You Should Know This Before Hiring a Roofing Company for a Skylight Replacement in Edmonton
Today we are sitting down with Ryan Harbison, the owner of Alberta Skylights Elite Roofing, the only Velux certified skylight specialist and Red Seal roofing contractor in Alberta. With decades of combined experience and a commitment to being the province’s go-to expert in skylight replacement and roofing solutions, Ryan and his team have built a reputation for solving complex skylight and roofing issues with precision and professionalism. In this interview, Ryan will answer some of the most commonly searched and asked questions from Edmonton area homeowners about skylights, roofing systems, and how to get it done right the first time.
Hey, how are you, Trevor? I’m doing good, man. Here are some questions we’re going to ask you about roofing, skylights, and all of that. I hope you’re prepared. Sure. Let’s see if I know my stuff. All right.
What Makes Edmonton Skylight Roofing Specialists Different?
Number one, what makes Alberta Skylights Elite Roofing different from other companies in Edmonton? Well, I would say probably the first thing that makes us different is that we specialize in skylights. Not a lot of roofing contractors will even do a skylight, let alone specialize in them. Second part of that, we’re master elite contractors. It’s a pretty hard designation to get. The big differentiator between us is we know roofing inside and out. We know skylights inside and out. We handle them all as one system, not as just an added service that we might or might not be able to do for a homeowner. That’s pretty special.
I like that. Number two, why is it so important to hire a Velux certified skylight specialist instead of a general roofer for skylight installation or replacement? Big part about being a Velux certified skylight specialist is you have to actually go through manufacturers training and further you have to prove competency in it before they’ll even take you into the certified program which is a step below the skylight specialist certified program. You have to be able to demonstrate your knowledge of different types of skylights, sun tunnels, etc., how they’re installed. You have to prove that to the manufacturer. To get into the skylight specialist program, you have to take it a step further and actually be able to do a lot of the installs from scratch.
For us, that gives us a lot of knowledge that comes down to knowing not just that there’s a skylight there and how it goes together, but how all the framing, the structure, the envelope, the insulation, all of those components, how they all work together. That’s the big benefit of having somebody who’s trained and actually understands all of those things. Most roofing contractors understand roofing fairly well. When it comes to skylights, you might or you might not get somebody who can keep the water out, but you’re not going to find a lot of them who actually understand the thermodynamics, the different coatings, and all the other things that go into the skylight, what actually makes a skylight work.
It’s probably a large part of the reason why so many people say skylights always leak. The people who are installing them literally have no training on how to put them in and they give grief. That’s a common occurrence.
Common Skylight Problems in Edmonton Homes
All right. What are the most common skylight issues you see in Edmonton homes and how do you fix them properly? A significant portion of the problems we see all come down to application errors and then skylights that are left on the roof for way too long. Application errors, a lot of times whenever you get your roof replaced, it’d be pretty common for the contractor to say, “Well, your skylight’s not leaking now. Let’s just leave it.” In my opinion, that’s their way of coping out and saying, “I don’t want to have to touch this thing because they don’t know what to do with it.”
Three or four years later, the skylight fails and all of a sudden, what’s their favorite answer? Skylights always leak. It is older than the roofing system. It should have been replaced years ago. They leave it there. That’s the first part of it. A lot of times people get their roof replaced and the skylight starts leaking shortly thereafter. The question becomes, why? It never leaked beforehand. In a lot of cases when you’re doing the roof, you have to take and you jostle that around. Seals that were in place for 20 years are fine. They’re not giving any grief. You start jostling that around, you break those seals. The roofing contractor doesn’t understand how to put it back together. All of a sudden, you end up with leaks in there.
The ideal time to replace your skylight would be when you get your roof replaced. The skylight is the same age. It has a similar life expectancy as most shingles. It should be replaced at that same point in time. As far as the installation side of things, a lot of times we get into skylights that were installed by somebody who had no training. They’re trying to do their best to keep it together while they’re doing that roof. It causes problems and the homeowner ends up getting caught with it.
That brings me to my next question. How does a homeowner know when to repair their skylight or replace their skylight? Typically, the easy answer would be how old is the skylight itself. If your skylight is more than 15 years old, it’s time to replace your skylight. Life expectancy on a good skylight is about 20 years. If you’ve got a skylight that’s been on there since the 80s, which is more common than you’d think, it might be time to get it replaced.
Obvious signs include if you’re seeing the skylight full of water, cracks, or stains on your ceiling and drywall. Other symptoms include bats getting into your skylight, pine needles getting in, or whistling sounds, which could indicate failed seals. If something is not acting the way you would expect it to, follow your intuition and consider a free inspection.
Signs Your Edmonton Roof System Is Failing
Let’s switch over to roofs. What are the signs of a failing roof system, especially with Edmonton’s freeze and thaw cycles and unpredictable weather? There are plenty of signs that your roof needs to be looked at, if not replaced. If you’re walking in your yard and you see a whole bunch of granules at the bottom of your downspout, that’s a good indicator.
Usually your roof for the first year or two you’ll see a lot of granular loss, then almost none, and toward the end of the shingle’s life you’ll see a lot again. If your roof hasn’t had much loss and suddenly does, that’s an early warning sign. Older three tab roofs and some newer architectural shingles may start to curl or cup. If shingles are no longer laying flat, that could be an indicator.
If you’re finding pieces of shingles in your yard after a windstorm, that could mean shingles are blowing off, which could lead to leaks. Typical life expectancy on a shingled roof is about 20 to 25 years. If your roof is in that range, it’s time to have it checked.
Proper Skylight Replacement & Long-Term Benefits
Now, how does your team handle skylight leaks differently than most roofing contractors in Alberta? A sizable portion of roofing contractors, their idea of fixing a leak is to go up there with a caulking gun and just apply caulking everywhere. The thing about caulking is you do not need a lot of it to fix a problem in a roof. It’s meant for very small areas where you have no other choice.
The way we approach it is different. We try to figure out what the actual problem is. Quite often, if your skylight is 15 to 18 years old and leaking, you’re probably looking at a new skylight. The proper method involves removing the old skylight, shingles, and flashings, installing a waterproof membrane, adding new flashings, reinstalling shingles, and then installing the skylight.
It’s not just a patch job. It’s a full system approach. That way, you know it’s done properly and you won’t have ongoing problems. This aligns with best practices outlined by manufacturer installation standards.
Starting with inspection, we determine whether it’s actually a leak or condensation. If humidity is too high, condensation can form even on high-quality skylights. In those cases, improving ventilation may solve the issue without replacing the skylight.
If replacement is needed, we identify the source of the issue, whether it’s the skylight, flashing, or surrounding roof. Once we understand why it’s happening, we build a proper solution. The biggest part of solving the problem is understanding the why.
When combining a roof replacement with a skylight upgrade, it’s often the most cost-effective approach. Skylights and roofs have similar lifespans, and doing both together can save money and ensure everything works as a complete system. High-performance skylights also offer better warranties, improved energy efficiency, and reduced noise.
Finally, helping homeowners make smart decisions comes down to focusing on solving problems, not selling products. Understanding the issue first leads to better long-term outcomes and fewer recurring problems.