve seen regarding skylights?
Ryan: There are a few:
- Rusted Flashing:
Flashing should be replaced every 15 years. Recently, we saw a case where a homeowner had a new roof installed. A year later, the skylight started leaking, and the roofing contractor blamed the skylight. The real issue was the flashing, which had rusted through. The skylight itself wasn’t leaking. - Cracked Acrylic Skylights:
Acrylic skylights can crack over time due to UV exposure. When they dry out and crack, water seeps between the panes. - Improper Skylight Reinstallation:
Another homeowner had their roof replaced, and the contractor overtightened the skylight frames. This twisted the frames and caused splits, leading to leaks. We had to remove everything and start over.
Acrylic vs. Glass Skylights
Trevor: Let’s talk about the difference between acrylic skylights and the Velux glass skylights you install.
Ryan: Acrylic skylights are a two-part system with an aluminum frame that connects the outside to the inside. This creates a lot of heat transfer, leading to condensation. Over time, the sealant holding the domes together dries out, and the skylights crack.
The Velux glass skylights we use are a completely different system:
- They’re made of dual-pane, argon-filled glass with triple Low-E coating.
- The glass frames are laminated and tempered, held together with structural glazing.
- They eliminate thermal bridging, minimizing condensation and heat transfer.
Energy Efficiency and Condensation
Trevor: How do condensation and energy efficiency factor into skylight performance?
Ryan: Condensation is often caused by high humidity levels in the home. For every 10°C drop in temperature, relative humidity doubles. If you have 40% humidity at 20°C and it’s -30°C outside, the humidity skyrockets, leading to condensation.
Acrylic skylights don’t insulate well, so they’re prone to heat transfer and condensation. Velux glass skylights are much better at preventing this.
Time to Upgrade
Trevor: It sounds like upgrading to modern glass skylights is a no-brainer.
Ryan: Absolutely. Think of it like upgrading from a rotary phone to a smartphone. Sure, an old skylight might still “work,” but modern technology offers huge benefits.
For example, we had a client who built an addition off their kitchen. The space was always dark, so she wanted skylights. Even though her energy auditor warned her against it, we installed deck-mounted Velux skylights with insulated wells. Afterward, the auditor was blown away—there was no heat loss at all.
The technology has come a long way.
Why Choose Alberta Skylights?
If you’re dealing with skylight issues or thinking about an upgrade, Alberta Skylights is here to help. We specialize in skylight replacements and installations, even in winter.
Trevor: Thanks for sharing your insights, Ryan.
Ryan: Thanks, Trevor.
Trevor: Stay tuned for more videos, and don’t forget to reach out to Alberta Skylights and Edmonton roofing skylight specialist for all your skylight needs. See you next time!